The Hard Sell...

I had an interesting experience a few nights ago. I come across an advertisement for a talk by a visiting Swami from India and the topic of - leading an enlightened life through spiritual practice and the release of strong negative emotions - really resonated with me so I decided to check it out.

The talk was delayed for some reason and as it turned out the Swami was help up in India so someone spoke on his behalf. the experience was pleasurable and was a recap of topics I understand well but presented in a different way.

It has been close to eight months now where I have been living life from the throat chakra - flowing with and following my intuition. During the course this was presented in what the speaker termed 'initiating'. Preselected individuals of varying ages and backgrounds offered their experiences with the teachings and it was about this time when the sell commenced.

Personally I don't believe that enlightenment comes with a price - how can you put a price on this? It is something that can be achieved within so telling people to go to India isn't the way to encourage first timers or first time visitors to the organisation to experience enlightenment. So much consumerism is thrown at people these days and I believe people are tired of it. I say this already knowing that me spending time in India doing spiritual courses is something in my future but one has to be sensitive to how people receive the messages in such talks.

It was because of this and the many personal development emails I receive on a daily basis all wanting me to buy something that I am making a commitment to finding a way to offer my answer to people in a way that will speak to them - this is something that will present itself in my future.

So I encourage you to keep doing what resonates with you - what feels right - the most important answer is your answer.

Live your truth...

It's been a while...

I now find myself back in Vancouver in readiness for the Olympics...I am thinking of starting up another blog for my Olympic experience...

After the Olympics I am looking forward to renting a room somewhere and the possibility to live in an urban monastery has come up. Definitely worth a few months living with both monks and lay people...I am heading back on Friday for a lunchtime meditation and will find out more...

In any event after the Games I intend to spend three months in the one place. I am looking forward to linking in with some healing centre's in both Vancouver and the Victoria areas and even finish my book...the first draft anyway.

I have just finished reading a wonderful little book by Hugh Prather - 'Notes to Myself - my struggle to become a person' In 1968 he asked his wife if she was comfortable if he left work to focus on becoming a writer and she agreed. Two years later nothing he had written had gotten published and he decided to put together content for a book composed entirely of excerpts from his personal diary....this little book was the result. Amazing stuff and is worth checking out.

Live your truth...

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...

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..

Face up...

Never run away from anything...

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

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...

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...