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Acceptance Emotional Feeling

Building Emotional Fitness For Peak Performance 

I am sure that I don’t need to convince anyone that physical fitness, increases your ability to perform at your peak. 

And by physical fitness I am focusing – for this example – on the cardiovascular system. 

The ability to get the maximum amount of oxygen into our cells. 

One measure of physical fitness is how quickly an athlete can go from an elevated heart-rate to their resting heart rate.

For example, from 200 beats per minute, to 60 beats per minute (or lower). 

Sort of like returning to a state of (physical) homeostasis. 

Well, just like with the physical body, we want to do the same thing with our EMOTIONS. 

My definition of emotional fitness is the ability to go from an elevated emotional state (principally in a survival emotional state), back to a state of equanimity (calmness) or even better, into an elevated emotional state like joy. 

How quick can you get from anger, rage, frustration, or despair, back into a state of mental calmness, and emotional stability? 

That is what we are here to talk about today. 

Continue reading “Building Emotional Fitness For Peak Performance “
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Choice Decision Making Emotional Feeling

How To Feel Good

This “strategy” is pretty simple. 

And sort of easy to do. 

I say “sort of” as there may be times when is harder to do, and I want to be honest with you. 

And as old-matey Jim Rohn used to say: “What is easy to do, is also easy not to do“. 

So, although this is not so hard, most of time, it actually needs to be undertaken, in order to have the feel-good experience. 

This strategy is also free. 

It doesn’t require props.

And it creates a ripple effect. 

As in, in can make other people feel good too.

That’s pretty cool.  

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Uncategorized

You Can’t Get Habits To Stick, If You Don’t Do This 

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle (Greek Philosopher)

I thought it might be cool to start off with some ancient wisdom. 

Which also highlights that the conversation about HABITS – and their importance – has been going on for millennium.

So, nothing new. 

However; there are parts to the ‘good habit building‘ thing, which are important to know, but even more important to actually PRACTICE. 

The context, or impetus, for today’s discussion, was a recent personal experience. 

As you probably know, I spent 14-years in the Australian Army, where discipline was a big thing (obviously). 

But the truth is, my dad was super disciplined, so I was actually taught the virtue of discipline for 17 years, before I even donned my Army greens. 

My point being; I have a pretty high level of discipline. 

Also, recently I completed a yoga teacher training course, where at the end I made a commitment to myself to do a daily practice for 1-year, to confirm for me the effectiveness of the methodology I had been taught (i.e. Traditional Hatha Yoga). 

So, I made a commitment to myself (which I am good at honouring), plus I have a high sense of disciple, HOWEVER a couple of weeks ago and 90+ days into my year-long daily commitment, I just “FORGOT” to do my daily yoga practice. 

WTF?!?!

One would think with such a high level of disciple, I would have not missed a beat. 

Therefore, it would seem (since reality is showing me), that having high levels of discipline is not enough when it comes to performing Habits. 

That, my friends, is the topic of today’s conversation.

Continue reading “You Can’t Get Habits To Stick, If You Don’t Do This “
Categories
Choice consciousness Growth

Time to Get Clear About What Is In Your Control

Once a month I will record a short 3-5 min video with a practical Tip, Tool, or Strategy. Today is the first edition, and is one of the most important (and simple) STRATEGIES that I teach all my private Coaching clients. It will improve your decision-making “RESULTS” by about 200%!

Enjoy. 

Continue reading “Time to Get Clear About What Is In Your Control”
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Choice Decision Making Growth

Like Oil And Water These Things Don’t Go Well Together 

As I suspect you know – I believe that it is the quality of our decisions that shape our destiny (which I even wrote a book on). 

The yogi’s – 100’s of years ago – also knew this. 

When considering the elements of the “mind” then understood that there was an Higher mind and a Lower mind. 

Somewhat similar to our conscious mind and unconscious mind, but not exactly. 

The yogi’s actually identified 4-parts of the mind. 

Which is similar to modern psychologists with their Triune Brain model. 

Although, I think the yogi’s had cooler sounding names.

The one I really like is the “Buddhi” part of mind. 

The higher mind. 

The one more closely connected to our individual (Purusha) and collective consciousness. 

I doubly love the idea of having a “sharpened” Buddhi. 

In modern language that would equate to a well-developed prefrontal cortex.

But the thing that most stands out for me (and was of primary interest to these yogi’s), was the power of DISCERNMENT. 

Seeing the big picture. 

Continue reading “Like Oil And Water These Things Don’t Go Well Together “
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Choice Decision Making Growth Life Lessons

Making Assumptions About “Bad” Stuff

I am almost 100% certain, that you, like me, have done this before. 

And rather than me doing the big build up thing, let’s jump immediately into today’s topic. 

But just to make sure of my “almost 100% certain” assumption, let me ask you this.

Have you EVER labelled an event – at the time – as “BAD”, only to find out at a future date that it was probably one of the best things to ever happen to you? 

I am guessing you have. 

We all have. 

The next thing I am curious about is…

Exactly how many times do you think this has happened to you? 

Once? 

A few times? 

Or if you really think about it…a LOT!

Continue reading “Making Assumptions About “Bad” Stuff”
Categories
Belief Choice Perspective

How We Mess With Reality, And Not In A Good Way

Since a “picture tells 1000 words” I figured I only need to write a handful of words today. 

Which is good for all of us. 

The other evening, I observed this “phenomenon“. 

As you know, I live in a Bali village (not in a straw hut, but an actual house). 

And in said village there are LOTS of ceremonies, celebrations (weddings, births, funerals, etc.), band practice (preparing for celebrations), roosters, dogs, and most recently a gaggle of ducks. 

So, at times it can be a wee bit noisy. 

The other night I was observing mine, and my partners REACTION to “loud noise”. 

This time it was band practice, and it started about 8:30pm, when I am generally winding down for the day. 

I felt myself getting a bit worked up. 

I also noticed Ferry going up a few more notches higher than me. 

But then I reminded myself of something I already know. 

It is the STORIES we tell about the reality of an experience, which determines the MEANING of the experience, and therefore our body’s ultimate response. 

The lightbulb went on, and my level of bothersomeness went down.  

Continue reading “How We Mess With Reality, And Not In A Good Way”
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Belief Choice Perspective Stress Success

Is Your Mindset Bias Leaning The Right Way?

Once a month I will record a short 3-5 min video with a practical Tip, Tool, or Strategy. Today is the first edition, and is one of the most important (and simple) STRATEGIES that I teach all my private Coaching clients. It will improve your decision-making “RESULTS” by about 200%!

Enjoy. 

Continue reading “Is Your Mindset Bias Leaning The Right Way?”
Categories
Choice Emotional Feeling Growth

Turn Up Your “Sense Of Humour” And You’ll Turn Down Your Stress

I have been pondering something of late. 

As you may have noticed – unless you are working on your enlightenment in the nearest mountain cave – the world is a little bit bonkers at the moment. 

And to be a little more specific, sad as it is, all of us have probably personally be touched by, or clearly noticed a rise in the number of people with (to generalise) “mental health” issues or challenges. 

I just did a quick search online and the estimated number of people with a mental ‘disorder’ globally, in 2019 was about 1 in 9. 

Which, to tell the truth, was higher than I thought it would be. 

And there are several reports of that number going up significantly from 2020-2023, due to a world event (and periphery events) we are all familiar with. 

So, without getting into too much more doom and gloom, we can all acknowledge that there are a lot of people having significant challenges with life in this modern age. 

The second part, to set the context of the brief conversation I want to have with you, is over the last 20-years of so, there has been so much pressure on what we can and can’t say about one another, or to one another. 

This has even had an impact on what is deemed appropriate for comedians to make “jokes” about. 

Anyway, my point is this… 

Continue reading “Turn Up Your “Sense Of Humour” And You’ll Turn Down Your Stress”
Categories
Choice consciousness Growth Life Purpose Success Time

A Common Goal, Which Actually Might Make Us Less Happy and Fulfilled

This goal is pretty common. 

I have definitely had this goal, or a derivation of it, at some points in my life. 

Thinking that if I attained this goal, life would be just great. 

Only to find that attaining this goal is actually a little hollow.

Not actually that much fun. 

And some research would even suggest it will take us to an early grave. 

And no, we are not talking about getting “high” off alcohol or drugs, which most of us realise is followed by a whopping headache and hang-over, or in the case of drugs, a downer for a handful of days after (or so I have read ;-)). 

The goal I am talking about…

Are you ready for it? 

Is…

The Goal of getting to the place where you don’t have to DO anything. 

Free of commitments and responsibilities. 

And the piece I want to focus on today is – more specifically – freedom from “having to work”.

You have also likely seen a bunch of conversations online where some younger folk are all for an unconditional basic income (UBI), which is not based on work status. 

Where you could still be paid to do nothing. 

Sounds great. 

But actually, it’s not. 

And thus starts today’s conversation.

Continue reading “A Common Goal, Which Actually Might Make Us Less Happy and Fulfilled”

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