Joe Wojcik
Brutally honest in its telling, readers will find themselves engrossed as Joe shares a penetrating insight into the possibilities of transformation, using his own life’s painful trials and ultimate success as examples.
Joe was an easygoing and sensitive “fat” kid who fell victim to merciless bullying. Humiliation turned to anger and towards a life of “looking out for number one”. For most of his teens and early adulthood he became a self-absorbed cheater, drug abuser and alcoholic who cared only for himself and his pleasures. He learned that his abuses came at a high cost, losing his first professional job and unable to maintain any enduring relationship.
Then, in 1982 he was critically injured in a car wreck, landing in a chronic pain clinic, barely able to move his body. Lying there in the hospital bed paralyzed by pain he had an epiphany that the key to happiness was not the self-oriented life he was living but on helping others.
Slowly, he refocused his mind on healing his broken body, an effort that took almost seventeen years. He transformed himself from near-cripple to a Black Belt in martial arts, long distance bike rider and personal trainer. His transition was not complete, however. He was only able to repair his body because he was able to repair his mind. His thinking changed his physical life, and then went to work on the outside world. He started with fostering troubled gang members and over fourteen years he and his wife helped more than 100 children adolescent teens navigate through troubled upbringing.
He then started to share the philosophy of his holistic, mind-based, life-changing system that transformed him from an “everyday Joe”, into a happy, caring individual who embraces life and works everyday to help people do the same.
Joe Wojcik is a powerful motivational speaker, delivering messages of hope and possibility. He shares profound insights, perspectives and education through seminars and keynote speaking engagements. A victim of bullying in his youth Joe’s life journey drew him into substance abuse as a young man. A debilitating automobile accident in his early thirties became a life altering experience. Joe persevered through a seventeen year healing process that included a physical, psychological and spiritual transformation.
Drawing upon his experiences Joe today addresses topics on how changing perceptions can change one’s life, overcoming adversity, transformational healing, fulfilling purpose, the power of nurturing in parenthood, bullying and its long-term impacts and the role of fitness and nutrition in achieving a more fruitful and balanced life. His messages are delivered with an exuberance that can only be found in someone who has learned to live life to the fullest.
Joe founded Apex Performance Solutions in order to share his knowledge and experience. He is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sport Medicine and a Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant for the American Council on Exercise. He also publishes a widely distributed newsletter called,” Cup of Joe” addressing issues on wellness, health and nutrition. Joe has begun a nationwide movement of “I am Yubbie” as he continues to promote the concept that everyone has the power to change and the right to live a healthy, productive and balanced life.
There were still many inner issues I had to resolve in my life. I think that my unconscious mind wanted to free me of the demons (negative attitudes and emotions) that attached themselves to my inner core. A transformation was happening partly as a product of many meditations. Some issues would surface during meditation or others would pop up out of nowhere while I was doing something else.
A perfect example happened to me one day driving home from work. I had a great day, business was prosperous and life was good. It had been ten years since my father died and the last time, except at his funeral, that I had spoken to my brothers. My physical, spiritual and psychological healing had come a long ways. I was very tired on the trip home when for some unknown reason thoughts of my brothers began to fill my consciousness.
I was extremely upset that they had abandoned my father in his time of need. Animosity toward my brothers’ actions grew and tumultuous thoughts whirled in my head fast and furious. A part of me wanted vengeance and another part knew that I needed to overcome these negative feelings. I became emotional and tears threatened to flow. I felt a very heavy pressure on my chest as though I was having a heart attack. I actively tried to concentrate on trying to accept them and forgive them for the way they treated dad. I started to cry and I remember a great passion to forgive them overtake me.
I pulled to the side of the road - everything was out of focus. It was like driving in a torrential downpour when the car’s wipers can’t clear the windshield fast enough. There is no visibility. I decided to let go and give up the hatred. I felt an incredible sense of relief come over me. The pressure on my chest dissipated and I felt exhausted. It was like I had worked out for two hours. My body was fatigued. My mind was tired while my spirit bathed in peace. It was on that ride I gave up what I had been clinging to for so many years. This was one of those inner barriers restricting my physical healing.
I decided to take an action to reunify my family. I put the past were it belonged and wanted to go forward. It was early November and when Deb got home I shared my revelation. My eyes were still puffy and red. My body was numb. I told her it was time to get my family back together. My mother always put a great emphasis on family and told us continually to keep the family together after she was gone. That is what I set out to do. I no longer held any ill feelings towards them. What happened had happened and it was time to heal the wounds. I decided to invite my brothers and their families to our house for Thanksgiving. Deb was not very optimistic but she said it was worth the shot. I sent both an invitation and waited for their response.
It was a couple of days before Thanksgiving and I had still not heard a word. I received a phone call that night and it was my older brother Fran. He told me that he would not be able to attend because of prior plans and suggested that we get together for the next holiday, which was Christmas, at my brother Pete’s house. I accepted the offer. He also indicated that my yo
