Less Stress More Calm

What Everybody Ought To Know About Meditation

It’s my life

It’s now or never

I ain’t gonna live forever

Bon Jovi

I’ve been meditating and looking for high-quality resources for years. Meditation is an incredible tool to help you slow down and understand your mind, life, decrease stress and increase calmness. There are many fantastic meditation resources including books, iPod download, CDs and others. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started. 

Reading about meditation and mindfulness teachers can help set the foundation for a life long love of calmness, peace and relaxing meditation.

Pema Chodron is one my favorite authors. She has many excellent short books and can also be found on iTunes.

The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving Kindness

Matthieu Ricard brilliantly combines science with spirit, and smoothly blends the east and west philosophies. 

Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill

John Kehoe has some of the finest books on life changing principals.

Mind Power into the 21st Century: Techniques to Harness the Astounding Powers of Thought

There are plenty of CD’s or downloads you can use. Here a couple of gems.

Gael Chiarella is loaded on my IPod and I listen to a 20 minute AM or PM mediation session almost every day.

AM/PM Yoga Meditations

Meditainment is an excellent on line resource that takes feedback from subscribers to make your meditation experience the best it can be. Meditainment is available on CD, DVD and download.

www.meditainment.com

Enjoy!

How To Save The World - Part One

Use your conscience.

Go to a four day work week.

Contribute to your community.

Don’t always trust your imagination.

Show compassion.

Know your strengths and use them.

Teach all children well.

Communicate with your loved ones even when it’s hard. 

Focus on yourself first, family, community, city, nation and then the world.

Give something of intrinsic value away. Everyday.

Befriend your anger and craziness. They are part of you. You can’t always be lovable.

Nothing lasts forever.

Stop using credit cards.

Recycle.

Listen to music.

Action not words.   

Eradicate your ignorance.

Dance.

Be curious.

Buy a book.

Don’t always listen to the experts.

Have sex.

We Are Neck Deep In The Information Age

What I do is sell thoughts and create useful databases. It is a part time hobby for now. The wife and I think exactly the same in this respect, except she is also a brilliant programmer, so that helps immensely to create interesting databases and websites.  Thus we both own websites and have income from subscribers, ads and affiliates. The wife is doing much better than I. In the past, Google phoned her twice to do business and they are also advertising on her site. Boeing used her site for their executive leadership program. She also had a part time paying blog on about.com (traffic rank 112). Purdy cool.    

I never envisioned myself trying to set up a business to sell shoes, food, dry cleaning or any other product with a physical identity. What I love is information.  I love thought, I love the written word. I want to crawl in your head and make you think. I want to erase your ignorance. 

I also have a deep rooted obsession to understand the world around me. That screaming voice is forever lurking in my psyche.

I seek like minded thinkers all the time and my recent blog surfing has produced some interesting results. I read Joe Pageants blog recently and bought his book.  I E-mailed him for a suggestion and I bought that book as well. Just this small flurry of blog related, human interaction has made me very content. I would have never E-mailed Joe and picked up another interesting book otherwise. The book he suggested is, The Ascent Of Humanity. 

I'm not sure if I will ever make serious money with my website, perhaps a corporation would wants its employees to subscribe or I sell it. I have something in the works now, involving 4000 potential sign ups, but I'm not holding my breath. The Internet is a fickle God. Thus I am reinventing it into an authority site which it is evolving into already. If it only gets people to start to be a bit more introspective, then I have done my job.

As for the wife, she is tinkering with another website which will use the Ajax coding language.  I have almost finished creating the specification for another website geared towards the corporate world.

We wait and see who will be successful enough to enable us to write and design while being stroked by an ocean breeze. 

We continue to do business with the world and compete with the world. It doesn’t get any better then that.

If you want to help save the world start by reading, The Evolving Self.   

Money, Fulfillment And Conscious Reflection

Financially successful people that are fulfilled avoid parasitic weaknesses such as insecurities, bad habits, self-doubts and disgruntlement. Yet our economy feeds off of human weakness - You must live the dream, you must reach higher up the ladder to have a higher standard of living, you need to have an Ipod with video, and that house with more square feet that will make you feel a cut above your friend.

The economy gives us easy credit, more credit cards, and all types of wonderful debt building tools. As a culture, we have less savings, work more hours and have increased our debt load. We upgrade from conventional to plasma, Pentium 3 to Pentium 4 to dual core, Ipod to Ipod with video and the bank says that we can finance our new home with zero down payment!  We can lease our car for $500 dollars a month for four years and after four years, lease another care for four more years! 

We are a culture of consumerism. 

Fulfilled and financially successful people use conscious reflection.

Who are these millionaires that are wealthy and fulfilled?  How do they live?  What are their values? What are their goals? Their biggest wealth tool is to spend less than they earn.  Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It isn’t. Changing habits and making them sustainable takes plenty of energy.  It begins with your thoughts and emotions, and finally ending with your actions. And don't forget  about conscience and imagination. 

Your thoughts, emotions and actions are all offshoots of that gift we call conscience. Wikipedia defines conscience as;

the faculty power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right;

Your conscience is at work while you are drooling over that new Ipod.

You look at an Ipod video and your thought is, “I want this, it will make me happy.”  Your emotions will be uplifted because you are imagining having your favourite music videos always available.

Your action will be to buy it. Possibly on credit.

Not really using your conscience are you? Allowing instinct and imagination to take over. 

But what if your thought is, “Do I really need this or just want it?”
My emotions are now held at bay at a yellow light.
By posing that question you are using conscious reflection.
Your  action might be to leave it.

In theory it’s simple to spend less than you earn. In theory it’s simple to live within your means. Many people do. Many fulfilled millionaires do.  But for many people it’s hard to change years of bad habits. It’s a challenge to avoid the pitfalls of consumerism and to use conscious reflection to decide whether something is good for us.

Thoughts.
Conscious reflection.
Emotions.
Conscious reflection.
Better actions.

Becoming more conscience means removing the shackles of ignorance and  taking the time to reflect on decisions no matter how big or small.  Our conscience  separates  us from the rest of the animal world. Our conscience is that split second we have before we make a terrible decision. Be that yelling at our kid, buying that Ipod or going to war.

Our conscience is the nemesis of our imagination. Our imagination gets us in trouble all the time.

Wikipedia defines imagination as;

Imagination is accepted as the innate ability and process to invent partial or complete personal realms within the mind from elements derived from sense perceptions of the shared world

In a nutshell, the better you understand your mind and how it  guides you, the easier it is to break bad habits.

Take the time to think about the times your imagination let you down or when you completely ignored your conscience and did something stupid.

We are complex, yet we can change.

We have been giving this amazing gift of conscience, yet it we constantly dismiss it.   

Now you know what to do the next time you want to tack another few hundred dollars to your credit card. Use some conscience reflection.

Or don't.

Who Else Wants To Get Rid Of Years Of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain?

The New York Magazine has some terrific articles and the one on secrets of the medical trade, should be mandatory reading for everyone, It's also a great lead in to this latest entry.

I threw away my 200 dollar Nikes recently. Why? Because they were contributing to years of back, neck and shoulder pain. Let me explain. I walk on the outside of my heel. By walking on the outside heel all my life, I have gradually misplaced my spine, which affects all my muscles related to my spine. I wore down the heel of my Nikes for eight long years. I now feel like a free man, unshackled from the pain, pills, doctors and no golfing.  I just had to share this and give out a few points.

If you suffer from chronic back related pain, take a look at the way you wear down the heel of your shoes. 

I’ve been followed by one of the best orthopaedic surgeons in the city almost all my life and he never checked the way I walk. Walking crooked or off center, will eventually affect your spine and muscles in a very bad way. I’ve also been seen by countless physiotherapists and other specialists. Bottom lines - either check how you wear down your soles or see a podiatrist (foot doctor). 

Don’t fall in love with your running shoes.

The above mentioned Nikes were purchased in Denver after doing plenty of overtime at Learjet. After paying the horrendously inflated, sweat shop induced price, I proceeded to wear them for eight long years, although they were probably good for three. After inspecting the heels recently I immediately threw them away and bought $28 dollar Spalding’s which are just as good. I also went through all my shoes and threw away a few that the shoe maker deemed irreparable. Quite a few were re-heeled to a flat heel. 

Get your muscles checked out.

I’m getting physiotherapy for my back muscles, since they have been contorted by years of walking funny.  It may take a few weeks but I’ll be back on the golf course very soon.  And I’ll be changing my golf shoes as well.

You Don’t Have To Be A PhD To Understand Life

We are on this world to give something back.

When we decide to have children, help out family or friends in need, or donate our time, we are giving something back. When a crisis hits us and we find ourselves in a world of hurt or pain, we find out that people want to give something back to us. Be that love, compassion, or just time. Or maybe that isn’t so.  Sometimes people don’t give back. They just take.

Life can be hard.

Life isn’t always about riches, love, sex, sunshine and pleasure. Life can hit us squarely between the eyes and take away what we love the most. Life can test our deepest emotions until we break down and cry unabashedly. But the pain and anguish of life can also give us strength, depth and resolve.  Sometimes we learn astonishing things about ourselves and find strength beyond our dreams. There is no getting around the harshness of life. It will not spare us. But it will hopefully open our eyes.  And with any luck  we will learn from it.

We are one species, one race, one entity.

The sooner we learn that we are all the same species and animal, the better. We are all interconnected through the shared ability of conscious unlike all other animals on this planet. When we decide to use our conscious for the good of mankind as a whole, we will survive. If we continue to ignore our conscious we will continue to destroy each other, nature and eventually the planet. We have a choice. Those choices will save us or destroy us.  It isn’t that complicated, it’s actually quite simple if you think about it.    

Discover the 3 Crucial Elements That Guarantee Happiness

The results are in. After years of research, involving countless books, reading all the experts opinions, and doing my own pondering, here are 3 crucial elements of happiness.

You are happy with yourself.

I've read in countless books that self-esteem is a huge trait that seriously affects your happiness. A positive self-esteem provides you control and hope in life. A healthy self-esteem guards you against all kinds of negativity directed at you from family, friends or work mates. Being comfortable with who you are, what you have done, why and how, is paramount to happiness. A healthy ego is also certainly a huge factor towards business success. Its time to stop doubting yourself, rid yourself of negative thoughts, practise gratitude and wake up each morning knowing you are firmly in control of your happiness and life. Sometimes all it takes is a simple change in attitude.      

You have good friends.

What is a life without friends? When you think back to some of your happiest moments, more often than not you where sharing them with a friend. A good time with friends doesn’t require money or Ipods, or plasma televisions. All it requires is good conversation, laughter, a shoulder to lean on and shared dreams. True friends love us despite our faults. You never, ever forget your true friends.

You understand Mindfulness.

The most important slice of culture we can import from the East is the art of meditation. I can't say enough about how important this is. The present moment is the only moment. Mediation makes us more alive, aware and in touch with our conscious. Meditation and practising mindfulness makes each passing moment stand out. Mindfulness reduces the blur of trivial thoughts in our mind, and helps us appreciate the simple beauty of each passing moment. The world becomes remarkably real and you are able to scan your mind easily embracing or releasing all thoughts and feelings. Most importantly mindfulness brings you calmness, focus and peace. The world needs to let go of the information age and embrace the consciousness age.

In summary.

For people with healthy self-esteem the inner voice messages are always positive and reassuring.
      
“Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Good friends are forever.


Practised mindfulness through mediation and make the world a more peaceful, giving and lovable home for you and all of us.

Is Discount Travel More Fun Than Monkeys?

A terrific friend of mine, whom I initially met in a Paris train station, educated me on the ways of cheap travel. At the train station, we both found ourselves staring dumbly at the French signs looking in vain for a clue of how to get to Paris. I noticed some English lettering on his backpack and it finally came to light that he spoke English and was from South Africa. It also suddenly dawned on my caveman brain that I spoke French, so I snatched up an information phone, bawled out the stuck-up French lady and proceeded to lead us to the city of lights. Here are some traveling goal setting tips for you to think about. 

Always plan your trip well in advance.

On my very first trip to Europe (London, England) in my thirties, I decided to fly to Paris after a few days of London because, "Hey I'm right next door." And I was already drooling over the thought of baguettes, pastries and condescending French girls. To prepare myself for Paris I bought a small Frommer's Paris guide and settled down for a great read in London's Piccadilly Circus. Always get familiar with the city layout and transportation set up. After that I found a discount travel shop and flew to Paris for a magical few days. A few years later, during a trip to the Greek islands, I took more time preparing for the trip at home. I was lucky to meet my friend in Paris who really helped me slash costs and have a terrific time. 

Traveling on a budget can be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Ok I take that back. Monkeys are more fun. There we were in Paris and my first lesson was to avoid taxis thus I purchased a snappy little ten dollar Paris metro card, representing our length of stay and how far we wanted to travel the city. The second thrifty lesson was to try out a youth hostel in lieu of a cushy hotel or bed and breakfast. I always pictured a youth hostel as a bunch of scraggily teenagers lying around a bare wooden floor with MacDonald's wrappers strewn everywhere. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself sharing a small but pleasant room with three others. Sure the washrooms were microscopic and I almost scratched delicate body parts by just turning around, but I was able to shower and shave without inflicting major injures. In the morning we scarfed down fresh baguettes, strawberry jam and hot chocolate while chatting and sharing valuable information with fellow travelers, including families from around the world. It was a magical morning. All for about $25 dollars a day. There are two major expenses slashed (lodging and transportation). 
   
The occasional travel splurge can be make you incredibly happy. 

We saved a bundle and avoided headaches in the Greek Islands by traveling at the end of the season (end of September). We found incredible lodging deals on all the islands. Traveling to the Greek islands means taking large ferries and at each island ferry port dealing with the dozens of people offering lodgings. We had beautiful Aegean Sea views at three islands for rock bottom prices, sometimes $15 each. But no matter how hard I looked I couldn't find a metro or subway system. Hence a cool little yellow dune buggy was rented. Zooming around a Greek island in a dune buggy was definitely the ultimate in coolness. We visited all the quaint fishing villages and tasted many a local delicacy. We also came a foot from driving off a cliff. Lessons learned? Drive carefully. Ah, what a blast thinking back to those Greek island days. See? Splurging can be fun.

In summary

1. Always plan your trip well in advance.

2. Traveling on a budget can be more fun than a barrel of monkeys. 

3. The occasional travel splurge can make you incredibly happy. 

Always, Always, Always Believe In Yourself

If you give a person the opportunity to shine, they will shine. Some of these American Idol contestants are just regular folk, with regular jobs and have now been given a huge stage to pour out their talent. Chris Daughtry worked at a service desk, but onstage his singing talent spills out on us like a waterfall. Unchecked emotion and pure passion constantly flows out of the guy. Isn’t it amazing that these Idols are just like you and me? The difference is that they have been given an opportunity to showcase their talent.

We all have hidden talents. We all have life long dreams. Sometimes we catch ourselves dancing and singing in the mirror. Some of us love to paint or crack stupid jokes. Some of us ask ourselves, "What if?" We all have our passions. We all have our doubts. We all allow fear to invade our dreams. So take a cue from the Idols and realize that if they can do it, so can you. Never, ever give up on your dreams. Never believe that you aren’t good enough. Whether it's singing, dancing, acting, painting, or being the world's greatest business person, don't ever give up.

Take your talents and unleash them on the world. Unbridle your passion and let it set you free. Have you got some life goals? Right now might be a good time to start setting those life goals and realizing them. Life rewards action. You might even discover talents you never knew you had! It's time now. Time to start believing in yourself. Unleash those passions, inject yourself with a large dose of love and show the world what you can do.

You too can be the next American Idol.   

Goal Setting And Sensational Success - The Cutting Edge Series

The cutting edge series is a series of articles aimed at waking individuals up. Life is too short to let it pass by and phenomenal success is just around the corner if you apply these principals. This article deals with two essential characteristics of phenomenally successful people.   

Get the hell out of your comfort zone.

What if? What if? How many times have you asked that, only to allow fright, insecurity, your parents, friends or trivial distractions to keep you away from the life you truly deserve? To reach your dreams you have to get out of the comfort zone. Ignore the experts, go crazy and pursue your dreams. Write out your business plan, get that bank loan, start looking for clients. Do whatever it takes. Deep down you know you can do it. Don’t let the smallest negative thought stop you. Pursue your dreams. They electrify you and provide meaning and purpose. Life really is too short. You need amazing dreams to do amazing things. Bill Gates had an amazing dream. There is no better time then now.      

Be accountable to yourself. Keep your promises.

Wealthy executives use life coaches and pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars a month because they want someone to kick them hard in the butt. Coaches also demand that the executives become more and more accountable to themselves.  Even Tiger Woods uses a coach full time. Being accountable to yourself means being honest and doing what you said you would do. That's the only way to reach the next level. You don’t necessarily need a coach though. Maybe you just need to write down your dreams and honestly track them. Getting to the next level of your dream life means practising what you preach, focusing, and getting out of your safety or comfort zone. If you can't keep promises to yourself than give up right now. People fail because they are not accountable to themselves. Broken promises are for losers. Keep your promises, especially to yourself. Your dream life counts on it.