Friday, January 15, 2010

It doesn't take much...

I am in Athens at the moment and while doing the general tourist rounds we found out that due to a bomb threat the main street we were heading to was closed and a traffic jam was the result.

It doesn't take much to set people off in their cars or on their motorbikes...absolute chaos.

Being in such a rush doesn't help anyone.

Next time you feel you need to rush - take a step back and consciously stay relaxed and take your time. Tell yourself it will all work out and then watch the quality of your day increase rather than it spiraling out of control...

Positive thoughts lead to more positive thoughts. Negative thoughts lead to more negative thoughts and finally frustration that things aren't going your way...

Take time...

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

When the extraordinary becomes the norm...

Do something each day that you normally wouldn't.

Give someone a compliment, tell an uncle or an aunt how much they mean to you - basically anything that you think of that gives thanks...

Then see the magic happen..

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Face up...

Never run away from anything...

The truth is you can't and the only certainty is - it will follow you...

Monday, January 11, 2010

When the passion goes...

I got to speaking to an older couple who own a used book shop in Liverpool a few days ago. They were actually closed but they opened the doors and let me in. I browsed for a while and has this wonderful feeling that during their day off they still let me in.

After 20 minutes or so I made my selection and spoke to the couple for a while about their love of sailing and adventure. I thanked them for being so passionate about books and for letting me in. The man responded that after 20 years of carrying books up and down the stairs that the passion has waned...

I must admit - it shocked me.

It made me think about how many of us are actually doing what we really want to do?

So I am sending my thoughts out to you - someone holding themselves back from what they know is right for them. It could be a new career, relationship, hobby...

We all know what we want - do what you feel is right for you...

So I send you:

Courage...Courage to trust in yourself and your decisions...

Belief...That the time is now...

Action...Take that first step...it is often the hardest but once you do you will not look back...

Saturday, January 9, 2010

The Path of Least Resistance Vs Effort

In the past my view on getting what you want in life was that it was only ever possible through effort. There was no luck - only effort.

In the past few years I have learned to relax a little more, open up and flow with the wonders of life. This resulted in a trust - a knowing - within myself that everything is playing out as it should in each and every moment...life is a movie.

When I look back on my life when effort was the main theme, I don't recall too much happiness as life was focused on the struggle. When I look at my life - my movie - now I always see new and interesting characters, an abundance of happiness and an openness to connect with people and share my journey with them.

Should happiness be an effort? Should love or relationships be an effort?

We can all do anything...we can all achieve what we want...

We can all enjoy the journey...

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Hearts of Men

I have just finished reading Tiger of the Snows - the story of Tenzing Norgay. The Sherpa who reached the summit of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary...

Read it if you get the chance - it is so honest. I would say the most honest biography I have read.

After Everest he returns back home to Darjeeling and he is looking out towards Everest from Tiger Hill. From Tiger Hill Everest looks small compared to mountains in the foreground. In the past he says some guides would tell the tourists that the larger appearing mountain was Everest but he always said 'It's the small one...yep it's the small one'

He says that that is a strange name to call the biggest mountain on earth but it is the hearts of men that make it big or small...beautifully put.

We each have an Everest to climb. Tenzing went seven times in total to Everest and succeeded on the last attempt.

But depending how you look at it - he succeeded every time - each time going further than the last.

So if your 'Everest' is in the distance - try some more - success definitely comes with every effort towards the goal you are working towards....

Live your truth

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

So much to do...

On the train into town today I got to talking to an elderly woman...well I listened really...

She was disappointed she hadn't seen more children out playing in the snow on such a beautiful and clear day. She spoke of her youth - a time with no television and in many cases she said people didn't have radio's but they were always happy and outside doing something.

In the modern age with so much to do, so much accessible to us we still can suffer from boredom...We got to work, come home, eat, watch TV and sleep...

Tomorrow - or every day make sure to take some time to do something you love. Read a book, cook a new meal, or exercise... whatever it is you choose to do treat that moment as if it is the best moment of your life.

If it makes you happy - chances are it will make those around you happy also...

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Footsteps...

On a walk to Sefton Park, Liverpool today I got to thinking about footsteps and walking towards our goals or just simply walking...some follow the path...some find a place within themselves to march toward what they want in life with no room for compromise.

When I got to the park I noticed that people had walked in places they normally wouldn't. Down embankments and gardens - that were obviously covered in snow - not places I would think that people would normally walk.

I saw the snow as offering some kind of security blanket or safety net for people to set their own path...free to go wherever.

We often hear about footprints in the sand (or in the snow in this case!) but what about the footprints we leave that don't leave a lasting impression? They are still there - you know them well - they are the ones we leave with every step, each day going to work or merely one's journey through life.

What kind of impression have you left today?

Know that that impression matters and the difference you can make is right now...

A Thought a Day...

In 2010 I thought it would be great to record a thought a day...or record something that can help us all along our individual journey's...Please feel free to share your own thoughts as we go...

I'll post the first one up later today and look forward to sharing with you...

Michael

Happy New Year...

Hi Guys,

Happy new year...I've been on quite the journey of late.

Late November 2009 I found myself traveling in the United States for the first time. I had a great stay in Portland, Oregon - with my first couch surfing hosts...amazingly talented people and I loved the food and coffee culture (Even did my first industry standard Coffee tasting)...

San Francisco was next stop - what a large city...I of course decided to walk to Ocean Beach from the centre of town (towards the part of the map that was slightly off scale) - it was a great journey and I snapped some great pics at sunset.

From there it was onto London...I spent a few weeks in Hitchin with great friends and then headed up to liverpool to see my cousin and his wife.

Christmas found me tripping over to France for an intensive Level 1 course in the body mirror system...All part of an amazing journey. I wanted to be healed of a focus on lacking and to restore my left eye to perfect vision. Both related to the solar plexus chakra...something has definitely opened up for me during the experience. I have never had so much trust in myself and my journey...I am learning the best place for me is being in the now and I now know that feeling my way through life is the only way to go.

I was able to touch base with the whole system of healing and shared some great healing experiences with fellow healers. The main theme from the four days of the course for me was:

Acceptance - unconditional acceptance...infinite acceptance...

I wish you all magical things for the year - in each and every moment...

Namaste