Firstly, Happy New Year!!
And welcome to whatever day you are at of the 366 we are gifted with this year.
After looking to the PAST for the top things I learned in 2023 (my last post of 2023), I am now switching to looking into the FUTURE and setting my intention and attention on what I think will be serve me (and you) in the year ahead.
So let’s jump straight in and see what we can do to help us THRIVE even more this year!
I am writing this in December, as we come towards the end of the year.
Staring down the barrel of 2024.
December is definitely a time to reflect on the year coming to a close.
Plus is a time to curiously contemplate what your Goals for 2024 might be.
I was talking with a client the other day about the degree of global disruption there is currently; economically, politically and with numerous wars/major conflicts (something like 20 worldwide).
All of these things, shocking as they are, pull our attention, energy and emotions towards them.
In metaphysical terms, and even in quantum physics, it is clear that where attention goes, energy flows.
So one of our greatest challenges is where we put our attention.
What are we creating in our life, as a result of where we are placing our attention?
Are we creating the future we wish to experience?
WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND “ACCEPTANCE”, HERE’S WHAT TO DO
I think we all realise that it is more spiritual, saintly or virtuous, to be able to ACCEPT that which is.
There is also a difference between knowing this ‘principle’ and actually trying to apply it to real life.
Especially when life can be pretty horrendous at times.
Or people can be so ‘bad’ at times.
We are forever hearing of terrible things (personally or collectively), and the idea of Acceptance (of these horrible things) is a pretty bitter pill to swallow.
Again, we might know that Acceptance is a higher path, but boy oh boy can it be friggin hard to get to at times!
And again there is a difference between telling ourselves we have accepted something in our lives, and ACTUALLY accepting it all the way down into our bones.
When we intellectually accept things (“Yes, I accept X”), often our emotions and behaviours just don’t get the ‘Memo’.
So…
What to do?
Extract from 18 Ways We Make Life Way Harder Than It Needs To Be by Carl Massy (WAY 16)
“Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.”
Thomas Jefferson (US President and primary Author of US Declaration of Independence)
I think most of us were taught that ‘pride’ is a good thing. To feel proud for who and what we are. To take pride in what we do. To take pride in what we have achieved – be it over the course of our lives or over the last few weeks working on a new project at work, which we totally nailed!
So yes, pride can be a good thing. But like many things, there can be another side to it, when taken to extreme. It is like all great virtues. They are great when they are applied in a conscious self-aware way. Too much bravery and someone can become reckless. Too much loyalty and someone can be taken advantage of or stuck in something for longer than is healthy. Too much single-mindedness and someone can meander down the wrong path. Too much flexibility and someone can be all over the place.
Today we are going to talk about fuel.
Fuel for you, so you get stuff done; the stuff which is best for you in the short and long term, and that contributes to the quality and enjoyment of your life.
We are going to talk about the fuel source called WILLPOWER.
We make life a lot harder when we don’t understand the limitations of willpower.
And what might be a better (less HARD inducing) choice.
Here is the thing.
And where it gets a bit paradoxical.
We may need to use willpower in order to get to the place where we can use another more effective and efficient fuel source.
That fuel source is HABIT.
Well habit isn’t actually a source of fuel, it is more a system which is more efficient in its energy consumption.
Willpower burns fuel (energy) quickly.
Habit burns fuel (energy) more efficiently.
So if you utilize HABIT more, and WILLPOWER less, you will have MORE ENERGY available to direct into your life desires, or have more redundancy for life’s inevitable curve balls.
Essentially life is WAY harder if we don’t have any energy left over for the unplanned, unforeseen and unexpected
Bugger!
This article is for anyone that does, or is currently doing, the WORRY thing.
It’s a story about what I recently did (about 30 mins before writing) to break the dam of worry that had been looming over me for days.
If you read last weeks post, I spoke about getting triggered putting up ‘For Sale’ signs around my neighborhood, as we are in the process of selling our house in Bali (while doing a build at the same time).
So I am juggling a few balls in the air.
Which I am sure that you can relate to.
I am 100% sure.
Rarely have we got all of our ducks lined up so we can kick back with our feet up, and be in blissful rapture.
The price of wanting to live an extraordinary life is there will be a bit of resistance, disruption, set-back and frustration.
It’s the ticket price to play life at the next level.
So I know that you know what I am talking about.
Life can get pretty overwhelming at times.
And then we can do this worry thing.
Which I like to thank my mum for teaching me.
She taught me well.
Just joking mum!!
(Sort of).
So that takes me to one of my main points of today’s ‘lessons’.
Drum roll please maestro…
I have been threatening to send you a sample from my upcoming book, so here is the PREFACE, which gives you a sense of where I am going with the book, plus I get to share with you some of my (mis)adventures and insights along the way.
Please enjoy.
“It is through science that we prove, but through intuition that we discover.”
Henry Poincare (French Mathematician)
Have you ever been to Bali (Indonesia)?
What a magical place. Beaches. Balinese massages. Sunshine. Great surfing. Outstanding food (did anyone tell you Bali is a food mecca?). Beautiful local people. Such an amazing place to relocate to, in order to start the next phase of your life journey and professional transition. What could possibly go wrong?
And yes, I was chuckling as I wrote that line, as I am sure at some points in your life you have uttered those very same magical and fateful words. “What could possibly go wrong?”
I read a lot.
Sometimes I read a book and think, “That is friggin’ incredible! Imagine if everyone knew that.”
The things you learn by reading non-fiction books is LIFE CHANGING.
But since most people won’t read a 700-page book I might recommend, I decided I would select 9 insights from 5 books I have recently read, to share some incredible insights, and maybe even entice you to read the whole book.
Let’s jump straight in with Book 1.
(Note: I will be diving deeper on these subjects in a LIVE Presentation and Q&A Session on 31 Aug, so if you are reading this after then, send me a message and I will give you the link for the recording.)
You know I like to keep things practical.
I am about doing more of the stuff that uplifts us, makes us more powerful, capable, expansive and competent; and doing less of the stuff that holds us back, diminishes us, constricts us, and triggers our survival emotional states.
So I consider the topic of ‘spirituality’ and a ‘spiritual practice’ through that lens.
And here is how the conversation / riff went.
This conversation became a part of my resilience program on how to become a natural Superhuman (a combination of Leader, Warrior and Sage).
I am interested to hear what it brings up for you, and do send me any questions you might have.
You can watch the video – just click on the image below to watch it on YouTube below – or if prefer to listen to the audio version, click HERE.
Not that I own a car now.
I used to.
Now that I live in Bali, I own a scooter, but the same rule applies.
Doing maintenance on my scooter, means it continues to run well, and doesn’t let me down when I am trying to overtake a rubbish truck while going uphill.
It is essential, in my mind, to an easeful life.
And a flourishing social life. Woohoo!!
PLUS it is something that if I don’t do, makes my life way harder than it needs to be.
Likewise if I don’t take care of my health – via maintenance – I am likely to be dealing with a train wreck or health scare downstream.
I know you know this already.
But given the proliferation of confusing or bad advice (and the many distractions with shiny new things to focus on) it can be hard to know where to direct your efforts.
So I am going to share some absolute basics for maintenance and expand on the idea where necessary.
Tick these off and you are on the right path.