How to stay in the moment

Posted on October 10, 2011 by admin
No time like the present!

When life gets challenging, do you find yourself ruminating regretfully on the past? Searching for reasons to justify present dissatisfactions?

The anxiety producing “If only… you’d taken that job, married that person, moved countries, bought that flat, had different parents, gone to a different college, taken less drugs, taken more drugs, had more fun, travelled more, had children, not had children…

Ego, ergo
This ego-inspired reasoning, which keeps us in a state of disempowerment and impotence is endless. And endlessly demotivating. And it lures us away from the immense power of being fully conscious and fully present.
Right here, right now.

Future
Or perhaps like many of us, you prefer to focus on the future to avoid feeling any present pain. Or taking action to move out of your current unease. The “What if…. line of anxiety producing self-enquiry… What if…. I get made redundant, make the wrong decision, my boyfriend/girlfriend leaves me, choose the wrong job, it all goes terribly wrong, lose all my money, feel lonely, etc. Projecting our fear into future events, which have yet to happen.

Resistance
We all, myself very much included, have constructed myriad ways of resisting the present moment. The Right Here. Right Now. The mind, ego, whatever you want to call it, invariably takes us away from true consciousness. It feeds off and promotes our fear. Controlling and self-denying, it loves the whip hand. And until we take charge of our thoughts, the CD of self-sabotage will continue to play into the sunset… like an interminable Groundhog Day (without the humour!).

Why do we avoid feeling present?
If you are a human being – and I’m assuming most of you reading this are of that persuasion – then you’ll probably find yourself taking more action to avoid pain, than taking positive action towards experiencing pleasure in life. Think about it. Sex addiction, work addiction, drug addiction – we self-medicate and self-anaesthetise to suppress painful emotions and feelings. But of course they simply go underground, emerging at inappropriate moments with the result that we often self-sabotage – in work and our personal life – the very relationships we hold most dear. Or we simply never invite them in in the first place. We avoid ‘being’.

Observe your emotions
One way I work with clients is to encourage them to feel their emotions. Not deny them. Look at the very word ‘emotion’. Motion = movement. They are simply passing through. They are not OF you. By refusing to identify with the emotions, but by simply observing them as they move through, you will become less addicted to checking out. There are many ways of staying present, with presence. The most powerful way is to focus on your breath. Put all your attention on your in – and your out breath. Practise this daily for at least 5 minutes at a time. Then any time you feel overwhelmed by emotions and feel yourself checking out, use this technique to change your state. It’s the best way to be fully present. And surrender to the moment.

Ground yourself
Another way is to stay in your body – preferably 24/7. Use grounding exercises such as imagining heavy cords reaching from the soles of both feet down into the ground. As far as the earth’s core. Tie these cords or vines around large boulders. Then draw up that fabulous fire energy from the earth’s molten core. Visualise that energising orange, brown, red colour rising up your feet, ankles, and legs until it fills your whole body. You will feel energised and more powerfully in your body.

Pay attention
Give your full attention to whatever you are doing. Whether it’s watching soapsuds on a glass you’re washing up, to watching the trees on your way to work, to totally focusing on your work. Practise right here. Right now.

Give yourself permission to be increasingly creative… Write a stream of consciousness page every morning as soon as you get up. Start painting, drawing, learn a musical instrument… move your consciousness from your left to your right brain. The source of all inspiration. Play! Play! Play! Run around a field, scream and shout. Allow your inner child expression and let go! Laugh – and above all, don’t take yourself too seriously.

Results
Being fully present will enable you to draw on unlimited inspiration. You will be able to deal with your emotions in a constructive way, instead of diving in and becoming overwhelmed by them. Unfettered by the past or future, you will access all the energy, self-awareness and clarity you need for peace of mind and a more creative and fulfilling life. Enjoy your presence!

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London’s Burning – why didn’t the police stop the looting?

Posted on August 11, 2011 by admin

Violence, civil unrest and arson that began in Tottenham a few days ago – allegedly in response to the recent murder of 29-year-old father and alleged dealer, Mark Duggan. in a police hit, plus the brutal police treatment of a 16-year-old girl – has since descended into free-for-all thievery and thuggery by an opportunistic minority. Despite media reports to the contrary, this disenfranchised yuggery is hardly rioting. They’ve already given up on the political system; they are taking advantage of a decidedly low police presence. Was the Old Bill genuinely caught out, or has it allowed this looting to go unchecked? Many witnesses have stated that they saw the police stand back and allow the looting of shops and businesses to continue, sans interference. Why?

Why did the Met stand back and allow things to escalate? Orders from above? The way this terribly sad event has been handled is ridiculous. Why was it left to escalate without hundreds of reinforcements? And why were no PLOs (police liaison officers) sent to Mark Duggan’s family even days after his death? This is a whole other issue, but its certainly part of the problem.

Jumping for her life

Seeing video footage of hoodies black and white – of varying ages and professions – put their mits in the cookie jars of JD Sports, Argos and other high street chains, even laying out their spoils on Facebook and Twitter for all to see, I was shocked. This had segued from a race issue into a free for all. And especially horrifying when I saw photos of one poor woman jumping from her flat window to escape the flames of fuckwit arsonists.

So again, why did the police take so long to react? We might have a liberal softly softly approach here but their delay looked almost calculated. Many eyewitnesses reported that police were simply “standing back and letting rioters to cause havoc”. An unusual approach on containment by our finest, you might say. Especially considering the scale of the looting and arson; literally ripping the shirts off peoples’ backs – as well as plundering from numerous chain stories and family businesses. Firms that had taken years and years of hard work to build up. Opportunist mobs with no conscience.

“They [police] had apparently been told to try and contain any violence but not to haul away offenders who would instead be identified through video footage later,”reports the Daily Mail.

Apparently this softly softly approach was in response to the public outcry over the murder of Ian Tomlinson, who was killed by riot cops during the 2009 G8 summit in London . So what do we see? The public, feeling scared and unsafe, immediately call for martial law, army, curfews and the use of water cannon in British streets for the first time ever. Tough measures. Problem. Reaction. Solution.

The legitimization of tougher measures, apparently called for by a public who was left to fend for itself during two nights of mayhem on London streets. If the police had instigated water cannon and rubber bullets that first night there would have been a public outcry. But since ‘we’ are asking for it, it’s legitimate. Fait accompli…

Britain’s most widely-read newspaper The Sun ran a poll which found that two thirds of Brits support the use of rubber bullets to deal with rioters, while 33 per cent supported the use of live bullets.

“Curfews are backed by 82 per cent, using tear gas got 78 per cent support and Tasers 72 per cent,” states the report.

Be careful what you ask for…

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This is bravery and courage. Video of one woman speaking out against looters in Hackney, London

Posted on August 10, 2011 by admin

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Living the Fearless Life

Posted on August 8, 2011 by admin

When we know who we are, we can overcome our fears and insecurities. We surpass our smaller selves who suffer the slings and arrows of our conditioned reality, and we move to the unconditional truth of our larger selves. The answers to the questions of what to say, what to do, whom to let in, and whom to keep out become a clear and simple matter of listening to our hearts. That inner voice helps us align with our purpose, because each of us has a purpose, even if we judge it to be insignificant.

The voice is there. We just need to listen to it.
When we do that, we live in fearlessness.

Ariana Huffington, On Becoming Fearless

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Happy Bastille Day! Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité!

Posted on July 14, 2011 by admin

Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité! The clarion call by supporters of the French Republique – and the only thing most of us Anglo Saxons remember from our French history classes – is A Very Important Day in France. For on this very day: July 14th 1789, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison – for them the very symbol of a brutal, elitist system; a monarchy completely out of touch with its people. Totalitarianism absolute.

Now celebrated as a national holiday,  la Fete de la Federation (aka Bastille Day) is arguably the most important date in the French cultural calender. And as a Brit in Provence, waiting – Côtes du Provence at hand – for the fireworks to light up the Aixoise sky later this evening, I’ve been wondering about freedom, equality and brotherhood. And, more precisely, what does freedom mean in today’s oligarchical and plutocratic world? When power lies in the hands of well-known bloodlines; a few families, how can we unshackle ourselves and become truly be free?

Take a straw pole among your friends on their definition of ‘freedom’ and the responses will be remarkably similar. Most of us believe that having millions in the bank will make us ‘free’ – purely by default. Or that if we shun the wage slave route and work for ourselves we will be ‘free’. Or by doing a job we love will make us ‘free’. Or if we are debt-free we will be ‘free’.

But it’s becoming blindingly obvious to me that no matter how much money I have in the bank, no matter if I have my own business or are incredibly successful in society’s eyes, if my thoughts, feelings and assumptions are still keeping me in a mental prison, I will never be free – in any literal or metaphorical sense of that word.

A colleague of mine defined ‘freedom’ as having choice – multiple choices. An interesting thought which gave him a way out should he feel trapped. But our entrapment is usually via our beliefs; beliefs that in turn influence our thoughts and feelings and can  lead to a sense of lack of freedom.

As a result we can spend much time daydreaming about the kind of life we’d love to have. But this imaginary, ideal life tends to stay where it started – in our heads. Perhaps its simply safer to imagine the life we want, and keep it as that. As a fantasy. Probably because this process is easy, we can do it anywhere, and most importantly it doesn’t actually involve giving up anything, losing anything or pain or fear-busting. We already have what we want; we are there. No pain and maximum gain.

But daydreaming and wishful thinking don’t really get us anywhere – unless we take action on creating our innermost desires and dreams. It is our focus that creates our reality. Not daydreaming… So the next time you catch yourself wishful thinking, just write down a few things you can do right now to change your situation. Or take you closer to your goal. Imagination is brilliant, and it sows the seeds of creation, but we need to exercise our will to make our dreams come true.

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July already! Time for a half-year review

Posted on July 7, 2011 by admin

Let's get down to the nitty gritty…

If you run your own company – perhaps it’s even listed – then you will know all about half-year financial reviews. Not exactly an audit but a review of the balance sheet, discussions with staff, total income, cash flow and changes in equity. Essentially a mechanism by which accountants can see that the company is being managed correctly and can therefore provide good returns to shareholders.

So since it’s July already (how did that happen?!) it seems an appropriate time to give ourselves a thorough half-year review. Here are a few key areas worth making a note of:

1. How close are you to those goals you set in January?

2. Which goals are now obsolete and no longer hold your interest?

3. How are your finances? Have you been saving regularly, or are you still living life in the red?

4. Have you made new connections, found the time to network with a view to possible joint ventures?

5. How is your physical, mental and emotional health? Are you taking care of yourself? Have you taken time out to recharge lately?

6. How is your work/life balance? How are you dealing with personal and professional stresses?

9. What are your successes over the last six months?

10. Which achievements are you particularly proud of?

11. What direct action has led to these achievements and peak experiences?

12. What lessons have you learned? Professionally and personally?

Benefits of a half-year review
Time is certainly speeding up. And whether this is due to our lives being more crowded and more demands being made of us, or whether consciousness is actually accelerating is open to conjecture. Yet however you manage your time – and your thoughts – in our increasingly information overloaded world is crucial.

As any accountant will tell you, checks and balances are integral to a healthy business. Keeping a careful eye on how you spend your energy, time and money is essential. If you don’t already have a business and personal ‘plan’ for the next six months of 2011, I strongly recommend you create one. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just write down some desired end results you’d love to see in your personal and professional life. Then, writing as if you’ve already achieved these goals, make a note of what action you took to get you there.

For, as a wise soul once wrote: “If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there?”

 

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Why do we judge so much?

Posted on June 6, 2011 by admin

Assumptions make an ass out of you, me – and big ships

Remember the movie The Elephant Man with John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins?

Suffering from both Proteus syndrome and neurofibromatosis, Joseph Merrick not only had horrendous physical deformity to contend with, he had the assumptions and judgements of the whole of Victorian London thrust upon him. People assumed he was stupid, without realising the sensitivity and intelligence trapped inside his corporeal prison.

Faced with complete incomprehension of such a condition, most peoples’ reactions were to run in horror, or to mock and ridicule. What a life. Merrick’s coping strategies must have been pretty amazing. Can you even begin to imagine how it must have felt? Thank God for the kindness of strangers like surgeon Dr Frederick Treves, who gave Merrick a room at the London Hospital where he lived out his final days, sadly passing at a very premature 26.

Of course Merrick is an extreme case, but so often in life we make snap judgements, not only on others’ physical appearance but what people say, the accent they say it in, the clothes they’re wearing. It can be endless, this inner chattering editor. And very damaging to professional and personal relationships. Continue reading →

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Look after yourself – boost your immune system

Posted on June 1, 2011 by admin

Here's what your flu virus looks like under the microscope

As anyone who’s had flu will attest, it’s bloody miserable: sledgehammer head, aching limbs, ice pick in the throat, painful sinuses. Need I say more. So as I lie here in bed with another bout of the pesky virus, feeling very sorry for myself, I have had plenty of time to think about health, fitness (mental and physical) and the importance of looking after myself. Being poleaxed has forced my body to take a rest. Something I’m not very good at. I tend to go all out and then collapse. Not the best strategy for life. I’ve got some homeopathic remedy this time to hopefully knock it on the head asap.

But the fact that the infection is there is telling me that my immune system is weak and that I need to take greater care of myself: physical, mentally and emotionally. We all know what we SHOULD be doing but so often we don’t take our own advice.

So briefly, if you feel like you’re getting run down. STOP! Take time out to rest. Watch your diet. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Cut down your alcohol intake. And certainly reduce the cigarettes if you’re a smoker. Your body can only go on for so long without packing up! Be kind to yourself.  I certainly intend to me much kinder to myself from now on.

Here are excellent and easy ways to maintain or boost your immune system from Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Deep sleep is one of the most important ways to boost the immune system. Chronic insomnia can lead to immune system deficiency. One good way to make sure you sleep deeper and longer is by taking a long walk each day.

Moderate exercise, at least 3 times a week, preferably daily walks. Excessive and prolonged physical activity temporarily reduces the function of the immune system. Avoid excessive sun exposure.

Reduce stress any way you know how. Stress releases the hormone cortisol which wreaks havoc with the immune system. Stress of any kind — emotional, physical, psychological — quickly damages the immune system.

Eat more fruits and vegetables. They have flavonoids that have anti-bacterial and anti-viral activity. Avoid excessive sugar intake. Consume more garlic, onions and culinary herbs such as cloves. Berry fruits are rich sources of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and organic acids, which have antimicrobial activities against human pathogens. Among different berries and berry phenolics, cranberry, cloudberry, raspberry, strawberry and bilberry especially possess clear antimicrobial effects.

Ingest healthy probiotic bacteria. These friendly gut bacteria may boost the immune system.
Reduce or eliminate smoking. Keep alcohol consumption low or moderate.

Drink more – up to mid-afternoon. Drinking tea appears to boost the immune system. Non-tea drinkers who downed two to four small cups of black tea per day for two weeks appeared to be better able to fight off bacterial infections. As an explanation for tea’s benefits, experiments in the lab revealed that an ingredient found in black, green, oolong and pekoe teas boosted the ability of immune system cells to attack a bacterial invader. The experiments used ethylamine, which is produced when the tea ingredient L-theanine is broken down in the liver.

Get a massage. Massage therapy reduces cortisol levels.

Pray, meditate, listen to music, or find a way to still your mind.

Do yoga, or relaxed breathing and stretching, at least once or twice a week.

Have regular exposure to the sun or take at least 400 units of vitamin D a day. Some people with little or no sun exposure may require up to 2,000 units a day.

If you’re suffering now, or feel like some bug is trying to take hold within you, try some of these solutions and you’ll be back on your feet in no time.

 

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Bin – and gone. Osama dies a second time…

Posted on May 2, 2011 by admin

Er, dead - quite a while ago mate

Mr President, please don’t insult our intelligence with your latest billy bull. As you well know, Osama’s been dead for years. But keeping him ‘alive’ has been great propaganda for continuing your despicable and illegal ‘War on Terror’ n’est pas? You must have had his body on ice for quite a while now.

Of course, I don’t have a scrap of beard, a fragment of long-robed garment or even an empty magazine from his AK47 to prove my above comment – it’s pure hunch. Pure unadulterated gut instinct that tells me that Osama – the FBI fugitive (and well-known CIA asset) – was taken out years ago. Both Bhutto and Musharraf have publicly claimed the same.

And further corroboration of Obama’s demise (probably from kidney failure) came in April 2002, over nine years ago, when Council on Foreign Relations member Steve R. Pieczenik, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance, and James Baker, told the Alex Jones Show that Bin Laden had already been “dead for months”.

Pieczenik would be in a position to know such information, having worked directly with Bin Laden when the US was funding and arming the terror leader in an attempt to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan in the late 70′s and early 80′s (a documented historical fact that talking heads in the corporate media are actually denying today in light of developments).

In addition, the Bin Laden family are friends of the Bushes and, together with Saudi Royals, were airlifted out of the US shortly after 9-11. Despite the no-fly zone in operation. Another nasty smell emanating from Capitol Hill… must be hard to breathe amongst all that manure.

"Wow! I can walk through a railing!"

The current photo of the ‘dead’ Bin Laden being paraded by the media this weekend is a well-known fake. Buried at sea? Oh dear, I think that’s another pig that’s just flown past my window…

Creating fake videos, fake birth certificates (!) making false voice recordings – pure child’s play now. Hell, even the photo mock-up (right) of the so-called 7/7 London bombers was a pathetic attempt at Photoshop. Look closely at the man in the white hat. So powerful he can even walk right through a railing. Now that’s what I call magic! The reason the powers that be had to mock-up this photo is because these four young, unfortunate patsies were never at Luton at the same time. And all of them missed their train that morning (it was cancelled – thus making it completely impossible for them to detonate the bombs on said railway carriages). For a brave and insightful look at the bullshit perpetrated by Bliar and the media around 7/7, and to understand clearly what really happened, I recommend you watch the following video:

7/7 Ripple Effect

Get your news sources from anything but the mainstream. And keep your eyes open for well orchestrated, well planned-in-advance ‘revenge’ attacks post Obama’s watery funeral. Or even better, read George Orwell and learn about doublespeak.

Will this mean a pullout of troops now the bogeyman has been ‘slayed’? No way! The bloodlust will merely intensify as Hillary mewed today. Talking of which, here she is – giving another Oscar-winning bravura performance. Once upon a time…

Hillary never could get the hang of method acting

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