Writing, Identity & Daily Discipline: An Author's Journey - Mark Relic

Relic describes how his lifelong fascination with languages began in childhood and became a professional and creative asset, and he details a rigorous daily routine — including cold plunges and early-morning rituals — that he credits for his discipline and creative output. He explains how a background in his family's restaurant business and years working internationally in hospitality led him, after growing dissatisfaction, to pivot into coaching, teaching, and writing. The conversation turns to his novel The Woods, a multilayered story about a man stripped of identity and ambition who must rediscover himself, and closes with Relic's philosophy on directing one's own thoughts rather than being controlled by them.
www.MarcRelic.com

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Hello everyone, welcome back to a new episode of the Speechoinspired show. I am your host, Claudio Morgan. For previous episodes, please visit Oravers Network, speechoinspired.ca, or our YouTube channel. My guest uh today is uh Mark Relic, and uh we'll talk about writing, action is more important than words, and how can one become the author of his own life and even more? Mark, thank you for joining me.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Thank you as well.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

It's a pleasure talking with you. How are you today? I'm amazing, and um, you are an author, but also a linguist and uh spiritualist. So, how do you actually inform each other in your day-to-day work as different um, let's say, labels or uh personalities?

SPEAKER_01 1:02

That's a beautiful question. Thank you for that. Um, well, I mean, so this has been my practice for over 10 plus years, uh, as long as I did that with you know, with uh with the people all over, like globally worldwide, and uh nothing fulfills me more because this way I can actually gather all these things I do um as in uh I am in coaching business and in writing business, and and uh, you know, and uh and um I um you know I find it very, very fascinating what this elements can do uh in people's lives because you know, because nothing fulfills me more than to see the breakthrough in in a person's life in whatever way that that can take uh and lead to. And uh, you know, because I I think now more than ever we need that. We need that you know energy growth, we need that spiritual growth, we need that spiritual guidance. Um because you know, uh I think um I think actually uh now more than ever there's there there are some great revelations in the in this part. And I think if we if we uh become intelligent and if we become aware, just allowing it to be our life, I think we can be set to to find the great revelations uh first and foremost on a personal level. Um so yeah, um I've I um I'm very curious person in this way, and so like I said before, nothing nothing fulfills me more than to see uh this uh you know energy growth, spiritual growth uh on a personal level with the with the um with people in need. Um you know, um, because giving giving is the greatest gift you can ever have, other than taking. Uh at least that's my understanding.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

Yes, thank you. And um, you wrote two novels, and we'll talk about those as well. But I want to start to start for a second to the linguistic component of what you are doing. Are you studying specific uh languages or for your own curiosity, for your own research in order to write books? How do you use that aspect of your life?

SPEAKER_01 3:25

Fantastic question. Thank you. Um, actually, uh the whole thing started very uh quite early for me. Um, you know, to uh to give one digression. Um I th I can't quite remember when exactly it started, but but I remember as I was very, very small, I was a small kid. Uh while other kids played ball in the street, I I decided to direct my mind toward being busy with languages because for some reason uh they made sense to me. They just made sense to me. And I didn't think about it as something like uh, you know, uh something unusual for that early age, as you would think. Um I I wasn't sure how to be aware of that. I just practiced it because it made me, you know, it made me curious, first and foremost. Like I said, I'm a very curious person. And um, but I did back then I I did that for just a for just for show. Um I didn't I didn't uh think of any uh I didn't think anything big of it. I just I just did it because uh I chose that to be a part of my free time as I as I as I saw uh nothing else would fit the same interest. And so uh uh later on I I found out what that can actually do. And and uh in a joke, oftentimes I know how to say that that's that can be a pretty much a superpower because I you know funny enough, funnily enough, I I've met people uh so far on my journey, I met people who actually are fluent in more than seven languages, for example. Now that's that's uh that's exquisite, that's just unbelievable. Uh I didn't hear them talk, but um I just heard a uh just a few bits. But um when I when I heard a reference and and uh and the mastery of somebody being able to capacity of being able to to to talk fluently seven languages, I mean I mean, because I mean when we talk about about uh um you know uh somebody who is a linguist and and uh who who dedicates their time and life to that, um it takes time. It takes quite a time to learn that learn like three or four languages, and that's seven languages. But anyway, that's uh yeah, and then I discovered what I can what I can do. I I got hooked, I got hooked on the potential. Um and uh I kept I kept uh you know I kept uh running with it. Um but again I I I I try to focus on that potential more than any expectations. Um because you know, often I wonder whether the outcome would be the same journey, whether what if I would expect that uh ultimate uh sort of, if you will, success or whatever. Um so I um I decided to focus on that creative part and not not to think about it too much, just to do it. Um so when you direct that focus on uh in that in that direction, uh amazing things can happen. So, yes, um ultimately uh this is this is what I've been using in my personal practice. And uh yeah, it's uh it's an unbelievable thing um how the talent can can get developed and and and the difference you can actually make uh in in widen that that talent has to be yours and before it gets anybody else's to share.

SPEAKER_00 7:07

Yes, and in terms of spirituality, do you have any daily practice uh that worked for you over the years and you can share with uh those listening?

SPEAKER_01 7:16

Absolutely. Uh so uh this is a very amazing, amazing point you you just made. Um, because yes, of course, there are many things I do uh uh to maintain that practice uh because um I believe in standards uh that that that a person uh uh makes. Um not not me necessarily, but there's a system to it. And uh daily daily habits, daily rituals uh build up into a standard uh that ultimately leads to a better quality of life. Um no matter how how funny maybe that's that sounds. Um so yeah, absolutely. Uh uh standards is is built standards built um based on action. Action is built based on thoughts and emotions because all of that is actually connected, and you get rewarded spiritually first and foremost. Uh because to me, uh that the that energetic and spiritual growth um is amazing once you once you taste it. I mean you you want to share to everybody uh what you discover. So yeah, uh these standards are made. Um my day starts very early. I mean, you know, if you're looking for to hear some details, um very early, I uh I can I can give you a few points, uh very concrete specific points. What I do. I might because I've been very busy, my day starts very early, like uh say, I don't know, 4 a.m. five, 5 a.m. First off, I um I had a cold plunge, very, very cold plunge to to wake all my senses and to wire my brain, to train my brain to uh to you know to hit the rest of the day. Um so I've been doing this for a long, long time. So for me, it's just natural, second nature. Uh yeah, cold uh to be honest, cold plunge and then a bunch of water, a lot of water, uh before I do anything else. And then I had uh, pretty honestly, I had uh a shot of espresso, and then uh while while I'm I'm still hydrating, and then and then after that, I I have a feeling that I'm I can accomplish pretty much anything. I work on my vision, I work on on um all aspects of of progress I make that day. And and then I and then I I um I work on the vision, how to make somebody else's life amazing, because uh after all, that's what I do. Uh, you know, uh how to uh help others, uh how to uh tackle those challenges, how to uh uh overcome those um those obstacles. And basically, you know, because I mean my my work is about uh others people, uh other people's goals, uh whatever they may be. Uh so so uh you know, so I that's um sort of um um everyday ritual for me. But also I like to be surprised. Um and when I say surprised, that means you know, sometimes I shake things up and sometimes think things and rituals are not the same. I change them a little bit just to feel that uh fresh approach. Um after all, I um I you know my my personal example uh is is an example for others to follow and to actually see uh what

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SPEAKER_01 10:46

works.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

Thank you. And do you recommend your uh women clients to take the cold plunge as well? I know some of them will shudder just at the thought.

(Cont.) Writing, Identity & Daily Discipline: An Author's Journey - Mark Relic

SPEAKER_01 11:37

Uh absolutely, I I recommend cold plunge to everybody, and I was skeptical to to begin with. Um, you know, um, but then of course, you know, you know, intelligence comes before everything else. So I I did a bunch of research about this. Um and and uh you know, and so I decided to believe the science, because there's a science behind that actually. Um science proved that the the the uh biological and chemical reaction of the body, what actually happens when you when you do this cold plunges daily. I'm talking daily. Um so so you know, um, so yes, absolutely, I would recommend. Um and and um also I would recommend uh for everybody, not only women, but everybody, um if you if you are if you are to do it, uh try to train your mind not to think about it too much. The more you think, the less you will do. Just do it. Just do it, just go in uh 30 seconds, one minute, you know, start from your legs uh towards your torso. You know, you you don't have to you don't have to make a big deal of it, just uh you know, just uh do do what what feels good. And remember one thing. Um it doesn't matter what feels good, it matters what brings results. That's what matters. So so if you feel uncomfortable, keep in mind of the outcome, keep in mind what you do for your body. So if you want your body ultimately to be wired and strong and healthy, uh you may want to neglect these pleasantries. Like just do it for a minute or two, you're good to set, you're set to go.

SPEAKER_00 13:19

Yes, I agree with you. And sometimes people find an excuse that it's winter, I don't need a cold shower, but only your brain knows it's winter, your body doesn't know if it's summer or winter or any other uh season. That's why, as you said, don't think about it, just turn the facet on and go in.

SPEAKER_01 13:38

Well, uh, I'll tell you what, uh, sorry to interrupt you. Uh I used to be like that. Uh, in fact, so I was just uh, you know, I was finding the suitable, uh, suitable, uh, appropriate time uh because I I uh allowed myself to negotiate with this over here. And then one day I because I mean, you know, um it it um it it needed just one time to be not done to get into the habit of not doing that. And I I I hated that feeling because I don't I don't like to skip it, and I don't I don't like to I don't like my mind to to win over me. No, no, no. We go other way around. I win over my mind. So if I say now, now if we do it, do it. Um that's also a habit, and that's a mind frame you want to develop. But but once you develop it, once you develop the whole world is yours.

SPEAKER_00 14:35

Yes, and for those who are just uh listening to this uh discussion, Mark pointed to his uh brain. He doesn't want to to negotiate with his brain, he just does it, and I agree with you. That's exactly what I do. Even before I turn on that uh faucet, my mind will say, No, no, no, no, don't do it, but then I I just don't listen to it. So, yes. Mark, you also uh have some hospitality uh background before moving into teaching and um coaching. How did hospitality teach you about people that ended up shaping your coaching uh philosophy?

SPEAKER_01 15:13

That's a fantastic question. I'm glad you you asked that. Actually, you know, you know what's funny? Uh hospitality industry uh uh is now what I like to call my previous life, my past life. Um I well the story is very long, so I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna cut it short. Um you know, um this happened right after college because as a matter of fact, I had um I had uh two ways about this. Um because I decided to go into hospitality industry um um instead of going in agriculture, because I was I was meant to go to agri agriculture as well. Um and so I was very passionate about it because obviously I'm I'm very passionate about all the things I do. And so um um I I am I'm passionate about food, quite honestly. And and then I as a little kid, my my family opened opened a restaurant, uh, which was cafe uh initially, and then it became a restaurant. And uh and then I was thinking, like, because uh at that time, um at that time I enjoyed being in a family business, uh, but I just wanted something mine, I wanted something wider, something, you know, something uh more there, dare I say. And uh and and and then uh I felt like I could achieve that if I if I if I finished the college and stuff like that. Uh so I I this one day I decided to do that. Um so while I was attending college, I was working in my in my my family's restaurant, which was very, very popular and famous back then. I'm talking about like more than 20 years ago. Um so back so then um then my my passion grew and grew, and I I just had a feeling that I would step uh I would step step step uh I would make another step uh in terms of um uh stepping forward to extend that experience because uh I wasn't happy with local situation. So then I started traveling. Uh you know, I started you know traveling and living all over, you know, um I I travel uh uh all across the the globe uh with that with that job, working in a different uh different hotels and chains. But you know, the the funny thing happened that um uh after after a couple of years doing that, um that situation couldn't uh take me uh to any place I wanted to be. So that means my my interests started dropping. Um and I was on a crossroads. I was I was a little bit concerned because I I had a feeling that I needed to do uh some radical cut, uh which means some radical change and radical decision, which was back then kind of tricky because the hospitality industry is was the only industry I knew. I didn't know anything else. Uh because I educated myself and I and I put everything in the hospitality industry. Um so um, but I guess, you know, I guess uh one day I decided uh you know, one day I decided that my story is bigger, that I I was just I was born to do greater things. Uh and I just I didn't I was sick of procrastinating, I was sick of like uh standing in one place, not moving anywhere. Um and uh and then and then I guess you know, I guess that the rest is history. I I changed my uh I totally changed my my um my life and my and my work um by by redirecting my education towards towards uh what I'm doing now, to to not to bore you with details. Uh so so um and then I found because this was risky because I wasn't showing anything. Um but then uh you know uh I I like to think that this effort, this effort ultimately rewarded me for for greater vision of what I do now. Because I mean now I can tell you that this this this is what I do now, um, coaching, teaching, and writing, uh all these elements, uh they became a purpose, they became a meaningful purpose, and uh actually I would do them for free. Um so um yeah, I mean, no matter how it sounds, uh I would say that I live live that purpose. And I'm I'm I'm so happy that I can share it with you as much as with your listeners and everybody out there who listens. Um, so yeah, just be brave, guys, be brave and uh uh never stop believing in your potential, but also um try not to squander it, try not to waste it. Uh be brave and just do it. Uh don't second guess your potential, don't second guess your talent. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

Beautiful. Thank you very much for sharing that. Absolutely. Now I want to turn towards uh something we both uh really enjoy and love writing. And uh you are the author of The Woods and the Monster. So let's start with uh the first one. Uh, what was the the seed idea that grew into that novel? And how long had it been uh with you before you started writing?

SPEAKER_01 20:39

Sure. Uh are you talking about Woods? Yes, sure. Um yeah, I'm almost happy to talk about the woods because the woods is very, very uh funny. The it's a fun, funny concept. Um uh because uh the the funny thing about this is that uh woods is a many layered story, it has many layers. Um but but what what I would start with uh is that this protagonist um was me and it wasn't me uh in this in this world full of mystery and and uh unexpectancy. Um I guess uh looking for inspiration because uh as the story begins with him on a crossroads of him not knowing what his life was. Um so basically what he needed to do is rediscover himself. Um I'm talking about person who is totally stripped of everything, uh, no ambition, no, no inspiration. He was uh he was um uh caught in the um in the in a in a particular uh uh situation in his life where he lived in this big house, no water, no, no electricity, no nothing uh in winter with all these layers on him uh trying to survive. Uh and yet what was very, very, very impressive for me uh when I portrayed him uh was that he no matter how things are tough, no matter how things put him down, no matter how gloomy he feels, uh, he always finds some kind of a positive outcome, positive way of uh thinking, and positive um positive uh uh way of looking at things. Uh and that's what keeps him going. So, anyway, uh also uh the story is hugely about identity, as I am strongly drawn to that, uh, who we really are and how.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

do we find how do we find uh things we are good at ultimately it's it's it's uh all also about talent because uh my my personal belief is that everybody everybody uh uh has that you know everybody has that that talent in them mind you talent uh can be about anything you most people think about about talent like something grandacious something big like something huge oh he's talented or he's not talented you can be talented in anything in anything really uh just the but banal things but if you if you focus on that if you if you dedicate your time to that something can come out from that bigger than bigger than bigger and if you if you pursue that it can greatly be your life and it can reward you in in some ways you couldn't expect so um and so yeah so so this um story progresses uh uh um in this in this magical I would say place called the woods but the woods is not a classical um typical um place you would imagine uh this this story uh takes you there and uh and right right from the start from the get go uh you get uh tested you get challenged um with with the with the um um with something that may seem as a fiction may seem as a reality as you as you make steps you don't quite you're not quite sure what's happening what is what is what um but the story progresses as it rewards you for events that happen that happen as he goes on because at times what is beautiful to to uh to to you as a reader and for character and uh and it becomes different it's very unpredictable i guess uh protagonist goes there uh um to find answers to find answers um for for that peculiar um um period in his life something that can tell him um what is in the cards for him and how can he how can he actually find uh way out of the cornered situation as he's in um and so you know not to divulge too much for the potential readers out there not to diminish their their impression um uh the the the big thing about this is that um then you find some you know some some tricky um um some tricky um how would i put it um points of view uh because you come across some uh some questions about um the core of identity like i mentioned before and some provocative questions about uh about identity um as i saw that that that fit uh back then because this this uh the woods was published i think like two years ago three years ago and and uh it's it's a great pleasure for me to talk even even now about it about it um so um ultimately um you know i wouldn't i wouldn't dare i wouldn't go into a stretch of of um presuming um other other people other people impression um i want i want to to uh leave this open to them because i mean i i i i want to i don't want to mess with uh with with somebody's impression of what they experience that because i i've heard a lot of a lot of different impressions about the woods which is amazing to me um ten like you know five people ten people everybody has a different impression and uh i i love that i just love that uh actually that's the point of the woods uh the point of the woods is not to be comfortable and not to to for you to agree oh yeah yeah i agree not to agree with it but actually to provoke to provoke and to entice that to entice that niche that like that uh if you will the voice or the or your potential lurking in the background just waiting for its time to rise because when it rises well that's a totally different way of things and that and uh you can actually see uh and experience um um rebirth and and you can rebuild your life however you like however you see it fit yeah i agree and uh we all or each of us uh has his own uh wood to um to conquer you know uh we come with a lot of uh baggage in this life and we have to be careful how we uh clean it up shed it off uh we have to work on ourselves even if uh some people think that that's not real but based on my own experience yes this is real work that we have to do it for our family for our ancestors for the generations to come so the moment one understands that life is joyful and we have to make uh the most out of it but there is also work we have to do in order to make it even um easier and more joyful sure absolutely run on the money yeah mark um you wrote a while ago I think that uh people should be kind to their thoughts what's a thought pattern you've had to be kind to or fight fight against in in yourself yes another another fantastic question um well I mean you know if you come from the from a from an aspect of how many thoughts we have daily um you know um uh I'm going to use a cliche just to begin with that uh you know like million times probably you've heard about these uh famous line of you know uh how your thoughts are your life is but actually that's that's a good stand of point uh because you know um thoughts do not control you you control your thoughts uh so coming from that matter uh you know uh every thought is is exactly like your decision every thought is directed by you because you are creator of your thought uh thought doesn't doesn't direct you you direct your thought um um but so so um in order to in order for this to work you need to be kind to your thoughts now what does that mean um so oftentimes um oftentimes we uh we uh uh handle different situations in life in every situation we have to bring uh a different part of ourself whether it's a business person whether it's uh uh you know uh a brother or husband or a cousin or whatever or you know uh uh banal things of of uh habits in your day life whatever it is whatever situation is it calls for thoughts um many of them uh are unnoticed so you do them just like automatically because you're accustomed to it um so so um that the fun that's the funny thing about thoughts right um even even if they seem hard that's you being hard on you thoughts have nothing to do with that um but there is a whole range uh of things you do and can do on everyday basis to actually perfect this um so um you know um a lot to to go back to what I said before about standards uh your life standards are pretty uh pretty strong uh uh foundation for for thoughts and um and so you know it's just like uh however you perceive and see the world outside the the the uh the outside world outside of yourself uh it's what I mean um so you know uh uh uh if you see if you for example if you see something you don't like or if something uh angries you or or you get down or whatever there are millions of things provocations on daily basis why and how you can you can you can be you can feel like this um so you can you have a choice to go down that rabbit hole or you can you know you can do something about it by training yourself uh to just redirect it you know because where energy uh uh where energy goes uh uh you know where focus goes energy flows yeah and so so uh uh to build that standard also um um you know uh thoughts are like muscles I mean based on based on what I can tell you how I perceive it um I may not be right but I can tell you something that works for me and for and and what what has been worked for for uh for over the years um and so so uh this is how I experience this because you know um uh I don't let thoughts uh uh a lot by buy and on their own you know um so I collect them whatever whatever whatever is happening whatever whatever provocation come comes whatever whatever it may be uh I am more focused on inside world than outside world I don't quite believe in outside world uh as much as I believe in inside world because I I have a tendency to take care of my inside world first before I take care of everything else so that's how I do it with the thoughts as well uh thoughts for me are like muscles if you train that muscle it will grow if you don't you won't pretty simple and straightforward um so if you do this on an everyday basis you can find some great revelations beautiful thank you thank you mark and uh we are at the end of our uh wonderful uh chat how can people reach you and do you have any final words for us um sure um I am very easy to be to be reached uh obviously there's markrelic.com website and uh all the socials I'm on a Facebook i mean i have I have all the the you know the the the regulars uh instagram facebook uh uh link linkedin uh you know all of these um um so yeah uh they just they can just visit my my webpage markrelic.com and they can find all the insights there uh and yeah uh for your for your listeners um um of course um like i said before uh you know um more than ever we need to um to slow down and to uh pay attention more about where we are now not where we were not where we're headed right now um that level of consciousness if you practice it enough um you can actually realize uh where you're headed and why remember um every story every life every story uh starts uh with a few questions what do you want what is it you want i mean if you really ask yourself what do you want uh if you if you have an answer to that question and you go forward uh to why why do you want this why exactly do you want this and then after that what are you willing to do to get it if you have an answer to these three questions because this is basics foundation for every goal so uh solving if you have an answer honest answer I'm talking about not this and that maybe maybe not no honest answer to this if you're ready to have an answer to all these three questions you're set perfect thank you very much yes be brave and uh and and uh try to negotiate with yourself less try to do more do more give more make more create more you know and I can promise you that that will lead you to extraordinary life thank you and uh mark said I encourage everyone to write down these uh questions and honestly find the um the answers thank you very much mark thank you as well it was a pleasure thank you and to everyone listening thank you for watching share it leave a comment and until next time love and gratitude