We’re all busy, on the run, stressed. That’s part of life. But it’s not the whole story. There’s a party going on right now. And we’re all invited.

No matter where you are, take a momentary mental vacation. Travel to your own inner island. Dance in the sand. Play in the ocean waves. Melt into a hammock under the gently swaying palm trees.

Whenever you’ve had enough, find a little island time.

I think the problem is we sometimes look too closely. Meaning, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment-by-moment of a particular situation. Pretty soon, whatever is going on becomes our whole world and seems like a BIG DEAL.

It’s not.

Just like the surface waves are only a very small part of the ocean, what’s happening right now is only a part of our life, of who we really are. Like the ocean depths, we are calm at our center.

Sometimes it’s really hard remember this. And I know from experience it takes ongoing effort to remember the ideas of the ocean. I’m still practicing, but last night I was finally able to find the calm beneath the waves. I hope you are too.

Let the music move you

It may be cold and gray outside, but that’s no reason not to go to the beach. Are you ready for a momentary mental vacation?

Me too.

I know that music can help transport us, so I dug into the archives and came up with a few tunes from the island playlist.  Try a few of these to fire up your island spirit:

Jimmy Buffett – One Particular Harbour

Okay, we’ll start with the obvious. A few of you may know I’m a Parrothead. And what list of tropical tunes is complete without something from Buffett? If you only know Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise, do yourself a favor and explore the deeper tracks of classic albums like A1A, Son of Sailor & Coconut Telegraph. This song takes me back to a certain magical day with Renee in Jamaica . . .

Kenny Chesney – Old Blue Chair

This is the acoustic version with the ocean in the background. It reminds me of the huge picture of Cinnamon Bay, St. John we have on our wall.

Zac Brown Band – Toes

“Life is good today.”

Bob Marley – Three Little Birds

We’ll kick off our reggae section with the master. There’s something about Marley that makes you think beyond yourself and this simple song really just says it all. “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing gonna be alright.”

Jimmy Cliff – Shelter of Your Love

Ever see the movie Cocktail? In one scene they’re dubbing in a reggae bar, Red Stripe in hand, with the band playing this song. I want to be there.

Ziggy Marley – Love Is My Religion

I defy you to sit still while this song is playing.

Lucky Dube – Different Colours / One People

Great “One Love” message in this one. Catch the video on YouTube for inspiration.

Big Mountain – Baby, I Love Your Way

Okay, I was a fan of this song back in the Frampton Comes Alive days, but doesn’t everything just sound better with a reggae beat?

Mishka – Above the Bones

Not only is his music great, but he spent his childhood on his parents’ yacht sailing around the Caribbean. How cool would THAT be! Thank you fellow island triber Heidi for opening my ears to this guy.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World

Many memories attached to this song. I danced to this version with my daughter at her wedding. And don’t even talk about the episode of ER where Dr. Green . . . A true island spirit, Brudda Iz left us way too soon.

Jack Johnson – Symbol In My Driveway

Gotta like a guy who grows up surfing the North Shore and still live in Hawaii. With the ocean and the crowd in the background, this song makes me feel like it’s time for a party on the beach.

Crosby, Stills and Nash – Southern Cross

This always makes me think of a night kicking back on the deck of a boat, far from any lights, and getting lost in the stars. Well, that and how the crowd always goes nuts when Buffett plays this in concert!

Beach Boys – Kokomo

Okay, we end this particular list with something from the pop charts of yesteryear. Yeah, I know, but you can’t deny it’s catchy and transports you to the tropics!

There’s many more on the island playlist so stay tuned for future entries . . .

What are your favorite songs to take along on your mental vacation?

A flexible palm tree bends with the wind.

Like many people, I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking about goals for the new year. Goals are good. They can point to a roadmap of how to get from here to there. They help us form a plan.

And that’s where the problems start.

Like goals, plans are good. Mostly. But they all have a fundamental flaw.

Every plan requires things to go just the way we think, hope and guess they will. We try to see the future and then mold everything and everyone in our world to conform to how we want things to be. How often does that work?

And it’s easy to be too rigid in sticking to a particular plan. Things change. Circumstances change. People change. Things don’t progress they way we had hoped. There’s nothing wrong with tenacity, but sometimes it can go too far – we hold ‘em instead of fold ‘em.

So what do we do? Don’t plan? Forget setting goals? Nope, we plan to be flexible.

Think like a palm tree

Part of the island principle of Palm deals with being mentally adaptable, versatile and resilient. The islanders recognize that sometimes we need to bend with the winds of life. Things won’t always go the way we had planned. Raging against this fact just leads to frustration and upset. When we don’t hold on so tight to our pre-conceived ideas, new possibilities open up. Flexibility gives us more options.

So for 2011 I’m going to practice being more flexible. Believe me, coming from someone who usually tries to making things happen by shear determination, this is no easy feat. I often have trouble letting go of a particular “plan.” And the expression “go with the flow” usually just annoys me! Nevertheless, I’ve come across some ideas from the island that I’m going to try. Maybe they can help you too.

When you practice being mentally flexible, remember:

1) There is always another point of view.
No one else will see things exactly like you do. It’s impossible. Take a moment to step back and consider a different idea.

2) You never know all there is to know about a situation.
That’s impossible too. New information surfaces. You learn more. Maybe a change in plans would now work better.

3) There is always more than one way to solve a problem.
Brainstorm. Ask. Get help. Nobody knows every answer to every situation. Maybe someone else has a better idea.

4) You never really know how people will react.
You can have market research, focus groups and all kinds of educated advice, but you can’t really predict how someone will respond to you or your ideas. When people don’t conform to your plan, instead of getting mad, realize that’s just the way things are. Try a different approach.

5) Try new things.
There is rarely just one “right” way to do something.  Maybe you’ve done something a certain way your whole career or even your whole life. Who’s to say it’s best? “Because you’ve always done things this way” is a stupid reason to stay stuck in a rut.

This new year, set goals, make plans, but remember that a requirement of every plan is to be flexible . . . like a palm tree!

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Are you ready to discover your own inner island? Here’s the complete guide: An Island Perspective – Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility

Here's to a great year filled with tropical tranquility!

Here on the island, we’re taking a little time out to celebrate with family and friends, but we want to say a few words of thanks to you, the island tribe.

Thank you for a great 2010! We’ve connected with a lot of very cool people over the past year and we really appreciate your insightful comments, fun interaction and ongoing support. We hope you’ve enjoyed the “mental vacations” we’ve shared and maybe even picked up a few ideas on how to better live with tranquility.

We look forward to exploring the island further in 2011 and have a lot of fun stuff planned. We hope you join us.

To all of you . . . for both the one past and the one ahead . . . Here’s to a great year!

Steve, Renee & Rudy

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Join the island tribe at facebook.com/IslandPerspective.

Are you ready to discover your own inner island? Here’s the complete guide: An Island Perspective – Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility

I was rummaging around in a closet the other day and came across an old globe. I used to love looking at this mini-earth and imagine myself traveling to exotic places. I remember tracing a line with my finger across wide-open expanses of blue, mind-sailing to distant tropical islands.

As I paused to take yet another mental trip around the world, I noticed how the waters were labeled. Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean – every patch of blue was called something. I found myself wondering how all these names came to be. Who came up with all these weird words and how was it decided where one “sea” ended and another began? Where was the dividing line? Is there a precise point where Atlantic abruptly switches to Pacific?

Of course not. It’s one continuous body of water. Mixing, swirling and flowing around the earth. The names applied in different areas make no difference to mother ocean. She is always the same, always one, no matter what she is called.

Then I remembered how the island principle of Ocean applies this same idea to people. How the islanders believe that we are all connected, even though we may have our own temporary labels. We all have names, nationalities, cultures, beliefs and countless other ways to differentiate ourselves. But at our essence we are all the same. We are one.

Especially now in this holiday season, maybe we should celebrate this oneness. Let’s try to let the surface waves of our differences calm just a little bit. Let’s look into the vast depths of our common human experience and feel the connection.

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Join the island tribe at facebook.com/IslandPerspective.

Are you ready to discover your own inner island? Here’s the complete guide: An Island Perspective – Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility

Toys can bring us joy if we keep the proper perspective.

Rudy the island dog has a daily ritual that fills him with immense joy. After he eats his breakfast, he stands by his toy box eagerly awaiting his first toy of the day. As soon as he gets it, he races full speed to the other end of house. He chews on it a bit, then casually drops it and walks away. He loves his toys, but he may like racing around with his prize even more.

We all love our toys, don’t we?

And like Rudy, we especially love the anticipation of getting new stuff. We love plotting and planning, even obsessing about getting the perfect things. But inevitably our toys lose their initial excitement.

Our once-loved possessions turn into irritating clutter that takes up space and drains our time and energy. We have to clean, dust and move them around. Eventually, many of those must have items wind up in a storage bin or the trash.

So it’s no wonder the joy is diminished.

Now I’m not advocating that you give up your toys altogether. Rudy and I would both be sad about that! But it might be possible for them to maintain their appeal a bit longer. And it’s certainly possible for you to look at your toys with a new perspective.

Here are 7 ways to get more joy from your toys:

1. Keep them precious.

When you have too many toys, it’s hard to value the individual splendor and unique beauty of each one. By limiting your indulgences to a precious few, you will cherish them even more.

2. Take good care of them.

Fully enjoy and appreciate your toys. After all, you probably had to work real hard to get them. Or someone cared enough about you to give them to you. So treat them with respect.

3. Be grateful.

Be thankful for all the toys you’re privileged enough to own. Don’t waste time thinking about what you don’t have. Practice an abundance mindset and even more goodness will flow your way.

4. Keep them in their rightful place.

Imagine your home as a beautiful island. There’s only so much room on your beach for the stuff  you love. Plus, you want to keep your island home nice and uncluttered.

5. Know your true worth without your toys.

Remember to share the light

So here we are in the middle of another holiday season. The airports are busy, the malls are packed and the credit cards are approaching their limits. It’s celebration time!

Here on the island the festivities have been in full swing for the past few weeks. Good times and great memories (along with a few extra pounds) are piling up. It’s a lot of fun getting together with family and friends. Of course, the islanders never need much of a reason to party, but this time of year is always extra special.

But what, exactly, are we celebrating? While we all have our own traditions, it essentially comes down to the same things. We celebrate love. We celebrate hope. We celebrate life.

The islanders call this the light.

They see light in everything and everyone. It’s the twinkle of a distant star and the sparkle in an infant’s eye. It’s the glisten in the morning dew and the warmth of a mother’s smile. It’s the shimmer of the gentle ocean waves and the comfort of a reassuring hug.

In these hectic days, maybe we should pause for a few moments and remember the light. It’s there. In all of us.

And we can increase our inner light. When we acknowledge and accept our infinite capacity for love, hope and life, our light grows. It radiates outward. Others feel it too.

This holiday season, let’s have fun! Let’s celebrate! And . . . let’s make a special effort to share the light.

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Join the island tribe atfacebook.com/IslandPerspective.

Are you ready to discover your own inner island? Here’s the complete guide: An Island Perspective – Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility

Find your inner tranquility

It’s a beautiful day on the island. The sun is shining. The sea birds are singing a melodious tune. The fresh, sweet aroma of the ocean is drifting in the air. It’s easy to feel tranquil here. And who doesn’t love tranquility? Who doesn’t crave that feel good state of mind that all is right with the world?

But there’s a saboteur among us – someone intent on shaking things up, on causing undue stress and suffering.

And believe it or not . . . it’s YOU!

We are the ones who upset our serene inner island of bliss and tranquility. More precisely, we sabotage our own peace of mind – the very calm, warm, fuzzy feelings that we crave.

We don’t mean to of course. But whether it’s “human nature” or “just the way we are,” our sabotage tactics can make life harder, less joyful, not as much fun.

I’ve noticed 3 common traps we all unwittingly fall into that can easily sabotage our potential for peaceful tranquility.

See if any of these sound familiar. Do you ever:

1) Resist what is happening right now.

Full of hope and anticipation, you want and expect things to go a certain way – YOUR way. When reality doesn’t match your “ideal” plan, you may complain and even lament how it isn’t fair or if only. Stubborn lack of acceptance is a surefire way to feel miserable and unhappy. And you won’t be any fun to be around either!

Sabotage Solution:

Rather than fight what is, mindfully change course. Practice taking a step back and observing the situation as an objective bystander. Ask yourself if it’s really that important that things always go your way. Try just going with the flow and note how freeing that can be.

2) Deny your feelings.

We’re all fragile threads who do not like to feel hurt or pain. Rather than acknowledge and fully feel our emotions, sometimes we try to stuff them deep inside. “Everything is fine,” we tell everyone. And we almost believe it ourselves. But the internal stress of holding things in eventually expresses itself in other, less appropriate ways.

Sabotage Solution:

Notice and admit your true feelings. Try not to quash them, but to respect and understand them for what they are. Do nothing to change how you feel,  just be with your feelings. Experience them deeply and eventually they will diminish and fade away.

3) Believe your thoughts.

Sometimes just thinking about a situation or problem can make it worse. Thoughts start blowing around in our mind, innocently at first. We really like to analyze things. We like to think about what happened, how it happened, why it happened. Before we know it, we’re ruminating in an endless loop of doubt, negativity and fear.

Sabotage Solution:

Slow your mind down. Pay attention to your thoughts. Notice when you fall into the same old negative patterns. Sometimes we have to get out of our head to put things in proper perspective. It may help to keep a journal to explore your thoughts and feelings.

Difficult passages are a natural part of life. There will always be opportunities to sabotage our precious peace of mind. But life situations don’t have to make us miserable. We can choose to view and respond to the adventure of life in a positive and healthy way.

Be gentle with yourself. Don’t let your sabotage tactics disturb your peace and harmony. Nurture and cherish your inner tranquility by getting out of your own way!

Join the island tribe at facebook.com/IslandPerspective.

Are you ready to discover your own inner island? Here’s the complete guide: An Island Perspective – Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility

Happy Thanksgiving from the island!

(Renee first posted this last Thanksgiving, but the ideas are timeless. We’re very busy preparing a gigantic island feast and looking forward to friends and family paddling in from distant lands. We hope you have a very happy and tranquil Thanksgiving!)

May you wake up each morning feeling refreshed and renewed, totally inspired and invigorated by the new day’s light, knowing that wonderful things are about to happen.

May you breathe in and fully celebrate each precious moment of your life while it’s happening, knowing that the present is all we really have.

May you be as nurturing and gentle with yourself as you are with others.

May laughter permeate your heart, mind, and spirit.

May you share your pure inner joy and peace all around you, radiating hope and light to everyone you meet.

May you care less about your outward appearance and acquiring more possessions, but more about the beauty and richness inside of you.

May you love truly, deeply and completely with all your heart and soul.

May you give generously and receive joyously, gracefully, gratefully.

May you feel alive and free to be authentic and true to who you really are.

May you be strong and resilient and know from the bottom of your heart that you have within you all that you need to create the life you dream and desire.

May you find deep fulfillment and genuine happiness day after day after day, fully experiencing and celebrating your life with passion and exhilaration!

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Join the island tribe at facebook.com/IslandPerspective.

Are you ready to discover your own inner island? Here’s the complete guide: An Island Perspective – Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility