The Rules of Life: According to the Bonnaroo Music Festival

by | Jul 1, 2014 | Uncategorized

The basic building blocks of your life’s journey and the decisions you make are your beliefs and the code you live by. For some, religion may provide these pieces. For others, past life experiences could contribute. Our belief system is dynamic and is pieced together from a wide array of sources.

After attending for the second time the Bonnaroo Music Festival 2014, I decided on reading their “Code and Terms” in the festival info section. This is where I realized two things. First, these “codes” are meant for everybody, everywhere, at any time. Second, I saw this “code” actually be put into effect and the result was 90,000-100,000 people in one area for 4 days maintaining peace.
Now I present to you, “The Rules of Life: According to the Bonnaroo Music Festival”
1. PREPARE THY SELF
Bonnaroo Meaning: Pack the right stuff for the blazing Tennessee sun and four days of no showering. 
Life Meaning: One thing that makes humans unique is their ability to project into the future, to predict outcomes and prepare themselves. Unfortunately, we are not always accurate and can not always predict what life will bring our way. It has a funny way of throwing curve balls and wrenches at us sometimes. 
Make sure you are equipped with effective coping mechanisms, support, and resources to battle even the hardest of life’s challenges. 
2. PLAY AS A TEAM
Bonnaroo Meaning: There is going to be so many friggin people here, just help each other out and all will be good. 
Life Meaning: Whether you like it or not, we all need some help sometimes. Lend a hand and support those around you, others will see and want to help back. Most of the time, people appreciate at least an offer to help let alone an actual helping hand. This could mean helping your partner out or a complete stranger. Either way, be the example of what a good teammate is. 
3. RADIATE POSITIVITY

Bonnaroo Meaning: You are pretty much on vacation. Listen to awesome music, eat, hang out and be merry. 
Life Meaning: Ever heard of “Debbie Downer”? Negativity is infectious, well so is positivity. Don’t just simply feel positive, radiate it so others will see. Research shows that positive emotions and events add to your happiness. Be pro-active in your positivity. Radiate the hell out of it.
4. RESPECT THE FARM

Bonnaroo Meaning: Don’t throw trash on the ground, nobody wants to be sitting in your garbage. Use one of the hundreds of recycling, compost, and trash can around you. 
Life Meaning: Respect your environment. This doesn’t simply mean to recycle, throw your trash in a can, or be more green, it also means to respect your own home, room, and body. Eat healthy, exercise, and keep your personal spaces clean. A clean body and clean home is a happy person!

5. DON’T BE THAT GUY/GAL

Bonnaroo Meaning: There are plenty of things to complain about. The heat, your legs hurting from standing so long, or the lack of showering at the festival. Don’t bring down your own positive vibe along with your friends.

Life Meaning: Life has challenging moments and we ALL experience them. Even when things are less then optimal, keep in mind that your mindset and emotions don’t just affect you and have an impact on those around you. Remember to search for the positive in all that is thrown your way and to radiate positivity.

6. STAY TRUE ROO


Bonnaroo Meaning: When at Bonnaroo, everybody gets a long and thoroughly enjoys themselves. The problem is that Bonnaroo lasts only 4 days and your life continues afterwards. Implement the positive things you learned at Bonnaroo into your  everyday life.

Life Meaning: Don’t radiate positivity for one day. Don’t lend a helping hand one time. Don’t find the positive in one circumstance. Don’t treat your body and space with respect 1 day out of the week. Implement these strategies as frequently as possible and create your new normal!

If this code of ethics can get almost 100,000 people to be peaceful and happy for four days, I believe it can work for you. 

Examine your current lifestyle and see which “Rule of Life” you could afford to implement more frequently. Share your experience on YouTime Coaching’s Facebook page –> YouTime’s FB Page

MERGING SYNDROME:Left Lane Closed Ahead

by | Jun 29, 2013 | Uncategorized

When driving out to see clients I frequently take Interstate 93 to get out to them. Those in the Boston area know very well that 93 is home to two major things, the infamous “Big Dig” and major traffic jams. 

93, boston, traffic, salem, new hampshire, traffic alert, news, merging, traffic jam


Just as you leave Boston on 93 South the left lane closes and everybody is forced to merge. I drive this exact route 4-5 times a week and still run into the same problem. I get all the way over into the left lane and forget that I will need to merge back into the original lane I was coming from. 

Merging, sign, traffic, traffic sign, merging sign, anger, frustration

This typically causes frustration, stress, a small amount of time, and sets the tone for the remainder of my drive, “pissed off with a headache”. One day I chose to do something different. Not only stay in the middle lane, BUT change to the right lane. My thought process was, “I don’t want to deal with merging, or the lane that needs to accept and let in those merging assholes.” 

This changed my world! I saved a very little bit of time, a lot of frustration, and actually had a pleasant remainder of the ride. Unbelievably different outcomes from just one small change. I realized quickly that individual’s typically do 3 things when asked to merge:

  1. “Pumping the Breaks”: Slow down to get behind somebody 
  2. “Pressing the Gas”: Speed up to cut someone off and/or get ahead of somebody
  3. “Go With the Flow”: Merge in line with everybody else when forced to come together.


These occurrences led me to form a theory, known as “Merging Syndrome”.


THE BREAKDOWN:

Merging Syndrome 

Individual’s that suffer from Merging Syndrome experience difficulty in effectively making important, timely, and valuable decisions.

Symptoms: 
  • Irritation
  • Mental Fatigue
  • Frustration
  • Increased Anxiety
  • Aggravation
  • Headaches
  • Confusion
  • Use of the middle finger
  • Poor control of language
  • More extreme cases experience crying, blurry vision, and accidents.


These individuals are typically separated into three categories (although people can experience variations of them):

I. Pumping the Breaks: Individual’s that pump the breaks tend to avoid making important decisions and procrastinate. This can result in increased anxiety levels, poor decisions, missing out on fulfilling experiences, and missing potential growth opportunity. Individual’s that typically indulge in “Pumping the Breaks” value certainty, safety, and security.

II. Pressing the Gas: Individual’s that press the gas tend to rush into important decisions without proper planning, readiness, and regard. This can result in poor decisions, placing yourself in high-risk situations, and increased vulnerability. Individual’s that typically indulge in “Pressing the Gas” value variety and significance. 

III. Go With the Flow: Individual’s that go with the flow tend to allow others to make decisions for them and lack regard for how this may affect them in the future. This can result in increased anxiety, feelings of being “out of control”, lack of fulfillment, and poor sense of identity. Individual’s that typically “Go With the Flow” value the need for connection. 


When making important, timely, and valuable decisions in your life it is important to properly prepare yourself for the mental and physical rigors that may come your way. Making these decisions hold great potential for growth, contribution, and fulfillment. At the same time they have the potential to cause anxiety, doubt, pain, and confusion. Learn how to prepare, adapt, and acclimate to your new environment to help ensure a smooth transition. 


If you or anybody you know is suffering from Merging Syndrome, please contact YouTime Coaching by emailing [email protected]
*Merging Syndrome is not a recognized syndrome by the current DSM or any body of literature. Merging Syndrome was created by Jonathan Wolf, through his own life experience and presented to help others identify their decision making process. 

    Train Your Brain

    by | Mar 23, 2013 | Uncategorized

    Everyone is faced with making multiple decisions each and every day. Some of these decisions hold high importance to the outcome of our day, week, month, or even life. While on the other hand, most decisions will have little to no impact on such things.

    Or could they?

    While the big decisions can have a lasting impact so can the smaller ones. It all comes down to whether or not you have programmed your mind in the correct way. 

    Watch the video below to find out how to program your mind for successful decisions, reactions, and outcomes.


    Were you programmed for success before watching this video? 

    Share in the comments below how you have used this method to train you brain for success!



    Jonathan B. Wolf, Ed.M.
    YouTime Coaching
    Vitality, Performance, and Parent Coaching