Urban Lighthouse

A surprising truth about motivation...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:08:00 +0000

I first saw Dan Pink at TED, when he spoke about motivation. He found an interesting study that, surprisingly, suggested money is not the best motivator...

The TED video can be found here http://bit.ly/geRowE

I recently came across an RSA talk by Dan on the same theme, which I like better as it is a great visual representation of the same talk:

Enjoy!

PS And by the way, Dan also produced a pretty cool career guidance book . It has been written in Japanese Manga style i.e. a cartoon character, giving the basics of career guidance in a new and interesting way. See what you think...The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need

www.authentic-change.com

10 Tips for Happiness and Success

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:55:00 +0000

1. Live your life on purpose
We all have a purpose in life. In this busy and hectic world, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the wants and desires of others. You have a purpose, and you know what it is. Get in touch with it, and live it.

2. Live your dreams
As children we all had dreams and aspirations. They filled us with joy and excitement, and gave us something to look forward to. Something that had meaning. Be different, write down your dreams and consciously make them come true for you.

3. Live with intention
Intention brings purpose and dreams into reality. That strong determination coupled with the belief that you can do anything you focus on. Whether you decide that you can do it or can't do it, you are right. Decide what you want, and commit. Banish doubt, and anything is possible.

4. Feel the fear
You are not alone. We all have fears. To others they may seem nonsense, but to you they are real. At some point you realise that fear needs to be controlled, so that you have the power, not the fear. Embrace the fear, and do it anyway. Commit and you will move forward, and learn to live.

5. Learn to love
It is only when we learn to love ourselves that we are able to love others. You cannot give away something that you don't have within you. Loving yourself will ultimately benefit the lives of others you meet on life's journey, as well as your own.

6. Be who you really are
Life puts many demands upon us, and we have to adopt many roles. It feels like each one pulls us away from who we really are. Our values become compromised, and we begin to lose our identity. Be aware of who you are and what you stand for. Be strong in living your values.

7. Learn to forgive
Carrying hurt, helplessness and anger is not good for our physical, emotional and mental well being. It slowly eats us away from the inside, and traps us. Forgiveness is about personal power. You have the choice to be free, and through learning to forgive, you find inner peace.

8. Maintain balance
For some, the endless treadmill brings a joyless and draining life. All work and no play, where we know our work colleagues better than our own family. Life gets out of balance when we live passively rather than actively. Understand where you spend your time and energy, and regain control, so you do what is important to you and stay in balance

9. Live in the moment
In our thoughts and our conversations, we spend most of our time in the past (thinking about what has already happened) and the future (what may or may not happen). We miss the now. Live in the moment, and all the pain of the past recedes and the worries of the future fade, leaving the vivid experience of the present.

10. Smile!
A smile costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive it without impoverishing those who give. The memory of a smile lasts forever.

Journaling

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:22:00 +0000

Today for the first time in ages I sat down at the start of the day and wrote in my journal. 3 pages of A4. I've not done that for over a month. Why not?

As I reflected on that I realised that I was getting caught up in a load of 'stuff' that made me consider journaling as less important. Getting up early for meetings, travelling here, there and everywhere to get things done. The pace of life increased to such a point that all I could focus on was the road ahead. No chance of taking in the surroundings and enjoying the journey. Is that the way I want it?

Absolutely not. Living the start / stop life is not for me. Working hard and fast during the week and slowing down to relax at the weekends was something I'd left behind when I started my own business. Yet it is so easy to fall back into the trap of equating long hours with getting things done / making money. Old style thinking.

So, spending some time writing stuff down and working them through on paper helped me get things into perspective. To take stock of the situation and act accordingly. It's a great investment of time and easy to do.

Take some paper, or if you have a notebook use that. Use your favourite writing instrument, something you enjoy using. Then, just write. Put down whatever comes into your head and go with the flow. Write for 20 minutes. See what comes up. Simple.

Enjoy!

White Rabbits

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:08:00 +0000

White rabbits, White rabbits, White rabbits.

It is a lovely idea. Saying these words first thing on the 1st March will bring luck for the rest of the year. I love these things, stuff dating back many years and many generations, the origins of which are lost in the mists of time. I am sure we all have our favourites.

I am more of a pragmatist. On sunny days, such as those we are having now, I'll take moment to stop. Face the sun. Close my eyes. Soak in the warmth and energy. Be thankful.

Simplicity itself. Try it. Any time, any place.

Have a sunny day!

Responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:01:00 +0000

By chance I recently came across the RSA website and the series of lectures they have on video and audio. I was particularly taken by the animate videos, which provide a fascinating visual delight of the highlights of key talks. Like the TED lectures, I find them educational and inspiring and, most of all, provocative.

Barabara Ehrenreich is a name I came across last year, when her book 'Smile or Die' was published and was subsequently reviewed in various papers. The commentary she made on the impact of Positive Thinking was thought provoking, coming from someone who had dealt with fighting breast cancer. The reviewers at the time ironically put the book down as being quite negative, saying she asked many questions of positive thinking but provided no answers or alternatives.

Yesterday I came across the animated video of her talk to the RSA in Jan 2010. It was interesting to hear her personal message in her own words. See what you make of it and how you feel about it.

http://tinyurl.com/ycdl5u9

Like the reviewers of her book, I feel the video has a useful message. Yet I came away feeling something was missing. Not necessarily the answer itself regarding the alternatives or otherwise of positive thinking, but a way of dealing with 'reality'. I am an advocate of seeing the situation for what it is, and not glossing over 'problems' or 'difficulties' by using positive language and deleting negativity. As they say 'shit happens'. So is simply being aware of reality the answer? I think not.

It struck me as I was walking home from the cinema having watched 'The Kings Speech'. A great film, and while many will have focused on how the King managed to overcome his speech impediment, I also came away with his strong sense of responsibility, especially in challenging and very difficult times.

Therin lies one possible answer, perhaps. When confronted by a difficult or challenging issue, by all means be positive and optimistic, but these by themselves are not enough. Be realistic, take responsibility and manage with the situation you find yourself in. You always have choices, so be aware of them and take action. As the saying also goes, 'shit happens, so deal with it'. You can have the life you want without needing The Secret, quantum physics or other mysterious forces in the universe. Be realistic and take responsibility. The power is with you.

Think about it. Perhaps you have other thoughts...

Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:08:00 +0000

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

As you look out at the world today, what do you choose to see? Its ugliness or its beauty?

Namaste.

Comfort zone

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:25:00 +0000

As the winter weather continues to hold its grip on Scotland, many are staying in the comfort of their own home, safe and warm. A natural and sensible reaction when severe conditions persist.

Despite that, many still venture out, taking the risks to do whatever needs to be done. What drives people to go out? Perhaps a sense of duty, serving others when times are harsh. Perhaps a fear of the consequences of staying home. Maybe even a lack of appreciation of the risks involved, or a determination to carry on irrespective of what is happening elsewhere.

There are times when staying in your comfort zone is exactly the right thing to do. It is a safe haven, a place to feel energised and refreshed. Some stay forever within their comfort zone which is the right choice for them.

Some are not happy with the confines of their comfort zone and desire to grow and stretch. This may be a conscious or unconscious motivator, driving the need to take risks and to go that little bit further. Others are driven by circumstances or unusual events to go beyond the usual constraints. Whatever the cause, the step is made beyond the existing comfort zone. Sometimes a big step, sometimes small.

Inevitably we return to our comfort zone, our safe haven, to refresh and gather our strength again. That venture out may have been painful or pleasurable, either way we will have grown in some way. We may have learned something new about the world around us, about others, as well as about ourselves.

So, whether you stay in or venture out, the key is knowing whether it is the right thing for you to be doing right now. After all, it is your choice.

Keep safe and warm.

Snow

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:40:00 +0000

It snowed heavily yesterday, unusual for this time of year. It came down heavily, leaving a white overlay over everything. My reaction to this is one of excitment. Didn't get much snow when I was young, so for me it represents snowmen, snowball fights and a winter wonderland.

Took a train to the outskirts of town for a walk in the countryside. It is a regular walk, through some woods along the side of a stream, then a short climb to a viewpoint that provides a great vantage point. The snow had transformed the walk into something quite beautiful, in its own way. The crunch of snow beneath my boots, the falling snow creating a semi transparent landscape. Tree branches, bare of leaves, now hung heavily with snow, emphasing their shape and form. Sounds were muted, save for childrens excited shouts as they enjoyed this new scene.

I enjoyed it too. It was a spectacular walk through the woods, and a joy to be out there. Oh for such simple pleasures. Just a week earlier I had done this very same walk and it is fantastic to witness the changes through the seasons. With a simple covering of snow, it all looked quite different, and offered new perspectives on the familiar.

The trouble with the familiar is that it is all too familiar and comfortable, even when it is not what we really want. All too often we accept the familar, struggle on in the hope that things will change for the better. Yet that change never seems to come. As I sat at the viewpoint surveying the whitened landscape, I wondered. If we simply changed our perspective of our landscape then perhaps things could be different. Just as the snow had overlaid the landscape, overlay our challenges with something different. Imagine a landscape full of solutions and opportunities, perhaps. Instead of imagining all the problems and things that can stop us, what would it be like if everything went that way we wanted? Would we behave differently? Are we more likely to make the change?

Perhaps. Perhaps not. I suppose the only way to find out is to go for a walk in the snow...

Changing your mind

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:01:00 +0000

I am interested and intrigued when people change their minds over something that seemed immovable. Perhaps like you, I wonder why, what has driven the change.

In the public domain it is a daily occurrence to witness politicians and leaders change their viewpoint, sometimes very dramatically. Open the paper or listen to the morning news to hear the latest on this. In all too many cases the change is driven by money, power or ego. You know what I mean, and it is plain for everyone to see, yet they seem to think we don't. They spin elaborate arguments, denials or simple untruths to justify the change of mind. Its all too sad to watch.

Yet in all of that, I also witness people who get caught up in the associated trap that it is not possible to change your mind under any circumstances, for fear of loss of face or integrity. They blindly stick with something even though it is obvious that the current line of thinking is not helpful. I have coached many with this predicament.

When it is apparent that we need to change our mind over something, it is worth considering what is making us consider such a change. Perhaps take some time to consider what is important to us and how the change will help, without compromising who we are. We know deep inside if the changes are right, so take time to check your gut feel on this. Stick with that. What others think is of less importance, they will agree with your decision anyway when it is clear you know it is right for you.

Be courageous. It is OK to change your mind.

Measure Up

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:31:00 +0000

I attended a workshop yesterday, hosted by Scottish Mentoring Network, on self evaluation of projects in the voluntary sector. In particular, funders in these constrained financial times, are asking for more metrics to demonstrate the benefit of a mentoring project.

It seems sad that we have a culture where we are becoming obsessed with measuring everything, whether it is the financial or social return on investment, hits on a website or YouTube, or followers on Twitter. There are lonely people out there who are looking for their ideal partner using a checklist to tick how well any potentials measure up.

Yet at the end of the day, how can we measure the things that are truely important to us? How much integrity does that person have, how committed are they, how much do they really love me? These things, and others, really do matter to us, yet some remain frustrated that they cannot be measured. Some say that of coaching too. If you can't measure the benefit from sitting down with someone and working through stuff that really matters, then its fluffy nonsense, without value.

Yet, in the real world, of ying and yang, logic and emotion, the balance is maintained by looking at the whole. I am happy to be emotional and spiritual as well as logical, that's what makes me human and unique. When I work with clients, I invariably ask them at the start of the session 'What's been better since we last met?' Invariably I get a range of things that have positively changed for that person. No measures, just how their world has improved in some way through their thoughts and actions.

One take-away from the workshop was that anything we do has a story. A place where we start the journey and the end point. What we all find most interesting is the story of that journey, so be willing to share it, or at least appreciate it. The final learning point was that during that journey, change will have occured. You can't help it, something is different compared to yesterday. Each day is a journey, and each day we learn something new, and get better, in some small way.

So what went better for you?

Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:04:00 +0000

Sat in a hospital waiting, thinking about all the other times I am kept waiting. It is easy to become frustated, wanting to get on with whatever we are waiting for.

Sometimes that makes us angry, sometimes it makes us anxious, other times it is simply boring, as the finite time that is before us is ticking away, wasted, never to be reclaimed, lost forever.

I wonder what would happen if we never had to wait ever again. We would get things when we want them, at any time to suit us. Would this enrich our lives?

In a society that seems to thrive on speed, with a want for instant response and gratification, would we simply go even faster, or perhaps have even more time to idle away our time surfing the internet or watching TV.

So the next time you are waiting, fuming at the time being stolen from you, perhaps instead just chill out and savour the moment. Take the time to look around, notice what is going on, listen to the sounds around you, and 'feel' your enviromment'. It is quite possible that you will notice something very interesting and useful to you.

As my wait comes to an end, I simply feel a massive sense of love for the person I am waiting for. That was certainly worthy of my time here.

Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:04:00 +0000

Posted the following tweet yesterday: Can you overcome your negativity bias? Here's a challenge. Thinking about the week ahead, what will you be doing when you are at your best?

Alec suggested he'd be sleeping, which I thought was both funny and interesting. Interesting in that some would say that being at your best is when everything is done with ease, without having to put in much thought, in a state of 'flow'. We are being natural, working to our strengths to the exclusion of everything else. Sound familiar?

Sleep is a natural process, one where we heal ourselves at all different levels. Research suggests that by getting enough sleep every night, we can improve our physical health, our energy levels, our IQ levels and our general outlook on life. It is part of who and what we are, a building block of life.

So, it seems that one cool way to help you be at your best is to sleep more. Thanks Alec. Sleep well!

Time for a change

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 09:09:00 +0000

The clocks have gone back today in the UK, as we head towards shorter days and longer nights. The change happens without question, we adjust to it and simply carry on. This happens all the time.

In an article in the papers over the weekend, a man serving a life sentence for his crimes was asked about how he coped with the knowledge that he would spend the rest of his life in prison and would die in custody. His response was that he'd accepted that and was getting on with his life within the new boundaries that had been established for him. He felt that we all do this when faced with changes that are for forced upon us.

Change can happen in an instant, indeed it usually does. It is really about the acceptance of the change and then moving on that is the key. Some we accept quickly, some take longer. Perhaps the same process works for the things that we want to change within ourselves. Perhaps to move towards the future that we desire is as much about accepting that what we want is achievable and that we deserve it as it is in our skills, hard work and good fortune. Perhaps that needs to be the way to set our goals to make the necessary changes we want.

Time for change. Ready to accept that?

Pleasures

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:20:00 +0000

I have been in the habit of writing a journal for the past 6 years. One sheet of A4 writing about my reflections of the day and the things I need to get done. A bit like having my own life coach, prompting me along, pushing me to do better. As with all of these things, it can be a little habitual, and sometimes I write on autopilot. In some ways that's fine, as my unconscious reveals itself.

At times, though, it is good to break from the norm. Today I started with the question 'What gave me pleasure yesterday?' In the past I have done the journal reflecting on what I was grateful for, which is also a great exercise, but I tried this instead. For me, I came to realise how much I enjoyed the day, especially the small stuff. A single paragraph in a book I'm reading made me smile and stimulated a load of cool ideas. My lunch of scrambled eggs on toast would not have been bettered by anything in any restaurant at that moment. Feeling the love in the hugs from my wife. That was the realisation. Taking pleasure from those little moments in life, maintaining that perspective that helps lift your spirits and reminds you that life is a stream of such pleasures. All you have to do is see / hear / feel them.

Unplugged…

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:16:00 +0000

Are you preparing for your holidays? Ready for a good time?

It is that time of year again. Holiday season. Transport links strain at the volume of people moving from one place to another, stress levels rise at the desperation to get there quickly and make the most of that precious and scare resource, time to ourselves.

We all have our own choices and motives for doing whatever we do on holiday. From lying on the beach to hiking up Kilimanjaro, drinking and dancing the night away to exploring new places, the range and diversity of holiday breaks is staggering. Yet are you making the most of your holiday?

I have a few suggestions which you may wish to consider. Easy stuff that just may make a difference to your holiday. I am no guru on this, I just know they work.

Unplug yourself from the information and communication highway. For that short time, switch off your mobile, laptop, TV, PDA, whatever you use to plug in. Give yourself a break. The emails, texts and messages will all be there when you get back. Unplug physically and mentally. It’s your holiday, it’s your time.

Find 10 minutes every day just for you. We all make the excuse during the working week that we can’t find the time to sit and chill out, to meditate a little, to just let the world go by and not get caught up in all that stuff. Yet we get away on holiday and still don’t make the effort. Just do it. Now. Find a quiet place to be by yourself, and take ten

If you are with others, your partner and / or your children, make time for them. I heard one senior manager say that this was a time to reconnect with his family. Well, if that is the same for you, make sure you reconnect. Most importantly, listen to them. This is not the time to offload your woes. It is a time to do stuff together, have fun, and just be there with them. Share your energy, share your love.

One final thought. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing on holiday, experience it. Don’t let it pass by in a blur. Fully engage with all your senses, physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. Fully immerse yourself in each moment, be grateful for each sight, sound, smell, taste and feeling. They are unique to that time and place. Immerse yourself in that sensual experience.

The choice is yours. Unplug yourself from the daily stuff. Plug into your experience. Enjoy your holiday. You deserve it.

There is no-one who became fat because he broke a fast, no-one who became rich because he broke a holiday
African proverb

Unconscious metaphors…

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:56:00 +0000

Do your dreams keep you grounded and so prevent you from flying free?

The power of metaphors has been well researched and documented over the years. Books weigh down the bookshelves on the conscious metaphors we use and on how to alter them to bring about more global changes within us.

Bookshelves are also filled with volumes on interpreting dreams and on how to use them to allow us to understand ourselves better and to also make changes. The only challenge I sometimes find is to remember the dream in the first place!

Yet over the years I have had a recurring dream. The scenes change but the one constant element is that I am able to fly. This is quite a liberating skill, but it has also limited me at the same time because I invariably found that gravity was a stronger force than my ability to fly. This meant that I always floated to the ground and was unable to take off again. At best I am able to fly a few feet above the ground. To resolve this, I look for higher places to jump off from, and after the initial exhilaration of free flight, I drift to earth and land gracefully back to earth.

I am sure there are many meanings for such a dream, but for me it was quite easy. I was limiting myself. Gravity was the force that tied me to the place I was. No matter how high I climbed, or how hard I worked, I was limited by the laws of physics. As an engineer I knew the laws well, and they created my boundaries. Perhaps some of this sounds familiar?

I was not content with this limitation. After all, it was a dream, random yet structured events that had meaning and impact in my waking world. There must be a way to break through this. So I looked for solutions. The most obvious one was to get myself in a rocket launcher and blast my way through the atmosphere so that I could get beyond gravity. The most elegant vehicle to do this was the space shuttle, so that’s what I prepared myself for. I visualised the space shuttle, captaining the craft as it launched into space. Easier to do when I’m conscious, yet surprisingly, the next time I was having a dream where I was flying, I was able to get into the shuttle and blast off into space. Limitations gone!

Well, I wanted a more elegant way, and once I’d realised I could make these changes, there was no holding me back. Now, I can take off at will, like Neo in The Matrix, flying without limits. The wonderful thing is that this is helping me break some of the limiting beliefs in my conscious life. But then some would say that the line between being asleep and being awake is somewhat blurred. Can you really tell me that you are awake? How do you know that?

One thing I do know, though, is that you can make the changes, consciously or unconsciously, to do whatever you want. We all have within us a capacity and a capability for so much, with virtually unlimited potential. So as well as setting your goals and taking action consciously, why not make the changes at an unconscious level too. Some may see you as a space cadet, but learning to fly is only half the fun. Wait until you find out you can have and to do whatever you want…

All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that is was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.
TE Lawrence (1888-1935)
British Soldier

Alive...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:45:00 +0000

Are you alive? No, really. I’m serious. Are you really alive? How do you choose to spend your time while you are awake?

Maybe you like to watch reality shows or soap operas on TV, keep up to date with the latest sports events or be seduced to buy ‘stuff’ that you don’t really need. Perhaps you like to see your friends, or enjoy the thrill of live theatre, or the excitement of being at the game, or even watching the sun set in the evening.

Maybe you like to listen to the radio, hear the latest bad news from around the globe, mingling in with the traffic or commuter noise around you. Maybe you drown all that out with your portable rock music or the classics. Perhaps you enjoy conversations and debate with friends about life’s mysteries, or listening to the ocean surf as you walk barefoot on a beach's golden sands, or even listening to the birdsong up above and the rustle of the unseen wildlife amongst the trees and bracken as you walk through a forest.

Maybe you feel angry and bitter about the way life is treating you at the moment, wondering why it is all happening to you, or perhaps you feel helpless and lost in complex, suffocating and confusing world that seems to make no sense. Perhaps you feel alive, doing what needs to be done to ensure your own health and well-being, yet also giving some of your attention and focus to make a difference in some small way.

It doesn’t take much to be alive. Perhaps all it takes is a small change from being passive to being active. To break out of the trance that so many seem to be in and to wake up. To think and reflect and after sitting and waiting for so long, perhaps it is time for doing something and being someone. Being you, perhaps?

Time to live.

And in the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

Abraham Lincoln

16th President of the United States (1809-1865)

Footprints...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:28:00 +0000

What impression do you leave?

I went to visit a labyrinth last night, one set up in a church as part of the Glasgow West End Festival. Being interested in labyrinths, I was curious as to what I would find. Inside I was a little surprised to find a path laid out on the floor of the church using upturned carpet tiles. In my socks, I followed the trail, and stopped at the 10 stations to read and reflect on the activities at each station. At the end, I was invited to trace my foot and leave a message on the card.

Though this was not quite what I was expecting, I embraced the process and involved myself fully. I confess I was a little too pre-occupied with the process rather than doing the reflection, yet I did come away wondering about my footprint.

With all the current interest in our carbon footprint, I wondered about the wider implications of the footprint we leave, and what are we doing with it now. Wikipedia describes our carbon footprint as tool for ‘for individuals to conceptualize their personal impact in contributing to global warming’. Yet what footprint are we leaving in other respects?

My own reflections made me wonder about the gifts I have, and how I may use them to help others find the gifts within themselves. It is all too easy these days to forget what a resourceful and wonderous being we are. If we neglect our gifts and fail to share them, we leave very little impression in the sand as we walk on our journey through life. As we walk, the impressions quickly fade by the passage of time.

The greatest impression we make is the one we make now. As you stand, here and now, this moment is the greatest opportunity you have to make a difference. It is not what happened yesterday, as that impression is already fading. It is not what you do tomorrow, as that has yet to happen. It is now.

You can leave a deeper impression by standing firm in your beliefs and in your authenticity. Be who you are, standing up straight and proud, revelling in who you are and in the gifts you have to share. Sharing those gifts deepens that footprint all the more.

So, what impression are you making?

“Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.”

Dalai Lama (1935- )

Tibetan Buddhist Monk

Beauty...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:05:00 +0000

What beauty is around you now?

I wonder if you have ever taken the time to see the beauty that is around you right now. The colours. The tones. The shapes. The form. As you look around you now, what is pleasing to the eye? What can you now see that you were blind to a moment ago?

I wonder if you have ever taken the time to listen to the beauty that is around you right now. Listen carefully, as beyond the noise there is a lovely rhythm. Hear it now. The volume. The pitch. The tonality. The range. What glorious sound can you hear now that you could not pick up a moment ago?

I wonder what smells you can detect as you read this. Breathe in deeply and take the time to get beneath the layers and sense those faint aromas. The light and heavy. The pungent and the fragrant. What beautiful smell can you detect now that you couldn’t sense a moment ago?

Turn your senses inwards. Let the thoughts just drift on by. Cut through the clutter and sense the beauty that is within you. Relax some more and connect with your inner beauty. Allow what you see to intensify in colour. Allow the sounds to become richer and fuller. Allow the smells to fill up your nostrils. Let the feelings wash over you like a refreshing sping shower, cleansing you and revitalising you.

In this moment, realise that beauty is all around you. Always. Beauty is within you. Always. All you need to do is to take the time to enjoy it.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Confucious (551 – 479 BCE)
Chinese thinker and philosopher

Diamonds from coal…

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:47:00 +0000

Feeling the pressure? Wondering what to do about it?

Consider how nature responds. Coal is made up of carbon in a random configuration. Coal is full of impurities, though despite this it is great for providing heat for a short period.

Under extreme pressure and temperature, and in the absence of impurities, coal can be transformed over time into diamonds. Diamonds have a regular and tight structure and are the hardest known natural material.

As you reflect back on your life, you may realise, if you haven’t already, that the time when you learn most is when you are under pressure or feeling the heat. In those moments, even time seems compressed and distorted.

It is precisely at those times that we should take a step back and consider the learning we are having with that experience. What are you learning about yourself? What can you do to change the situation for the better? Would a different perspective offer new solutions?

Within us from the start there is a purity that is without compare. Life tends to contaminate us and move us away from who we really are. Yet as we grow and develop, the impurities can be cleansed, we can become more organised and have more structure in our lives and can deal better with the knocks life likes to give us.

Within us all shines a pure and beautiful diamond. Remember. Coal cannot be made from diamonds. The diamond will always shine within you. We just need to recognise it sometimes and polish it off now and again.

The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear
Daniel Defoe (1659-1731)
Writer, author of ‘Robinson Crusoe’

Newsworthy...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:13:00 +0000

How does it make you feel as you follow the news?

Informed, perhaps. Distressed, even, at the events that are reported. Probably. Happy the way things are turning out in this modern, civilised world? Unlikely. Lets be honest. Bad news sells, no-one cares about a happy ending. After all, they only occur in fairy tales, don’t they?

In an age where there is access to information literally from every street corner, what kind of data consumer are you? Do you take a passive or an active role in what you read and digest? Before you answer that, consider the following.

Whether you read a particular newspaper or watch a news channel, the items are chosen for you. Of course you will have developed a preference for the delivery style of news, hence your choice of medium, yet in the end the information you consume has been chosen for you. So perhaps it would be fair to say that you are a passive consumer. A few may delve deeper and cross check the information they receive. Go into any library and read various newspapers covering the same storyline. Each has its own ‘unique’ angle and ‘exclusive’ coverage of the main events. The same happens with the television, and on the internet. In essence, they all cover the same ‘facts’ and add their own embellishments, suggestions and opinions.

So, with all this ‘choice’, how is it that the news is invariably bad? Even more importantly, if the news is bad, doesn’t it follow that it is likely to make you feel bad too? That is something you can perhaps answer for yourself. So why sit there and take all of this? After all, you can choose what you decide to read or watch, can’t you?

So what are the alternatives, I hear you ask? Well, the first one is radical. Stop consuming the news for a month. For some this is a bit like quitting smoking or giving up a coffee or tea addiction. Yet you will be pleasantly surprised at how little you will miss it and how much more time you will have. Nothing to do on the morning commute? Try smiling warmly to your fellow commuters. Too crazy? Then how about observing the simplicity and the complexity of life around you, and be grateful.

Of course, it is not for me to suggest you stop reading altogether. There are many great books, magazines and websites out there on personal development, self help and well being. Why not go and find something more uplifting and stimulating to read or watch. I won’t recommend any, as I have made my choices, just as you need to make yours. The learning is as much in the discovery of new knowledge, so go seek and you will understand. Be active in your development, and you will grow. After all, nature flourishes best when well fed on nutrients, and perishes when poisoned.

What are you feeding yourself today?

The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
3rd President of the US

Identity...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:18:00 +0000

How many times have you asked “Who am I?”

As I was listening to a personal development CD, the question came up yet again, and as ever the facilitator guided me down the route of understanding the various roles in life. Partner, father, worker and so on. I am sure that you have seen the same. Yet I have never felt at ease with this. These are things that I do rather than who I am.

The CD went on the ask about me, whether I am male or female, tall or thin, fat or thin, leader or follower, a loving person or evil. I am always amazed that others love to label me. When people are unable to cope with the complexity of the world and the beauty that surrounds us all, they generalise us and put us into boxes. Type A or type B, characteristic 1 or 2, and so on. These classifications help them to judge us, but do not serve me or you.

The latest plaudits say that I am just energy, held together by something magical, a life force that is unique to me. We are all just one, connected across the universe through our common building blocks of quantum energy and matter. I like to take this a step further. I think that my uniqueness is my energy signature, the levels of my vibration at various levels that help identify who I am. It is a bit like the cascading characters that are seen on the film ‘The Matrix’. The characters continuously change, so that at any moment I am made up of one set of numbers, and in the next, I have a brand new set of numbers defining me. Continuous change. Isn’t life like that?

This moment as you read these works is unique. It has now gone, and will never be repeated, even if you choose to read these words again. If you choose time as a measure, then any time in the past will never be the same as this moment, or any moment in the future. Our molecular structure of our body has changed in that moment, the connections in our brain have altered, we are not the same person we were just a moment ago.

Then perhaps the moment of choice for you and I is who do we want to be now? Perhaps I would like to be different from what I was a moment ago, yet by definition you already are. You have already changed, whether you like it or not. The exquisite conclusion that you may wish to draw from this is that you may wish to choose who you become in the next moment. You will change anyway, so why not change for something that you want? Why accept what you have been given and how about taking what you want?

All it takes is a thought, a simple change in your own vibration, your unique signature, and you can have anything. You, and you alone, have that power. Choose. Be who you want to be. Now.

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.
Lao Tzu (6th century BC)
Chinese philosopher

Donkey...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:02:00 +0000

Are you getting buried by it all?

I have yet to see the new ‘Shrek’ film, but am reminded once more by the tale of the donkey. There was a farmer who had an old donkey. The donkey fell into a deep dry well and began to cry loudly. Hearing his donkey cry, the farmer came over and assessed the situation. The well was deep and the donkey was heavy. He knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the animal out.

Because the donkey was old and the well was dry, the farmer decided to bury the animal in the well. In this way he could solve two problems: put the old donkey out of his misery and have his well filled. He called upon his neighbours to help him and they agreed to help. To work they went. Shovel full of dirt after shovel full of dirt began to fall on the donkey's back. He became hysterical.

The donkey then realised he had a choice. He could sit there and accept what was happening to him, or he could do something about it. So, each time they would throw a shovel full of dirt on his back he could shake it off and step up. Shovel full after shovel full, the donkey would shake it off and step up. Eventually, exhausted and dirty but quite alive, the donkey stepped over the top of the well and walked proudly through the gathered crowd.

As life throws things on your back, how do you respond? You have a choice. Get buried or accept what has happened, make sense of it, learn from it, then shake it off and step up. When you let it go you will feel free.

Time to take a shower…

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Soldier, author, statesman

Mirror, mirror...

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:36:00 +0000

As you looked in the mirror today, what did you see?

I am fascinated by the comparisons people make about themselves. Ever heard yourself saying ”I am like…” or maybe you see yourself looking like someone or even something. That may create within you a good or a bad feeling as you make that comparison. I recall after watching ‘Casino Royale’ I left the cinema wanting to be just like James Bond. That made me feel good.

Yet equally, we make comparisons or even statements about ourselves that do not help us. I bet you know what I mean. These metaphors of life, both good and bad, have a massive impact on the way we live our lives. Potentially the metaphor can begin to define who we are. They provide the filter through which we come to view ourselves and possibly even the way we invite others to view us too.

I recently met someone who had a fear of flying. She thought it was really stupid to have this fear. Indeed, she told everyone she came across how stupid she was to have this fear. It did not surprise me that she managed to hold onto this fear for many years.

So, as you look once more into the mirror, what do you see? If what you see, or what the voices in your head are saying, are things that do not serve you, how about changing them? Why not be like someone you admire, or aspire to? Why not be comfortable being who you are right now? Be happy and relaxed and feel exquisite about yourself. Be flexible with the metaphors that you use, change them to suit the circumstances. Have fun with them. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much joy the mirror can reflect…

Enjoy!

Life is like a mirror. We get the best results when we smile at it
Anon

Risk…

noreply@blogger.com (The Keeper) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:08:00 +0000

Have you ever stopped yourself from doing something because the risk was too great? Have you then later regretted that, knowing that the risk was not real?

I had the pleasure of going out on a trip to Bute last week to visit the splendid Mount Stuart. On my way, I heard that the shipwreck at Ettrick Bay had been removed on the grounds of safety.

I was rather dismayed by this. Though it was not the most beautiful wreck I have ever seen, it certainly added some character to the beach. I also wondered where the local authorities would stop in their efforts to prevent us from harm. Perhaps they would start to cut down all the trees to stop young children from climbing into them…

I also wondered how we set our own limits regarding risk. Normal life experiences help us set limits and some we get from others. Sometimes that is helpful to us. I don’t need to put my hand in the fire to know that I will burn myself in the flames. Yet, at other times that advice is less than helpful and may even stop us moving forward at all. We become over cautious. Just like the local authorities who fear litigation, real or perceived.

So perhaps the next time you say you can’t do something, ask yourself ‘Why can’t I do that?’ If the answer is because of the fact that the risk is too great, become curious. Wonder if the risk is real or perceived. Is the real risk really real?

As children, we were fearless and risk was all part of the game of life. Risk is something we have learnt to factor into our daily activities. In some cases that is entirely appropriate. Yet why apply it to everything? The fun and joy of life is the adventure and exploring our own limits. As we push back our own limits and live life the way we want to, rather than the way they want us to, then perhaps we begin to sense a freedom that rules and regulations have begun to choke out of us. The freedom to choose.

I dare you. Choose to be different. Have the courage to take a risk and live a little. I think you might enjoy it.

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go
TS Elliot (1888-1965)
Poet, dramatist, Nobel Prize for Literature 1948