Michael

I’ve been thinking a lot about what happens to me when I play my guitar. It’s very similar to meditation in the sense that I’m focused on the present moment, my thinking process has slowed or stopped and I get a complete sense of relaxation.

Music, whether playing, singing or listening, has an incredibly powerful effect on most of us. It’s like we are all wired so that music jumps right down into our core being. We associate personal memories to songs. We relate a host of emotions to a variety of music.

Music forms the thread that connects our lives to others and to our own past. It is so ingrained in all cultures that I can’t imagine a society without music.

All I know is that when I’m playing music, listening to music, or singing (alone mostly!), I seem to transcend time. I experience a level of joy that only a few other things can compare. Photography being one of them.

Incorporating music into your daily life can be one way to help lift your mood, help you to reduce your stress levels and put you squarely into the present moment. Try all varieties and see which ones have positive effects.

Have a great day!

Michael

Like taking a morning shower, make the planting of positive thoughts a daily practice. – Neil Eskelin

This is an excellent exercise. It doesn’t require any special equipment, just your brain. No special techniques. Just a little bit of thinking which we all have a great amount of experience doing.

But it’s the type of thinking that is the key; focusing on some, maybe only a few, positive thoughts. You see that’s the difference. You don’t try to NOT think negative thoughts. It can’t be done. They more you try to not think something, the more you will think it. It’s a simple rule that says you get what you focus on, whether it’s negative or positive. For example, remember when you try to not think about a song that is swimming around your head. It never goes away until you focus your attention on something else.

So, instead, turn your attention to something completing different, i.e. something more positive, even if it’s only a little bit. The key is turning towards something a little bit better. That’s all. Nothing dramatic. Nothing stressful. Just a little bit better.

Each day shower yourself with a few positive thoughts. Try it. See how it works.

Have a great day!

Michael

Do not confuse peace of mind with spaced-out insensitivity. A truly peaceful mind is very sensitive, very aware. – Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama

When you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there. – George Harrison

For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe – Larry Eisenberg

It’s been almost four weeks now since I left my job. I’ve been on vacation (holiday in European terms) since then with two to four more weeks to go. For the first time in many years, I have become very relaxed and even more content than I usually am.

Is it just because I’m on vacation? I suspect not. Of course that helps but I think what is going on is that I’m only doing what I want to do at every moment. This is a different way of life for me because typically I’m  was also doing things that I had to do or was “forced” to do like work and etc.

I’m learning to let life flow freely and let it carry me where I want to go. I’m beginning to understand this is the way it should always be. My next goal after getting used to this way of living is to integrate this philosophy into work/career.

Until then, I’m experiencing more and more moments where I’m at peace. As I enjoy these times immensely, I’m striving to experience peace of my mind as a continual moment.

Have a great day!

Michael

I just arrived in Frankfurt, Germany on my way to Warsaw, Poland. Its early morning here and not quite midnight on the east coast. This was an interesting flight for me in several ways.

I found that many parts of the flight mimicked my life and what has been going on for the past several weeks. The flight started off just a little bit bumpy, not too bad. As the flight progressed past the last bits of Canadian land, it got smoother and smoother. The noise made from the wind as the plane made its course over the Atlantic was the only way I knew I was on a plane, other than the cramped seats and the food.

I slept for about an hour or slightly less on the first part of the flight. It was unusually restful. I awoke and started reading a book. It’s basically a spiritual memoir of the author’s personal journey to find herself. I read for awhile and found many passages that were exactly the kinds of thoughts I had been thinking for the last few weeks. I’ve been thinking basic stuff like changing my path in life, doing what I desire, letting go of the past and etc.

After reading for some time, I watched Episode 2 of A New Earth from Oprah.com. I fell into a light kind of sleep for the first part and was quite intently listening for the last half. I was unusually calm during the entire flight. The rest I received seemed to energize me much more than usual.

As we neared Frankfurt, dawn began to break in all its glorious colors. The plane began to bump some, as we landed on the bright new day. I think transitions are like that sometimes; a little bumpy on the landing but really worth the journey.

Believe it not, the lesson I learned from this flight was that I am slowly, sometimes painstakingly, removing barriers that are preventing me from taking my journey. The light of my new understanding is beginning to shine into the dark recesses where fear, doubt and anxiety reside.

I plan on letting more light in.

Michael

Monkey mind is actually a Buddhist term. It refers to mental activity that creates busyness which keeps us away from our true hearts. And it’s an extraordinary truth. Look at our whole culture; it’s built on busyness, and that’s why we’re so unhappy. But part of us loves busyness, including Natalie Goldberg. You have to pay attention and learn to understand how monkey mind works. What does your true heart want? You have to give it at least half your energy. Otherwise monkey mind fills your whole life with busyness. – Natalie Goldberg

I like the concept of the “monkey mind.” It really is an apt way of describing how our ego/minds keep us from following our true hearts. You’ve experienced it before, but maybe you didn’t realize it.

The monkey mind keeps thoughts going at a fast pace in your mind. This can distract you from focus and relaxation. The monkey mind gives you logical reasons for not doing something you want to do. Let’s say you want to write. The monkey mind will ask you how you will make money. If you stop writing the monkey mind has completed his mission; i.e. preventing you from following your heart’s desire.

The easiest way to overcome the monkey mind is through distraction. If you are meditating focusing on breathing or the breath helps to take your mind away from thinking. Doing what your heart desires regardless of what your mind/ego is saying is another way.

Remember, we are more than what we think; more than what actions we take. The monkey mind is not bad. That’s why we use distraction instead of forceful action to reduce its effect.

Don’t forget to be easy on yourself.

Have a great day!

Michael

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. – Alan Cohen

As I get close to my departure from a company I have worked at for over 15 years, I find that there are days that are difficult. I’m a person that has historically been more comfortable with the familiar than I have been with constant change. I’ve moved passed that belief system more in the past few years, but when it comes to a big change like the one I’m approaching, I find the old feelings surfacing.

A fear of mine is letting life flow the way it is going to flow. I’m a person that likes to have everything planned as I’m a project manager at heart. But, with that said, I’m learning to allow things to happen naturally. Surprise. Surprise. I’m finding that everything works out just fine.

Learning to relax into life and flow with it like a canoe in a fast moving stream is what I’m working on right now. I’ve tried paddling upstream before and I find that exhausting. As I go with the “flow”, it’s actually much easier.

I got a great message yesterday from a friend. “Everything will be okay. All you have to do is accept that fact.”

I liked that message. It will be my mantra for some time.

Have a great day!

Michael

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
~ Buddha

A good friend shared this quote with me and I really liked it. Thought I would share it with you. It contains great advice for living a happier life.

Michael

Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom manifests itself. – Oprah Winfrey

Many times our instincts and intuitions come as the small voice inside our heads. It’s the quiet urge that propels us onwards in our journey; our life’s journey. For some it’s a gut feeling or a prickly sensation that makes us want to go in a different direction.

For me, it’s usually just a quiet voice. I get a thought all of a sudden and it feels more right than anything else that’s going on in my head. All of us have this capability but many of us simply don’t listen. But, if we do, and then follow what our instinct is telling us, then we will hear better next time.

I believe we have all the answers we need for this life. If we have the feeling that we lack answers, it’s because we aren’t listening, asking the right question or we don’t like we what we hear. When we sift through the myriad of thoughts we have each day, most of us can recognize our instinct or intuition. It’s always at a low volume, speaks the truth and has nothing but our best interest at heart.

How do we get more connected to our instinctual feelings and intuitions? Meditating helps to calm the cacophony that seems to be in the minds of most of us. You can also ask yourself a question. The absolutely first thought that pops into your head is your intuition. You really have to listen because there will be a flood of thoughts which means you could mistake the second or successive thoughts as your intuition. All you need is practice.

Have a great day!

Michael

Oprah recently picked A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle for her book club. Eckhart’s first book, The Power of Now, was #1 on the New York Times bestselling list. (Note: links to both books can be found to the right under my suggested list.)

Eckhart is a spiritual teacher who transcends religious boundaries. He delivers a wonderful message for all people. His book gives keys and techniques to help us step out of our ego-based state of consciousness which is the root of many of our so called dysfunctions. Not only will these ideas help you to garner true and lasting happiness, the message is also one that can help to solve many of the world’s problems and challenges. Remember, it’s okay of his message doesn’t resonate with you. Some people love it and others don’t. It’s okay either way.

For the past four weeks, Oprah has hosted a webcast event with Eckhart on her website. Hundreds of thousands of people participate in the live interactive event every Monday night at 9:00 p.m. EDT. Many more (over a million people worldwide) watch the video afterwards. The Monday night sessions will last for six more weeks. I’m not sure how much longer the link will last. If it becomes broken, then just search Oprah’s site for Eckhart Tolle and A New Earth.

For those of you with iTunes, you can download each week’s video as a podcast or video right off the iTunes website. I’ve downloaded them to my iPhone and iPod and watch them when I travel. I love it.

Have a great day!

Michael

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. – Buddha

Every human being is the author of his own health or disease. – Buddha

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. – Buddha

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. – Buddha

I just finished reading Deepak Chopra’s 2007 book, Buddha – A Story of Enlightenment. It’s a fictionalized account of how Siddhartha The Prince became Gautama The Monk and ultimately Buddha. Buddha was born 563 B.C. as Siddhartha and died in 483 B.C. after spreading his message for over 40 years.

I really enjoyed the story and I feel that Deepak showed immense creativity in piecing together the few known facts about Buddha’s life into a compelling story. Deepak helped to clarify (at least in our imagination) how Buddha came to the message that he spread in the later half of his life. Buddha believed that all of humanity’s problems stemmed from the fact that we all suffer in some fashion or another.

I recommend this book if you are at all interested in Buddha’s life. Just to be clear, this is not a book about Buddhism though there is an appendix that answers questions about it. It’s primarily a story about Buddha; his birth, his life, his message and his death.

Buddha’s Four Noble Truths:

First Noble Truth: Life contains suffering
Second Noble Truth: Suffering has a cause, and the cause can be known.
Third Noble Truth: Suffering can be brought to an end.
Fourth Noble Truth: The path to end suffering has eight parts.

Buddha’s Eightfold Path:

• Right view or perspective
• Right intention
• Right speech
• Right action
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right concentration

Michael