Category: Balance

Today Is Yesterday’s Tomorrow

“The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it finally arrives, it is called today. Today is yesterday’s tomorrow. The question is what did we do with its opportunity? All too often we will waste tomorrow as we wasted yesterday, and as we are wasting today.

All that could have been accomplished can easily elude us, despite our intentions, until we inevitably discover that the things that might have been have slipped from our embrace a single, unused day at a time.

Each of us must pause frequently to remind ourselves that the clock is ticking. The same clock that began to tick from the moment we drew our first breath will also someday cease.

Time is the great equalizer of all mankind. It has taken away the best and the worst of us without regard for either. Time offers opportunity but demands a sense of urgency.

When the game of life is finally over, there is no second chance to correct our errors. The clock that is ticking away the moments of our lives does not care about winners and losers. It does not care about who succeeds or who fails. It does not care about excuses, fairness or equality. The only essential issue is how we played the game.

Regardless of a person’s current age, there is a sense of urgency that should drive them into action now – this very moment. We should be constantly aware of the value of each and every moment of our lives – moments that seem so insignificant that their loss often goes unnoticed.

We still have all the time we need. We still have lots of chances – lots of opportunities – lots of years to show what we can do. For most of us, there will be a tomorrow, a next week, a next month, and a next year. But unless we develop a sense of urgency, those brief windows of time will be sadly wasted, as were the weeks and months and years before them.

There isn’t an endless supply!

So as you think of your dreams and goals of your future tomorrow, begin today to take those very important first steps to making them all come to life.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn”

 

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Thoughts about fear…

By Tracey Rissik

A friend forwarded on a great email this morning, on the topic of fear – and how it can impact out lives. I’m not going to reproduce it all here, but there were 2 paragraphs that really resonated :

It’s amazing what we can accomplish if we refuse to be afraid. Fear – whether it’s of pain, failure, or rejection – is a toxic emotion that creates monsters in our mind that consume self-confidence and intimidate us from doing our best or sometimes even trying at all.

and

….   For most law graduates, passing the bar exam should be no more difficult than walking across a board 20 feet long and two feet wide. The trouble is, they don’t walk normally because they’re intimidated by the illusion that the board is suspended 100 feet in the air and that getting across is a life-or-death matter. What’s the worst thing that could happen? Embarrassment, inconvenience, and expense – but none of these is fatal.

Perspective is an antidote to fear. Most things you fear will never happen, and even if they do, you can handle it.

I’ve been going through a lot of fear – in my head – recently, mainly around perceived lack of financial success, and a couple of weeks ago it go to the point where it was really impacting my ability to focus on my business.

Through chatting to a wise and wonderful friend, who gently questioned things I was asserting (she just asked, “Is that really true?” – very powerful…) I realised that

  • this fear was just in my head – I have a business that gives me a decent income
  • by focusing on “lack” I was forgetting about the abundance I have in so many areas of my life, and this led to unreasonable dissatisfaction, spiralling into fear
  • if I focus on things I want, and things I love about my life, I’m far more likely to action in those areas. Fear paralyses me and stops me doing pretty much anything.

So – you’re not alone if you get confounded by fear – but you can take a few steps to lessen its hold on you – so good luck

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Note from Katie:  To learn about a powerful clearing technique (Loving What Is), check out any of Byron Katie's work – just type in her name on YouTube, or visit her website.

Disciplines of Pleasure

I have always been fascinated with energy in many forms, particularly my own.  Personal energy can change in a moment or last for what seems to be forever.  Energy: like success and failure; that certain spark between people that is ignited; helplessness and hopelessness; joy and creativity; deep, soulful grief, as deep as the Pacific Ocean; the miracle of simultaneity, or magic.  But most of all, I am in awe of the profound effects that occur to our energy which are brought about be doing simple practices of earth, air, water, fire, meditation or prayer.

Take for example, how I felt about an hour ago, after returning home from a busy day working in an office.  I thought about an article I had agreed to submit to Access and for some reason, the spark or thrill just wasn’t there.  I had started several articles and they just died out.  I knew, however, that I wanted to write about energy, yet I had none.  My brain was at a standstill.  I began to feel fed-up and that maybe I really had nothing of value to say. 

So, I took my tape recorder into the bathroom, turned it on and filled my bathtub.  I got into the tub, laid back and knew that something would come, in time.  I even laughed to myself thinking that maybe I would only record running water!

One thing I knew for sure was that whenever I use any one of the practices of the eternal elements (earth, air, water, fire) my energy always turns around, eventually.  I breathe and let the tired, low self-esteem thoughts flood my mind.  I just hung out in my bath.

After a short time I felt a change and said aloud, “I really like telling stories about myself and perhaps someone else does also.” Voila!  My energy returned with zest.  And so I have a story:

I was living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, just north of Truckee, at a hot springs resort (also the International Rebirthing Training Center).  I had several titles and I was not paid for the work I did.  But I loved living there.  In the morning, I awoke about 5 a.m. and in the evening went to bed at 2 a.m..

Simply said, I loved what I was living.  Never before have I so TOTALLY lived the fullness of my energy.  And, I was also fulfilling my heart’s desire in assisting my friend, Leonard Orr.

But I also had to make money.  I owned this gorgeous, black, “whupdeedo” Ford Aerostar van which I called my “Om NaMaHa Shivaya mobile.”  The monthly payments were $350.  So, once a month, for a week, I would go to San Francisco, set up Rebirthing sessions with former clients and give consultations.  Sometimes I gave a workshop or worked part-time for a friend who owned a large jewelry wholesale business in the garment district.  I also got to spend time with my beloved husband, Pravesh.

One month, I had an appointment at the University of San Francisco’s School of Dentistry, to talk to interns about how to help their patients to relax while having work done.  I left this meeting feeling very successful, professional, and excited about subsequent meetings we had planned.

As I approached the corner where I parked my van, I noticed it wasn’t there! I panicked! All of the sudden I read the sign, “Tow-away zone, 4p.m.-6p.m..”  Then I vaguely (groan) remembered seeing the sign when I parked, but took no notice (in too much of a hurry).  I called the police.  They told me my car had been impounded, was located across town and would cost $120 to get it out!  Instant terror!  Have you ever noticed how under siege your body feels when you are faced with a “we want your money now” edict?

I called Pravesh, who lived in Mill Valley, and asked to borrow the money with assurances I would repay him before I left, seven days later.  Also, would he take me to get my car?  He was furious.  He chewed me out for being so careless (as though I didn’t already do that to myself!).  I was even more devastated, both at being $120 in the hole and starting out in disharmony with Pravesh.

I sat down on the steps leading to the admissions area; I couldn’t stop the tears.  I was consumed in feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.  After my tears subsided, I took out a notepad and furiously wrote thoughts of doom and gloom.  Unbridled, they poured out.  The more I wrote, the more the feelings of being out of control began to subside.  Then, I noticed a change in my energy, in my thinking, I thought, “OK, I have to make money.  How will I do that?”

I had completed a cycle of energy, or “temporary insanity,” as my friend Leonard Orr calls such a state.  When a feeling is total, it cannot go down any deeper.  It can only touch the bottom and begin to move back up.  Such was the case with me.  Resurrection!

I wrote a list of all the ways I could make money in seven days: consultations and Rebirthing sessions; I would call a friend who sometimes needs computer entry. I then wrote down the names of people I liked and would feel comfortable calling to say that I was in town and would they like a session or consultation. 

In my appointment book I marked the days and wrote in the times that I wanted to see those potential clients.  I knew that to make things happen in the physical world, making time or space for those things to happen increases the likelihood that they will happen.  By the time Pravesh arrived, an hour later, I had my entire week planned.  I felt positive and more in control.  Every time I take action, the feeling of fear or being out of control disappears.

By Friday, on the fifth day, I had repaid Pravesh and had make my usual $500 for the week.  I had not realized that I had a “$500 a week barrier” and I was able to burst through that.  (By the way, many people have such a barrier.)

By the week’s end, I had a wonderful time with Pravesh and with my clients and friends and felt proud and secure that I had made the money that I needed to take care of myself.  After a week full of work I was brimming in energy.  I had made a special point to “do my practices” which relax me enough so that people will want to be around me.  And, I had a great time!

Leonard Orr coined another phrase: “The Disciplines of Pleasure,” which are very simple and available to most of us.  These are practices of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, Meditation or prayer.  Since our bodies are made up of earth, air, water and fire (digestion; the electricity of an inspiring thought), it only makes sense that when any of those elements are out of balance or missing, we feel it in the forms of tiredness, wanting to give up, anger, indifference, confusion or even physical illness.

Whenever you feel or hear some say, “I’m bummed out,” the antidote is clear; withdraw from people and hang out with fire from a fireplace or even lit candles (at least five).  This is known as Fire Purification, because when you are in the presence of fire over a period of time, you’ll become more clear, creative, energetic, relaxed and joyful.  Greeting the sunrise or sunset in silence is another form.  Fire literally burns off the death urge (any life negating thinking or actions) and negativity.

The Earth Principle is also included in this remedy; being out in nature.  Other forms of this principle are playing or listening to percussion instruments, fasting, movement, exercise, massage, and having a career you enjoy.

Years ago I adopted this practice of taking time out from the world–a day of aloneness and silence.  At day’s end, I am usually bursting with energy, creativity, and deep, deep satisfaction for just being ordinary ME!  Taking time off, regularly, can literally save your life and this is, for most people, the most difficult activity: stopping.

Bathing twice daily is the Water Principle (preferably in a bathtub), in the morning to dissolve the deep sleep, dreams, items left over in your mind from the previous day and a wonderful way to emerge from the nightly womb-the bed.  Bathing before your evening meal washes off the psychic energy that we all collect during the day and allows moments to stop and make the transition into the evening.

There are hundreds of breathing techniques: the Air Principle.  How about, right now, breathe in fully–high into your lungs–and let the air just drop out, freely, effortlessly, as though you were pouring water out of an upturned bucket.  No pushing out, just letting go.  A simple breathing exercise can instantly shift your energy, it can bring you energy!  Chanting by moonlight is another form of air purification, as is getting out of your bath and letting the air dry your body.

Here is a simple breathing exercise which Leonard Orr created for Americans who want to do everything in 30 seconds; it’s called 20 Connected Breaths:
1.    Take four short breaths, breathing in and out in such a manner that there are no gaps between breathing and letting your breath “drop” out.
2.    That is one set of breaths.
3.    Repeat this four times – four short breaths and one long breath.
4.    Don’t be afraid if you feel sensations in your body for it is just energy that you feel.  Do this daily and you’ll gain a lot of knowledge about your breathing.

Incorporating these simple practices into your life may give you more heaven than you now know, but you have to do it to know even that.  Try one regularly, then another and another and become the scientist of your own energy body.

Elemental purification cleanses, nourishes and balances. Do it and you will understand what is meant by “Disciplines of Pleasure.”  Enjoy!

(c) Susan Yashoda Deschenes

Using Language to Help You Get the Results You Really Want

As I listened to several conversations over the past couple of weeks, I began to notice how much the language being used was actually helping to maintain the level of frustration I heard. That got me thinking about cause and effect.

The language we use with ourselves is immensely influential. Just take a few minutes to listen to the kinds of things you are currently saying to yourself, especially during times of stress.

For instance, if you are feeling overwhelmed by all the things that have somehow been added to your schedule, how many of these might you be saying or feeling:

"Oh, I'll never get this done in time!" (and it's making me feel even more pressure/guilt, etc.)

"I don't know where to start" (and I feel like I'm just chasing my tail.)

"There's too much to do" (and all I can see is that overwhelmingly large picture.)

"It just isn't fair!" (and why did it have to happen to me?)

Obviously, we each have our own way of dealing, or not dealing, with what happens in our life. Especially if we're facing change.

When we feel any unwanted emotion, the most important thing we can do, and the first step to recovering our balance, is to manage our own state of being. If we're stuck in the negative feelings, it's more difficult to have access to all of our own best resources.

The way we "frame" our thinking directly affects the answers and responses we are going to get. In managing our lives, which often means dealing with the circumstances, we can either be at the effect of what happens to us, or we can be in control of how we respond or react.

When we take on a "victim" or helpless attitude, we limit ourselves to thinking that assumes we have no choices, that we are limited by what is granted to us or what is allowed by someone outside ourselves.

When we shift our internal voices slightly and assume responsibility for our experience, we open up many more possibilities for acquiring or achieving what we really want.

All of us have resorted to disempowering questions at some time in our lives – "Why does this always happen to me?" or "Why did I do this again?"

These kinds of questions keep us stuck – our internal computers (brains) are busy creating the justifications for our current situations rather than looking for ways to improve, expand, or get the more beneficial results we really want.

By shifting our language, even slightly, we will often dramatically shift the focus for our problem-solving computer/brains, getting much more useful results.

Think about how different your responses will be to those previous thoughts when you make any of the following shifts:

"What can I do right now to help insure this gets done in time?"

"What small step can I take to move this forward right now?"

"What are the key elements that must be done?"

In these examples, notice that we shifted our focus from being at the effect of external causes to being in control by taking responsibility for what we are experiencing. That simple shift of language gives us a sense of power over our circumstances rather than the helplessness we felt before. We can use the same kind of thinking to ensure we ask ourselves empowering (instead of disempowering) questions. First of all, by allowing ourselves to become more fascinated (rather than frustrated) by what we are experiencing, and then by shifting our perspective to one of internal control or one of possibilities.

So, our questions (from above) could become, "How can I make sure this doesn't happen to me again?" and "What could I do to respond more resourcefully next time?"

Again, notice how this simple shift opens up many more options and possibilities, how many more choices we have, and how much more personal control we have. Same circumstances, different framework.

Christine Lavin has a great song in which she says "He's not a victim, he's a volunteer". Unfortunately that describes too many of us who have become used to believing that the circumstances in our lives control our experience of the world rather than remembering that we're the ones who create the context. And that ultimately we do have the power to control our own responses, including how and where we look for answers.

We can choose to get small and limit our experience and results by cutting off our enjoyment and our possibilities, or we can open up to the possibilities of being and having more by becoming responsible for how we manage our thoughts, feelings and responses. We have the choice every moment, and we are only limited by the framework we have constructed for ourselves.