Do you believe that everything you experience in your life, even the negative, is helping you to eventually become the best version of yourself? In this post, we’ll explore how it’s possible to change your mindset, even when all you have ever known or have experienced in life is challenge. I recently interviewed small business owner, Javier Arellano with ‘Taco ‘Bout Good’ to hear more about his journey and how he has done a complete 180 with his life. His story was just too good not to share!!! Javier shows us how the power of a positive mindset and making a difference in other people’s lives can be the choice that changes everything.
Javier candidly shared his journey about growing up in a challenging environment, and how he overcame a life of crime to become a business owner and recognized person of service in his community. He credits his initial challenges as necessary steps in his life to help him become the man he is now. Javier has a true passion for helping others see that anything is possible no matter what the circumstances. He is using his new taco business as a way to serve the community, share his journey, and show others that a positive mindset can change your life.
How environment impacts a young mind
Javier’s first memories are of living a life of survival in South Los Angeles in the 90’s. He was raised as a first-generation Latino in a neighborhood where it was common to witness drug deals and shootings on nearby corners. As he explains, his challenging environment greatly influenced his early choices in life. He remembers being a boy and living in a very machismo household, witnessing his dad’s overbearing attitude towards his mom. All of these situations left a lasting impression on him. He recognizes that back then, he wasn’t shown any other way of life, so this harsh upbringing was viewed as “normal” to him.
“When you live in a place like that, it’s all you know,” Javier shared.
Despite his circumstance, Javier excelled in school and worked hard for good grades. As high school graduation neared, he was presented with a scholarship to USC, but didn’t take advantage of it. He explained that while many friends and family members encouraged him to go to college, he was never pressured to go, so he just never went.
All he knew as choices in life were you either get a job to make ends meet, or you deal drugs to make lots of money. No other options seemed possible because he was never exposed to anything different. Out of necessity for paying bills, Javier chose to work regular jobs and side hustles. He quickly realized the amount of money he was making per hour would never be enough to get by, let alone live a lifestyle he truly desired. In Javier’s eyes, there was only one other way to make money, dealing drugs. He turned to neighborhood friends as his only other example for how to get by.
Javier’s “friends” turned out to be not such a great influence. They showed him a path to wealth that seemed easy, but in reality, left Javier feeling highly anxious. While he made fast money dealing drugs, he admits to always feeling like he had to look over his shoulder, wondering and worrying whether he would get caught.
Javier shared, “In that lifestyle, you were either going to die or get caught.”
Whether we call what happened next as fortunate or unfortunate can be left to be debated. Javier believes the next few years of his life, even though they were hard, would be the necessary, unique circumstances that would help shift his perspective and be the catalyst for positive change.
One day while dealing drugs, Javier was apprehended and arrested. He admits to feeling a bit relieved when he was finally caught. He knew it was a matter of time, and he didn’t like the feeling of hiding what he was doing.
Receiving wisdom from an unlikely source
Javier was sentenced to three years in prison, but he actually looks back at this time in his life as a great opportunity for change. He ended up meeting lots of “folks” in prison but found himself drawn to the people who held a more positive perspective. Javier shared that many of the “lifers” in prison seemed to have an alternative, positive outlook on life. It was a lifer in prison who told him about the power of intentional thoughts and gave him a book about the law of attraction. Javier started using some of the mindset practices in this book and began to realize that he could choose a better way of life.
When Javier was exposed to the law of attraction book, he realized he was responsible for what thoughts he chose to believe. He began to see that he felt better when he was able to let go of negative thoughts and instead choose to focus on positive ones.
I asked Javier what practice was his favorite, and he said, “Gratitude… waking up every day and being grateful for still being alive.”
Javier explained that while in prison, he started to reflect upon many things in his life, and he realized everything came down to choices. He recognized there was always this positive part of him that wanted a good life, but the environment he stayed in, the people he hung around, and the things he was exposed to never really allowed this good part of him to flourish.
When he started reading books about the mind, manifestation, and the law of attraction, he says it was like a switch was being flipped inside of him. Javier explained that he started to see how he could choose to be a victim to his circumstances, or he could choose something better and eliminate the things that were no longer a fit.
Manifesting a better way of life
Javier left prison hoping for another chance at a better way of LIFE. He landed a union job, but soon after, started an auto detailing business with a partner. One of the greatest leaps he took was getting up the courage to walk into a Chamber of Commerce office to become a member. He laughed as he replayed entering the office as a large Hispanic man with a shaved head and tattoos. As he approached the staff, he joked about how he had to sneak in over the fence and bust in the back door to get in. He says everyone had a good laugh, and it was his sense of humor and determination to connect with them that helped him put their fears at ease.
A little more time passed, and Javier started working for a family that owned a Mexican food restaurant. He loved connecting with the people in the community, and it was at this point that Javier started, “Spreading taco gospel.” He says it would have been easy for him to see signs that said “NO SOLICITING” and to take that as a sign to not enter a business. But he changed the script in his mind and told himself he was going in to offer them positivity and to see how he could help them. He was not just going in with the intention to sell, but rather, going around to get to know people in his community, to see how he could help businesses, and to offer them an easier way to get food.
Seeing the good during challenging times
Leading into 2020, Covid became a harsh reality for many people, and Javier became a very active member of the community and local Chamber of Commerce. He felt called to bring the community together during this challenging time, and he led events to help local businesses, schools, and hospitals. Instead of feeding fears, Javier turned to positivity and suggested that all the businesses make plates of food to help feed those in need.
It came as a huge surprise when Javier was later contacted by the Chamber of Commerce to make sure he would be present at one of their honorary events. At the event, he was recognized for his community efforts and honored as Small Business Person of the Year.
Taking a big leap of faith to spread more positivity
At some point, Javier felt like it might be the right time to branch out and start his own restaurant business. With a new baby daughter in his life, he felt compelled to be a better example and create a better life.
With the help of an angel investor, Javier recently opened his own Taco restaurant in Upland, CA, and called it Taco ‘Bout Good. He’s hoping to spread positivity through his “taco gospel” all while offering great Mexican food. He especially wants kids to see that there are many options in life and that with a positive mindset, you can live a good, balanced, successful life.
Javier also recognizes that he couldn’t be where he is today without the support of the people who have come into his life. Many of them believed in him and gave him a chance, even when he didn’t know any better. He attributes much of his success to the friends and family who have helped him become who he is now. He expresses deep gratitude for the people he has met and knows that each of them has had a huge impact.
“Positive thinking brings positive outcomes.” -Javier Arellano
Javier sees everything in his journey as necessary. The challenges of a difficult start in life gave him the motivation to always be seeking out something better. While his early role models weren’t perfect, he doesn’t blame anyone for his shortcomings. In fact, he now practices gratitude for those people who came into his life and showed him how “not to be.” With much reflection, Javier shares that life simply comes down to choices. You can choose the path of blame and anger, or you can choose to let what happened in your past to motivate you to change your life.
Javier says a key to a good life is to practice gratitude every day.
“Positive thinking brings positive outcomes.” -Javier Arellano
Visit Javier at Taco ‘Bout Good
If you are needing a little positivity in your life AND you have a craving for some delicious Mexican food, you can head over to Javier’s new restaurant, Taco ‘Bout Good at 160 East C Street, Upland, CA. If you can’t make it to his restaurant but just want to join in and get some taco gospel, you can follow Javier’s journey with growing his business on Instagram at @taco_bout_good
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