Categories
Doubt Fear Feeling Perspective Problem

The Two Most Powerful Practices That Contribute to Calmness in a Crisis

factsI consider myself to be a pretty calm person, especially in a crisis situation or when my best thought-out plans turn to complete and utter sh#t.

And the reason for my calmness is definitely a nurture over a nature thing. In other words, my ability to stay calm, centred and grounded in a challenging situation is not a genetic trait I inherited from my parents, but a result of habits I have learned (some from my parents) and a number of daily practices I am committed to.

Essentially you can enhance your ability to remain calm, grounded, centred and unflappable by replicating these two practices.

I won’t go in-depth about the physical health practices I do (aka: exercise and nutrition), because I am going to assume you have a good enough idea about that and if not, then read The Guidebook to Optimum Health. The thing to note is our physical practices contribute to the amount of energy we have available to get stuff done plus the quality of our mental health. So my health practices are essential, but not the primary focus of this conversation.

Categories
Belief consciousness Fear Growth Life Lessons

My Approach to Adversity, Disruption and Change

lightI am writing this newsletter (and blog post) on 19 March 2020.
And the state of affairs near and far has changed a radical amount since my last newsletter one month ago due to the corona virus (pandemic).
So my first acknowledgment is the insanely quick rate at which major change can occur. And often with rapid change, there is a whole lot of uncertainty left in it’s wake. Where I imagine many people are right now.

Therefore in this article I thought I would just share some of my thoughts and suggestions around how we can best navigate our way through this experience and beyond.

I am actually finding it a little hard to write now, without coming across as an insensitive so-and-so. You see, I know I am going to die at some point. And I am actually ok with that. I also acknowledge we will all die at some time, and I am at peace with the thought of that as well. So with that inevitability, I am more interested in how I am living now, and how am I contributing to the well-being of the other people on this planet, plus how am I contributing to the planet and all its inhabitants as well.

So I am for LIFE and that is what I will be writing about today. How to experience more life in these times of uncertainty.

Categories
Growth Honesty Life Lessons Overwhelm Perspective Success

A Strategy to Reduce Stress, Overwhelm and Crazy Person Syndrome

essentialThis article follows on somewhat from my last post where I talked about increasing productivity, creativity and effectiveness, but it is inspired by a book I recently finished reading called Essentialism by Greg McKeown.

If I was to choose to describe the way that I primarily live, my guiding philosophy, I would call myself a bit of a Stoic, and having read this book, I would say I am also a bit of an essentialist. There is actually a lot of overlap between stoicism and essentialism.

The motto of an essentialist philosophy is: LESS BUT BETTER

I am not sure about you, but I am liking the sound of that!

Who would like less commitments, responsibilities, projects or tasks on their plate?
I sure as hell have my hand up for that.

Let me explain a little bit more about what essentialism is, and then share some specific strategies.

Categories
Perspective Rest Success Time

3 Simple Practices to Increase Your Productivity, Creativity and Effectiveness

waterI don’t know about you; but I like the idea of getting MORE out of LESS.

Spending less time and energy and getting bigger outputs and RESULTS.Does that sound of interest for you too? If so, you have come to the right place.

Recently I was away for a couple of nights with my business colleague on a ‘work getaway’ where we aimed to get really clear on our business initiatives, develop some creative ideas for a project and also to establish how to get the most effective results possible.I realised while I was there I was SUPER productive, creative and effective at doing the work thing and so I thought I would do a quick analysis to see what made that place experience so effective, and how could I bring that level of output back to my (home) office.

Categories
Choice consciousness Growth Joy Perspective

5 Practices on the Path to Peace: Inspired by ‘Stillness is the Key’ by Ryan Holiday

Path to PeaceIt’s probably not the best idea to be promoting other people’s books when you have recently released your own book (The Successful Mind), but since my number 1 thing in life is to share the best of what I learn on my journey, we will be looking at some great ideas Ryan Holiday shares in his great book – Stillness is the Key.

His book has plenty of ideas, but I’ve picked five of them that resonate with my teachings and are totally doable, practical and have a great return on investment.

He talks about stillness being the key, and draws on the philosophical teachings of Stoicism, plus a number of Eastern systems and practices. And for me, deeper (inner) stillness is one of the pathways and essential elements to experiencing more peace in your life.

Actually here is a (big) question for you. Would you prefer a million dollars or the guarantee of a deep sense of peace for the foreseeable future?

Think on that. Do you want deep peace or the cash?!?!
And if you chose the money (which is ok), ask yourself this question: “What do I think the money will make me feel?” and “What do I want to feel?”

For me, peace is a beautiful goal to be working towards.
So let’s look at these ‘stillness’ practices.

Categories
Choice consciousness Growth Meditation

2 BIG Ideas!!

wisdomWelcome to the first newsletter and blog post of the decade. I am honoured to have you join me.

Today I am going to share 2 BIG ideas to take into 2020 (and beyond).

Last year I attended a magnificent retreat with one of the top Coaches in the USA and abroad – Michael Neill – who I have also offered to host in Bali in September this year (so keep plugged in to hear details about that).

There were two major things I took away from the event, which reinforced what I already understand about the nature of things, which I apply in my own life (sometimes more effectively than other times) and which I teach at my Life Masterclass (and yes that is a shameless plug…hope to see you there!).

So let’s jump right to them…

 

Categories
Belief Choice Joy Life Lessons

What If Caring Less Actually Gets You What You Want…

buddhaCaring.
It sounds so sweet.It sounds like something we ‘ought’ to do all of the time. Or at the least a lot of the time.

But is that really useful? Does being a really great carer lead to peace, joy, fulfillment, and a meaningful life experience?

Caring, like a lot of things, is great when it is done for the right situations, to the right amount, at the right time.

It has been my experience coaching 100’s of people over the last 12 years that people are a little bit crap at establishing when are the right times to care A LOT and when are the right times to give less of a damn.

So the lesson for today is about re-calibrating your caring muscles to bring you more ease, joy, and success.

Are you ready?

Categories
Choice consciousness Growth

Conscious Living in Support of Team Planet Earth

earthLet me start with a question or two…
Is it possible to have a healthy body, or to experience health in general, if the environment in which your body operates is unhealthy?Is it possible to be free of harmful toxins in your body, if the environment in which you reside contains harmful toxins (in the air, water, and soil)?

I think I can guess your probable response to those rhetorical questions.

In The Guidebook to Optimum Health, I talk about one of the 6 key pillars to experiencing a state of optimum health, as being detoxification (the others are physical activity, nutrition, rest, mindfulness and wholeheartedness), which is impacted by the daily choices we make.

Categories
Acceptance consciousness Emotional Growth Perspective

The Profound Lesson I Learned from A Balinese Rooster & A Dog

learnAre you curious yet?

Life lessons from a Balinese rooster and a dog…

I am not sure exactly how much of a roosters head is filled with brain matter, but I am guessing it is not that much. So how could a rooster teach me such a profound lesson?

I guess you are going to have to read on to find out…

Categories
Choice Confidence Growth Success

Confidence is Overrated (and Not Necessary for Success)

courageAt the time of this writing, I have been coaching a wide range of individuals, from all over the world, and from every walk of life for a little over 12 years.

And one of the most common things people tell me they want more of is ‘confidence’.

Somewhere along the line we have bought into the idea that CONFIDENCE = SUCCESS.
And that without ‘confidence’ you won’t succeed, or realise your dreams.

Here is what do I say to that?

“BULLSH#T!!!!”