The end of year has a cultural significance and (though some of us might try to ignore it) it provides you with an opportunity.
The Genius of the Body
“As one can see most obviously in gifted athletes and performers, the body itself can be a source of knowledge — coordination, grace, agility, stamina, skill — both intuitive and learned. Indeed, there are a rare few who might be called Einsteins of the body — geniuses at inventing, expressing, and employing movement.”
Bill Hayes
Your body is full of wisdom, potential, power and love.
It can be realised and released by listening deeply and leading courageously.
TRY THIS
Take some time to be still and silent
Feel your body breathing
Allow the in breath to expand awareness through your body
As you breath out let go any tension and allow awareness to flow through you.
After 3 - 15 minutes of stillness invite movement into the practice.
Open to the possibility of being guided by the breath and the body (this may take some practice).
After 15 minutes of moving in this way move on with your day - with a gentle effort of staying embodied.
Tune into the Wisdom of your Body
"In order to change, people need to become aware of their sensations and the way that their bodies interact with the world around them. Physical self-awareness is the first step in releasing the tyranny of the past."
Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score
Our bodies are gateways to the present moment, vehicles that carry us through the world and containers that we often get lost in (they are also much more then words can convey).
Disconnection from our bodies, leaves us disconnected from the world, lost in thought and stuck in our heads.
Reconnecting to our bodies can be a therapeutic rest for the mind and nervous system, a way of opening more fully to our experience and shifting our perspective and a way of re-engaging with a wisdom and intuition that is largely ignored and trampled by the modern world.
TRY THIS
three ways to connect with your body
Workout - if you're feeling high energy or want to build more energy workout. Lift some weights, run, dance, jump, play - get into your body and notice what it's like to move in a vigorous challenging but safe way.
Mindful Movement - sometimes our bodies are tired and minds are wired. In moments like this engaging in low impact, low energy movements - like yin yoga, tai chi. or just gentle, slow, nurturing movements - can be a beautiful healing retreat from the noise of the mind.
Stillness / Listening - meditating on a still body can be surprisingly challenging and empowering. Simply sit with the experience of stillness and notice what comes up in the body and mind for 3 - 15 minutes.
Key of Yet
“I am always doing what I can't do yet in order to learn how to do it."
Vincent Van Gogh
the key is in your hands
You are an ever changing, ever growing being -
if you choose to be
You have infinite potential to grow into -
or to let go to waste.
The door of “I can’t” can keep you trapped
The key of “yet” can set you free.
PONDER THIS
What’s one thing you’re willing to be “bad” at until you get good?
YOU BECOME WHAT YOU PRACTICE
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day“.
Brené Brown
Authenticity is the practice of being true to yourself.
More than believing everything you think, being guided by emotions, acting upon every impulse, or “doing what you're supposed to do” - if authenticity is an ideal to strive for you must discover (or choose) who you want to be, what you will stay true too?
This orientation invites us beyond ourselves and into our potential.
Authenticity becomes a guiding light to move toward, a path to follow, something to aim at & stand for.
A way of opening to our emotions, impulses, thoughts & the world around us and choosing, purposefully, how to proceed.
Authenticity takes the curiosity and vulnerability to get to know yourself,
the courage and compassion to honour that which you know,
& the humility and willingness to grow beyond.
TRY THIS
Each day
*Spend some time (15 - 30 minutes) observing yourself.
Noticing your thoughts, feelings and sensations without reacting to them. Just being still allowing things to be as they are and noticing what it’s like, aka Meditation.
*Write down 1 - 3 values that are important to you and you would like to live by today.
*Be open to ways of practicing those values as the day unfolds.
If authenticity is important to you and you have a better way of honouring it, I would love to hear from you.
Please reply to this email with your thoughts.
WILL IS A SKILL
"Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. Resistance arises from within.
It is self-generated and self-perpetuated.
Resistance is the enemy within."
― from The War of Art. By Steven Pressfield
Right now as I sit and write this I sit with resistance.
The resistance is presenting as frustration and doubt.
The resistance is commenting on my poor planning, my lack of integrity, the uselessness of this work.
The resistance is working to convince me that it's too hard, not worth it, a waste of time, that I should do one of the other tasks on my list.
Thanks to Steven Pressfield for introducing me to "Resistance".
When we are able to give a name to the collection of excuses, thoughts, feelings and impulses that hold us back and get in the way of what we are called to do, it makes it easy to dis-identify with those parts of our experience so we can choose how to respond.
By recognising and naming "resistance" you get to acknowledge "I am more than my thoughts, feelings, impulses.", "I can lean into my experience and state of being without being controlled by it."
This subtle shift in perspective can transform your state and unlock your potential.
TRY THIS
Next time you don't feel like doing something that you really want to do write down or name all the excuses why you don't want to do it.
Then state 1 - 3 reason (the fewer the better) why you will.
Next do the thing and know you are more than that which try's to hold you back.
Bonus exercise - Thanks resistance.
Will is Skill. Resistance is the ground upon which the skill of will us cultivated.
KNOW YOUR ROLES
“And do thy duty, even it be humble, rather than another's, even if it be great. To die in ones duty is life, to live in another is death."
Bhagavad Gita
Many of us live full lives
But how many live fulfilling lives?
In a world full of hype it's easy to see what others are doing and feel that we are less than, that we are not doing enough or fulfilling our potential.
The truth is your potential will never be fulfilled, that's the beautiful thing about it, there's always room to grow.
But if you're too focused on what you're not doing,
you'll miss what you are doing
& spend your life being very busy chasing ghosts.
TRY THIS
A simple but profound shift you can make is to know your roles.
Recognise the roles you play in your life,
explore why they are meaningful to you,
choose how you want to play those roles &
practice playing them wholeheartedly.
The Art of Stillness
"Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen - that stillness becomes a radiance."
Morgan Freeman
Beyond the noise & the chaos,
Beyond the rush of life,
Beyond the impulse to go, go, go,
There is a stillness.
A sanctuary.
A place you can visit and be at peace.
A place from which you can be just as productive but not a product of "rushing or busyness.”
TRY THIS
SOUL Revival
This Saturday, 8th of June, you are invited to join us in for a session of stillness & rest.
Tickets here.
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
― Mark Twain
Specifically, why are you here, in this space?
What drove you to be here?
What is it that you hope to get, give, feel, think, share, know or experience?
Why are you here?
Is it part of a bigger picture? A bigger vision? A bigger mission?
Is it feeding part of you want to grow?
Do you have values, purpose, priorities, people & projects, meaningful enough to you, that they'll guide you, even when you feel lost?
Knowing yourself deeply, honouring yourself courageously, growing yourself lovingly is not an easy path.
It's one that will often go against the grain of what you (& your culture) think is possible.
But it leads to flourishing, eudaimonia & inner peace.
And this might make the hard work worth it.
UNIQUITY
"It is better to strive in one's own dharma than to succeed in the dharma of another.
Nothing is ever lost in following one's own dharma, but competition in another dharma breeds fear and insecurity."
Bhagavat Gita
UNIQUITY = Unique plus Unified
You are a unique individual.
You have a combination of strengths that are unique to you.
You have a way of looking at the world that is unique to you.
And whether you realise it or not you are unified & connected to the world around you.
You are part of the whole.
If you knew this to be true what would you do?
Life is Short, Live It Well
"In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much – how little – is
Within our power."
Emily Dickinson
Your time and energy are precious,
and they are running out.
The trick is not to chase them - they are already here.
The Way is Presence.
Tuning in & Choosing.
Your potency lies in knowing & focusing on what is meaningful to you & with in your control & letting the rest be.
The serenity prayer sums it up
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can't change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
Ponder This
What's one thing you worry about that you can't control?
What's one thing you whinge about you can't (or won't) change?
Whats one thing that distracts you from what really matters?
What's could you use your imagination for that's better than worrying?
What could you use your words for that's better than whinging?
What could you focus on that's better than being distracted?
What would it feel like to make the shift?
"Don't Rush, Don't Wait"
"Don't just stand there, do something."
also
"Don't just do something, stand here (tune in & choose well)."
Act from a place of Alignment.
When we rush we often do so from a place of impatience. Guided by emotion or thought stream that can seem very compelling but is often impulsive & reactionary.
While impulses & reflexes serve a purpose they can often be the fastest way to a poor choice.
Reactivity makes it easy to miss subtleties that could make for wiser ways.
Procrastination, though can be a killer of dreams & action often beats anxiety.
Sometimes we don't know until we go and it takes action to expand our point of view and access wiser ways.
A simple (not always easy) way to thread the needle between rushing & waiting is
To become deeply present and tuned in.
To open to the moment and your experience of it.
To move from a place of intentionality, curiosity & sensitivity.
To move toward the best outcome.
This takes practice, awareness, agility, empathy, courage & compassion.
It takes a willingness to slow down, pay attention & respond.
PRACTICE THIS
*Tuning In & Being (in the “gym”) -Meditate on Stillness, Silence, Non Reactivity.
This is a practice of deep listening.
Of noticing thoughts, feelings, impulses, sensations and tendencies without being controlled by them.
Choose a place where you can rest in stillness, commit to being still for the duration of the practice & notice what it’s like.
*Tuning In & Choosing (in the arena) - STOP
When you find yourself in a moment of rush
STOP
Slow down
Take a deep breath
Open to and observe your experience
Proceed Purposefully.
GHOSTS, GUIDING LIGHTS & GUARDIAN ANGELS
"The excuses the once held you back become fuel for the new you."
Your experience & potential is rationed by well reasoned illusions.
Unexplored fears, self righteous knowing, pre-conceived notions.
Through mindful awareness & humble curiosity these "ghosts" come to be seen as what they are.
Illusions.
You realise you are more than you think.
Each time you remember "I am more than my thoughts" the ghosts become guiding lights.
An invitation to self discovery & growth.
As you start to live with the guiding light of mindful awareness, seeing beyond initial impulses & conditioned thoughts, the guardian angels of wisdom, compassion & courage offer you guidance.
The ghosts that once held you back become reminders.
Reminders of your capacity to overcome, reminders of your wholeness, reminders of your limits and your limitlessness.
This is a great gift.
Ponder This
*Think of a time you knew you were right & turned out to be wrong.
*Think of a time when you were sure you couldn't but you did.
*What's something you know that's holding you back?
Is it possible to notice another way?
TIME FOR SOME ACTION
"Sure, at some level, every experience in life boils down to your interpretation of it.
And if you can shift your mindset, then perhaps you can turn a negative experience into a positive one.
But life is not a hallucination. You still have to deal with things. A healthy perspective can lessen the burden, but so can taking action.
A problem that is solved is one that you don't need to mentally reframe."
James Clear
We have a saying in the gym - "you don't have to feel ready, you've just got to be ready."
Sometimes the fastest way to change your mind is by taking action.
By doing the thing that you imagine you have to mentally prepare for.
TRY THIS
Choose one thing you know you "should" do that you keep putting off.
Do it as soon as and as well as you can.
Notice what it's like to have taken strong action.
Rinse & Repeat.
COMMITMENT
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans.
That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves, too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.”
William H Murray
Commitment -real commitment is a choice.
One choice that informs all other choices until that commitment is fulfilled (or you decide to uncommit).
There a 3 types of commitment
FUTURE FOCUSED
A commitment to make a change, to new way of being, to reach a certain goal.
“this is who I’ll be”, “this is what I’ll do”, “this is the vision I will move toward.”
We empower our Future commitment with planning & preparation.
PRESENT MOMENT
Committing fully to the task at hand, to walking the path, to executing with excellence.
We empower the present moment with intentions, focus, effort & a practice mindset.
SUSTAINED
The capacity to stay committed over time.
Continuing through set backs, resistance, boredom, doubt, failures and fears.
We empower sustained commitment with patience, perseverance and passion.
TRY THIS
Plan and Prepare
What it is you’ll commit to this week?
What steps will you take to honour this commitment?
When will you take those steps?
How will you prepare yourself and your environment to make the plan most likely to succeed?
Practice Presence
When it comes to doing the thing -
Get clear on your intentions - what will you bring to the moment?
Harness you attention & effort - what will you focus on? what skills will you practice? how much effort will you make?
Commit to doing the best you can in the moment - reflecting later on how you could improve.
Reflection & Resilience
At the end of the week, after a rest, reflect on the week that was -
what did you do well?
how could you improve?
Reconnect with your commitment, your vision - is it still strong, are you willing to recommit this week?
Then with the notion of making next week a little better than this one - repeat the process.
STRESS & STRESSORS
“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things.”
Epictetus
Stressors are a inevitable part of life.
Particularly if you have people & projects that are meaningful to you.
How you respond to stressors determines whether they become stressful or just another challenge to work with.
This can be the difference between feeling stressed and feeling fulfilled, the difference between burning out and burning bright.
Choosing how to prioritize and respond to stressors can help you avoid experiencing “stress”and embrace life’s challenges with a sense of purpose & strength.
Noticing when you are experiencing “stress” gives you the opportunity to regulate so that you can step out of reactivity and into a calmer, wiser state.
PONDER THIS
1
What stressors (challenges) are you likely to face this week?
How will respond to those challenges?
Why is it meaningful to you that you respond that way?
1a
How do you notice when you’re stressed?
What’s one wise thing you could do to feel a little less stressed in that moment?
1b
What’s one behaviour you could eliminate and one habit you could begin that would allow you to handle life’s challenges more skilfully?
EMBRACING STRESS
Stress can rob you of being at your best for your people, projects and passions.
If you’re able to embrace stress it loosens its grip on you and you’ll be more able to engage with the challenges of life (stressors) more skillfully.
On Monday 5th of April at 10am Sydney time we will be running an
Embracing Stress Workshop
sharing some tools and insights to handle stress compassionately and embrace stressors purposefully.
Click here for the link
Catching Ghosts
"Inspiration is merely the reward for working every day."
Charles Baudelaire
To be inspired is to feel the grace of god, potential, genius, possibility arise inside of you.
To have felt, or even imagined, inspiration is to have stumbled upon a treasure.
The way to unlock that treasure is not by waiting for it to re-appear - but by working diligently so when it comes you catch it.
The work you do when you're "uninspired" creates a habit to take best advantage of inspiration when it strikes.
Answer This
What will you work on this week (even if you don't feel like it)?
When will you do it?
What resistance might you face?
How will you overcome that resistance?
At the end of the week reflect ......
What was it like to do what you said you were going to do (or not)?
What was it like to harmonise words thoughts and actions (or not)?
Noticing Beyond Knowing
“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few.”
Sunryu Suzuki
If the cup is full nothing more can enter.
Knowledge is power
But if your knowledge stops you from listening, limits your thinking or stops your from opening your mind/heart
Then that power is being used against you.
Ponder this
If you could free yourself from “knowing” what might you notice?
PERCEPTION SHAPES REALITY
“It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us but rather our mindset about our physical limits.”
― Ellen J. Langer
& tune into life!!