Why I try to avoid turning left when I go for a run

There’s an amazing little life tweak that I was taught some years ago. I would call it a “life hack” but I’m an Ishaya monk and we don’t do hacking, we do tweaking.

(It’s a long story that I’ll tell you sometime.)

This tweak means that when I go for a run, I always try to avoid turning left.

Let me explain:

Have you ever considered why you do what you love to do?

What component parts add up to you “loving this”?

I have, often.

You see, I figure if you know what ingredients make you come alive, then you can replicate those ingredients more often.

The “alive” factor doesn’t have to be when you are doing that one or two things that you love, it can be all the time.

Does that make sense?

For example, I know that a couple of my ingredients are exercising and being in nature.

There’s something about these that gives me a boost beyond words.

Now, when I go for a run I can turn left out my gate and do some laps of the town and tick one of my ingredient boxes (exercising).

Or I can turn right and get into the forest, run by the river, jump over some rocks, get dirty and tick two or three, since adventure is also an ingredient.

Turning right takes longer but the pay off is way more, way more life.

So I make sure I get out the door and turn right 95% of the time.

The reason I meditate is exactly the same.

I realised that all of my most memorable moments - when I was the most alive, the most immersed in what I was doing - I was also the most present.

I figured if I could learn to be more present then that would automatically mean I would spend more time with that sense of aliveness, no matter what I was doing.

Do you see?

The ingredient is presence and when I throw that in the cake mix that is my life the whole thing comes out sweeter and more substantial and yet lighter.

It pays to choose to have good quality ingredients, huh?

And why not? Such a small investment of time and it brings so much more.

Have a super day Arjuna “getting better at baking cake”

PS. There are only a few days left until the next Ishayas’ Ascension meditation weekend.

Three in fact.

I believe there is also a bed or two still available if you want to make it into a mini-retreat.

Although I’m not teaching, I can recommend these fellows highly. I will be around so bring your running shoes and we’ll turn right.

Here’s the linkage:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

The world champions who sweep the floor

So after the other day’s little whine about a certain football player of Portuguese origin - I still don’t know how to spell his first name, and I’m not that interested in learning. oooooh! I'm such a ... I thought I would back it up with another little story, a good story about the value of humility and putting others first.

I’m actually not really a team sports guy. I tried when I was young and I didn’t like letting people down. If I made a mistake I took it pretty hard.

It’s different now that I meditate. I’m nowhere near as hard on myself as I used to be.

I’ve learned to love the team. I like what I have in kayaking - it’s individual, totally up to me whether I do or don’t, but it’s also undeniably a team supportive thing.

If I run a rapid and I mess up then a) I rely on my team who will try and save my sorry arse (hopefully - if they like me), but also there is the fact that b) if I die, I’m fine - it’s the guys who are left behind that have to cope.

I can’t be selfish. If my game is off, I owe it to others to take an easier option, even though my pride might suffer. I learnt that the hard way by seeing a buddy do something he wasn't ready for.

Anyhow - read an article about the All Blacks. World Champion rugby players.

Back in the old days when professionalism was just coming in quite a few players started to get an ego, a very high opinion of themselves.

Don’t know about you but the people I remember, always, are the ones that are the complete opposite of arrogant.

These are the guys that inspire, stay in my head and motivate me to not only be a better kayaker but to be a better person.

Nothing worse than someone who has so much natural and hard earned talent, who is totally up his own arse.

The All Blacks coaching and management saw heads starting to crawl up butts and decided to do something about it.

You see, the All Blacks aren’t just a team. In a small country they are owed by the country.

It’s kinda like what I see in football here in the UK but more so.

The chances of meeting an All Black down the street is huge in New Zealand. I went to university with several.

Back when I was a swimming instructor I even taught one how to swim (like teaching a 7 foot 110 kg brick to float).

And so in a small place if the All Blacks started to get arrogant, it shows pretty quickly in the kids. And if the kids and the up and comers are arrogant, it changes the whole feel of the game and, believe it or not, the country.

So they started making changes.

One of the things they did was start introducing chores to the players.

Sweeping the changing room floor or collecting the jerseys after a match in a bag so they could be taken to the laundry, that kind of thing.

Purposely menial jobs that every single player, no matter who, was rostered to do.

Imagine Ronaldo picking up the boys’ jerseys after a match? Nope.

But it was all about service and humility and about giving to a larger picture than just yourself.

The foundation for all these changes in the team was, and still is:

“Better people make better All Blacks”.

And these changes shows in the team and in the players - their winning percentage has risen from 84% to 93% in the last 5 years - and I would say it shows in the country too.

I mean, isn't that awesome? The most dominant team in the world - 93% of their matches are wins - and they sweep their own changing room floor.

Awesome. And true.

Better people are better at everything.

Now how does this relate to meditation?

Meditation shows you any blindspots. It makes blind reaction obvious.

It shows you where you can make better choices. And it makes making better choices easier and natural. By making better choices you become a better person.

By being a better person, by overcoming your own internal limitations, every part of your life blossoms - it doesn’t matter if you are a rugby player or a dad, a rock climber or an office worker, or indeed, all four.

You win, your partner and family win, your friends win, your community wins.

Meditation gives you choice. And in choice there is freedom; freedom to do what you want to do and be who you want to be.

So practice. Close your eyes. Get some clarity and calm before you launch into action. You won’t regret it.

A long story for the weekend, but one hopefully you get something from.

If you want to learn the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation, the next course is next weekend - starting Friday night so don’t dilly dally.

Book here:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Enjoy! Arjuna “sports mad lately”

Is one of the best athletes in the world the worst sportsman?

OK, so one thing first - I’m not a big football fan, being from New Zealand rugby’s more in my blood, but I love sports, especially when the underdog does good.

To catch you up if you didn’t know - as I write, tiny little Iceland just drew against Portugal. Awesome. Love that.

Ronaldo had a little hissy fit after the match …

I’m not a big fan of Ronaldo anyway (I attempted to spell his first name and gave up in laziness), he’s a bit too shiny and well manicured for my liking.

If we’re talking football players, Messi is more my cup of tea. He is amazing and yet seems so modest and humble.

And I guess when you’re in the public eye every moment, every word, every action is out there, you can’t hide, everything is up for misinterpretation.

And it’s so easy to point fingers from my little coffee table office.

But Ronaldo man showed me again why he’s not my personal number one guy.

He had a little whine and a moan, said the Icelanders played a small game. From what I read he said they didn’t play properly.

In other words “I couldn’t win, because they didn’t play the way I wanted them to”.

One of the greatest players in the world, and he says, like a victim, I couldn’t win because of what they did.

Passing the buck.

The biggest lesson the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation has given me is to know when I’m passing the buck, and blaming other people or my life situation or my head or my mood or whatever for why something didn’t happen.

To be clearer on this point: it’s given me the experience that life works better when I take full responsibility for every single thing that happens.

Try it.

When you assume responsibility for everything that happens, you’re in control. Destiny isn’t forced upon you, it becomes about you making the most of what you’ve got.

You live life, rather than life lives you.

It cuts the whining, it cuts the inaction, it cuts through so much rubbish so many people have going around in their heads.

If you want to have a better life the fastest way is to take responsibility for your results.

Then you can’t point the finger and blame and whine.

It’s a big choice, but huge in that it sets you free. And whining is so comfortable sometimes…

Perhaps Ronaldo didn’t mean it the way he said it, perhaps he was just grumpy in that moment, but it certainly was a nice reminder for me this morning.

And for you?

The next Ishayas’ Ascension course begins in just over a week. Don’t delay: Get in before you put it off for the next next time.

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Have a great day now

- Arjuna “I don’t want problems, Ronaldo, I want solutions” Ishaya

Watch out for that there rock!

Many years ago I learnt (actually I lie, I’m still learning) to kayak on rivers.

Rivers are wild things. They’re a bit like life, really.

Philosophical metaphor stretching bit coming up …

They can look innocent yet carry hidden dangers, like rocks and trees.

(Trees and rivers are not good when you add a kayak to the mix - see, water goes through trees, kayaks and people don't)

Or they can look outrageous and big and noisy, but really when you get in there it’s nothing but fluffy and bouncy and fun.

But the key thing I learnt in my kayak is that you have to look where you want to go.

If you look at the thing you want to avoid - which seems very sensible…

…but really not so sensible cos it takes you directly to that thing as if it was magnetic.

Now I hit a lot of rocks simply through trying to avoid them.

It’s about as much fun as it sounds.

And then someone pointed out to me to learn to focus on where I want to go, to the exclusion of everything else.

It changed everything for me - all of a sudden kayaking got simpler.

And I would say the same rule applies true for life, and for meditation.

What you focus on, grows.

If you’re focussing on all the thoughts you’ve got, or all the things you have to do, or what could go wrong …

Then that grows.

If you focus on this precise moment in time, then this grows.

If you focus on what is good in your life, that grows.

If you focus on exactly where you want to go, you end up going that way.

Does that make sense?

Learn to focus on what you want, and ignore everything else.

Best way forward ever.

So kayaking can teach you how to meditate, and meditation can teach you how to kayak, or mountain bike, or ski/snowboard or motorbike or live...

That’s the whole purpose of meditation - to learn to develop choice, to focus on what you want.

It’s not a harsh violent focus, more a gentle definite persistence to return time and time again.

Want help with that?

Ishayas’ Ascension meditation course. Simple, powerful, relaxing tools that meditate for you:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Watch out for dem rocks!

- Arjuna

How to be more present

Here I am once again in my little home office (read coffee table on the floor). Coffee in hand, sun coming through the window.

All is well in my world. Which is the way I like it.

The more I do this meditation malarky, and the more I do my best to help others too, the more obvious it seems to me.

The bottom line to all happiness, all calm, all contentment, all stress and struggle free living, to all being a better person …

… is simply down to whether you are in your head thinking about stuff or whether you are present and alive to this moment.

Simple.

I get it - simple, but perhaps not easy.

People tell me it’s hard to be present.

It’s actually not hard - you can be present right now, anyone can be present now, right?

What people find hard is being constantly, continuously present.

To make it easier - and the conclusion you will come to anyway:

You only have now. Now is the only time you can do anything, including being present.

You will drift, you will get distracted, you will.

No worries!

It’s only a problem if you make it a problem.

Wondering where you were, or beating yourself up for not being present a moment ago…

It’s worthless. Don’t waste a moment. Just jump in, right here, once again.

Make this more important than anything else.

Immerse yourself in this moment, in what is right in front of you.

The more you get used to this return, the stronger the experience gets of being here.

Notice when your head wants to think about something else - something that you can’t do anything about right now - and gently but definitely bring yourself back.

If you know the Ishayas’ Ascension attitudes then you have a great tool. Put more attention on those words than anything else. They will help break the loops and habits of certain thinking patterns quick.

The habit of drifting and thinking and worrying just dies. It does.

But it dies quicker when you treat it all as a game. When you make this moment more important than anything else.

OK? So take it easy and enjoy yourself.

If you want to make things easy for yourself, come to the next Ishayas’ Ascension course (remember you can repeat for free):

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Let me know if you have any questions about any of this stuff, I'd love to help out. - Arjuna

My mother in law's attitude

This won’t be your typical mother in law joke email. Sorry about that.

It's just that I can't complain. Quite the opposite, actually.

I’ve got the excellent good luck (is it luck?) to have amazing parents in law.

They both teach the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation. Which makes things super easy, and fun, and loving between us.

It’s my wife’s mum’s birthday today.

She is truly an inspiration. I’ve known her for longer than I’ve known my wife, so I have a lot to thank her for in that department.

She has also taught me so much about life, and the difference an attitude makes.

The fundamental thing that I’ve learnt from her comes from her approach that nothing is wrong.

Nothing is wrong - only an attitude makes it so.

She lives her whole life as if the whole of creation wants to show her how to have a better life.

When something happens that is unexpected, it isn’t wrong, it’s just that she doesn’t see the good in it yet.

She’ll exclaim “how fascinating!” rather than get down in the dumps that things aren’t working out they way she expected them to.

She’ll stay so present, because only the future will be uncertain. The present moment is the only certainty.

Of course she makes decisions and plans - but it always based around excitement and possibility rather than fear and worry.

Isn’t that an amazing attitude?

And it really works for her - she’s had some serious health issues to really test the strength of that attitude.

Living with cancer for over ten years and staying away from fear is a marvellous example to me.

It’s one thing to say this stuff, it’s a completely different one to live it. And she lives it supremely well.

Puts my little troubles in perspective when my whiney little head kicks off.

Your attitude makes an incredible difference: You can see the glass as half full or half empty.

One perspective creates fear and worry and stress, one creates hope and possibility and joy.

Life is going to happen in mysterious ways anyway, you might as well enjoy it.

Anyway - that’s my little tribute to my mother in law, an inspiration and a guide in so many ways.

Now an attitude like that doesn’t happen over night - it takes persistence to be present and see the good in this moment.

Your limiting attitude habits will be the opposite of that so it takes a little practice to overcome those habits.

Simple though … just replace one with another.

Simple, but perhaps not easy ...?

Learning the Ishayas’ Ascension makes making a solid attitude so straight forward.

Honestly - having a practice like this makes life super simple, an obvious choice.

You want that too?

I can't recommend strongly joining us to learn:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24 Have a great day out there. Make it so. Arjuna

p.s. Learning to be present and have the greatest attitude is not only simple, you get to repeat the course as many times as you like for free.

This means you have a lifetime of support.

Not bad huh? Jump in!

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

The one thing you can stop doing that makes all of life better - for everyone

Here I am in my home office, coffee in hand, Ishayas’ Ascension meditation done for the morning.

I feel great. I feel set up, ready for my to do list, ready for all the stuff the day will present.

I love feeling this way, you know? Switched on, clear - not foggy, present and alive - not worried or scattered in the head. Makes the day super simple, and so much more enjoyable.

The thing I have noticed about people is some people you want to be around. You really enjoy their company. They lift you up and inspire you while relaxing you at the same time.

It’s a curious feeling, but its of complete contentment, acceptance and yet also of possibility. Good people are great to be around. Then, of course, there is the others that you don’t want to be around.

To make sure you are the type of person other people like to be around, in fact that help other people without saying a word, is pretty straightforward …

…though like all things needs just a little persistence.

And doing this one thing means you also create more peace, clarity and happiness in your own life.

This one thing I would say without a doubt is to stop complaining completely.

Even if you think you’re a pretty positive person, see where you are overly dwelling on what you think is wrong.

You see complaining is useless. Whining and moaning and whinging just creates more of the same.

If you can do or say something to fix a problem, go ahead and do that. But above all things, see if you can give up complaining about it.

Instant better life, instant better person.

Enjoy your day!

• Arjuna

PS. If you’re interested in joining us for a weekend to learn the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation, there is a weekend here at Ascension HQ coming up.

The best tools to become more aware of your blindspots, more relaxed, more clear and present, more alive.

Come - it’s the one thing that will help every part of your life.

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Who is your hero?

Muhammad Ali died, of course - unless you’ve been under a rock you know. That news is every where.

The guy was hugely inspiring, and to so many people. I didn’t realise how much though until I read all the words written about him.

Who is your hero?

Who do you admire and respect?

I think having heroes is a wonderful thing. As I said the other day, inspiration is gold to me.

Other people can fire such inspiration within you - whether you meet them or not.

Though it’s important to regularly connect with bright lights that keep that fire burning within you, sometimes the idea of living heroically from a role model is enough.

But none of your heroes happened by mistake. It takes work, and awareness, and to keep going.

One huge thing the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation has given me is this.

Life is your choice. And… Don’t matter if you think you've done well or bad in the past, you are only as good as your next choice.

The past need not define you anymore.

It makes you who you are today, but if you are aware you are free to choose what to do next.

You are free to define yourself, free to define the circumstances and situations you find yourself in, rather than let them define you.

A constant reset button. You get to go again go again. And always getting bigger and better. Constant improvement.

So commitment to being the best you can be is not about how hard you go at it, but about tenacity of purpose.

All your heroes have that tenacity.

Tenacity is what you keep doing to make sure you are the person you want to be and you live the life you want to live.

So how about it?

What will you do today that will make the most of not only this moment, but set you up for the future?

For me one thing, as you may well know, is the practice of closing my eyes and meditating.

It’s essential.

If you want to know the simplest and most powerful method going, or if you want a reminder, there’s a course here at HQ:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

I’m not teaching but I will be around. I would love to say hello, so tell me if you’re coming.

Have a wonderful day.

• Arjuna

PS. a wise man once said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

And so true is that.

What’s your single step for this moment?

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Inspiration for a blah day

Was having a bit of a low day - no energy, no motivation, a bit blah, perhaps my moon was in conjunction with Uranus, I’m not sure.

But whatever, I turned to my trusty inspiration pack:

The internet!

It can be such a time sink, but I think it used wisely - just like the Force - it’s such a source of inspiration.

And inspiration is gold.

I live to be inspired.

Found a video by Will Gadd. Will is a climber, and awesome at it.

He’s also a forty-something, like me, and is still charging at an extremely high level. That to me is inspiring. Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCpowcXopKE

So his thing is to move. And I love to move, I love to do, to be active, to fill my days with amazing experiences.

But as right as Will is, equally important are those times to do nothing. To regroup, to rest, to recover, to learn to do nothing at all.

Doing nothing means doing something has a foundation. Without doing nothing action is hollow. It lacks meaning and presence. You can become like a blue arse fly - buzzing around without substance.

Both doing and not doing are important - balance is important.

I watched his video and it reminded me of how much I love to do, but it also reminded me of making the most of each and every moment, even when I feel blah.

Squeezing the most out of each day is not only an action, it’s an attitude; it involves your active attention and presence to whatever is right in front of you.

Close your eyes, every day. It’ll give you that presence that fills each moment

It’s as important as achieving and doing and becoming.

The Ishayas’ Ascension is a brilliant way to show you how:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Have a fun day

• Arjuna

PS.

I’m not teaching the course, but have some fine friends who are. I can fully recommend them. I’ll be about, helping in the background so it would be great to chat.

And remember! If you’ve previously learnt to Ascend, you can repeat for free. Well worth while.

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

A life or A Life?

I talk to a lot of people in my travels.

Sometimes “formally” as in a class or talk situation, other times less so, like on a train or in an airport.

I love talking to people about what lights their fire, what makes them passionate. I love finding out what their greatest memories are, and why. I love discovering what they want most from life.

Obviously that requires a level of deep and meaningfulness that doesn’t regularly happen in an airport, for example, but it’s amazing how often I can steer the conversation that way.

People love to talk about this stuff because its not talked about enough.

Life can so easily slip into a kind of drudgery and hence being reminded is like a ray of light.

My memories of the high times in my life are the reason why I learnt the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation in the first place.

I knew life could be amazing because I’d lived through some amazing moments. The thing was I didn’t want them to be memories, I wanted life to be constantly alive, not an up and down of happy/unhappy or alive/drudgery … you know?

I wanted the kind of life where I moved from highlight to highlight.

How about you?

Now I know the intensity of the highs is impossible to maintain. And I also saw, very much so, the role of my own mind in the low times in life.

I realised that my own mind was controllable, in a sense that the outward circumstances aren’t.

My greatest shot at living a constantly fulfilling, content, happy life lay between my own two ears.

My last email was about how people would rather shock themselves with electricity than be with their own minds.

I get that. I also know, even with seasoned meditators, people who have been doing the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation for years, they can fall into a kind of a funk and lose track of why they’re doing what they’re doing.

They forget the purpose. When you forget the purpose and then life gets a little tough it’s easy to throw the whole thing away.

So remember the why. Do what you can to stay reminded.

The whole point for me for meditation is to be fully involved in life. To make it simpler and lighter. To bring the world Alive.

Sometimes that practice of going beyond the limitations of the mind is straight forward. Sometimes its not, stuff gets in the way.

But whatever - you have to do the work. You have to practice. Otherwise life slowly becomes one of struggle and “meh”.

Which is fine if you want to live that kind of life, but really, do you?

I know for sure that I don’t.

So my commitment every day is to make sure I do the things that give me the best shot at being the best version of myself. Regardless of how I feel, how motivated I am, how busy I am.

It’s just got to be done. Because the end result, the overall result, the trajectory is becoming better every day.

If you want to know how, or need a reminder, I have some very good colleagues who will be able to show you how:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Whatever you do, make sure you have a spectacular day

• Arjuna

PS. It’s 100% up to you how alive your day is.

How much you remind yourself, how much you keep doing the work that creates that, how often you ask questions to remove your doubts. Totally up to you.

Don’t wait for life to be given to you.

That link again:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Would you rather shock yourself or be alone with your thoughts?

A study showed that people would rather shock themselves than be alone with their own thoughts.

When there was nothing to distract, nothing to do, no phone, just them and their heads …

… in that situation, people would shock themselves with electricity in order to create a distraction.

This means:

People will choose to hurt themselves rather than have a clear awareness of their own minds.

Here’s the link:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/may/29/would-you-zap-yourself-to-avoid-being-alone-with-your-thoughts

Isn’t that crazy?

Trying to get away from your own head is like trying to run from your own shadow, right?

I get that - and I’ve tried to run as well.

I found my distraction in the outdoors.

Peace and stillness would come from the beauty and hugeness of nature. Physical challenge gave the perfect distraction to the worries of the week.

But I discovered that where I went, my head went too.

I couldn’t distract or sedate myself forever.

You have to stop running. You can’t run forever.

You have to embrace your mind, and in that, find a way around its ups and downs.

Your mind is pretty close to the core of your being.

But it isn’t you.

If you can be aware of your thoughts - if you know what you are thinking - that means you aren’t your thoughts.

Do you get that?

Becoming free of your mind is crucial to all of life.

So you don’t care what random thoughts blow through any more.

So you don't care about that past event revisiting again.

So regret and worry and fear and all that stuff becomes like a passing memory.

You want the best way to become the master of your own mind, so you’re not running?

The Ishayas’ Ascension meditation is the thing that will help.

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Have a great day

• Arjuna

PS. I’m 100% when I talk about being the master of your own mind.

So you can focus on what you want to grow, in your head, in your life.

It just takes the right tools, and a little practice:

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Death is preferable to thinking about taxes

Did you have a great long weekend? Loved mine.

I spend it doing my taxes.

I love doing my taxes so much that every year I leave them to the last possible moment.

I’ve found that avoidance is the key to maximum confusion as I throw receipts in the air, Scrooge Mc Duck style.

And I love being confused.

No, not really…

But instead of leaving them, I sat down and did them this weekend.

What I found was that the thought about doing taxes was much worse than the reality.

When I finally sat down it was actually okay.

It was actually nice to get things in order. To sort and file and organise and come up with a number.

You ever find that?

Something you’re not looking forward to doing, and so you avoid and procrastinate, and then you finally get round to doing it…

… and it’s not that bad. You may even see the positive in it.

Funny huh?

The mind can make hell out of anything.

Here’s a rule for life:

It’s never about the thing, it’s always about your relationship with it.

If you realise that, nothing can make you miserable because your realise that you have the power to get miserable, or not.

Wouldn’t that be a great way to live? Knowing that you choose everything?

Indeed, it is.

Now, what does freedom of choice take?

A simple mental exercise program. Sitting down and becoming stronger in what you focus on.

It doesn’t take much, just closing your eyes regularly.

The simplest, most powerful way of getting absolute freedom of choice that I know of is the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation.

The more I do it, the simpler it gets.

If you want in, the next course here in Richmond, North Yorkshire is 24-26 June.

I’m not teaching it, but some good friends who I strongly recommend as teachers are.

I’ll be around though if you want to say hi, it would be nice to catch up and chat.

The link to book is here (and accommodation is available if you’re from out of town):

http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Whatever you do, be aware of what your mind is telling you. It makes such a difference when you are aware. In awareness you have choice.

Take care Arjuna

PS. So you don’t miss out, that link again is: http://www.thebrightpath.com/courses/first-sphere-richmond-mini-retreat-option-also-available-richmond-north-yorkshire-2016-06-24

Having something that will help you deal with your own mind is so crucial.

It means you won't hurt yourself unnecessarily.

I’ll tell you about a study that showed people would rather shock themselves than be alone with their own thoughts.

Next email…

The biggest thing about marriage

Howdy! I’m back after a while on honeymoon on a Greek island.

I did have intentions (small as they were) of writing to you while I was away, but I didn’t.

The great thing about life is you can always start again.

And so I’ll take that reset button and go again.

So: back in action - and amazing what a small break has done for my motivation.

Marriage.

People ask me if it’s different being married, and at first I said nothing had changed.

Then I realised that on a subtle but powerful level something big had indeed changed.

But before I get to that …

Do you know what all your relationships have in common?

Every single one - from your romantic partner to your family to work colleagues to your local shop keeper?

The common denominator in all your relationships is you.

Want a better relationship?

Ask yourself …

“What can I do to give more to this relationship?”

You see, that’s what I realise has changed.

Since being married I realise that now I’m in for life, no matter what comes.

Before there was a sense of it not mattering if the relationship didn’t work out.

There was a back door of "I'll let her work it out, because there’s plenty more fish in the ocean”.

Now I know every interaction counts.

It matters.

There’s a real sense of wanting to make the most of each moment with her.

If there’s a misunderstanding, I want to do what I can do to reach out and come to a level again.

If there’s down time and she wants to talk, I want to put my phone down and be fully present with her - not just nodding “yes dear” as I go for that high score.

Being married I realise even more my role in making the most of my relationships.

It involves awareness of my own triggers, of the intention to give, to make choices where everyone wins.

The Ishayas’ Ascension meditation helps me so much in this.

It gives me the ability to see myself clearer and clearer.

To reset and go again.

It gives the foundation, and the motivation, to live the best life possible.

And the contentment that comes with being fully present, right here in this moment.

If you've learnt, make sure you practice. It asks so little and gives so much.

If you haven't learnt, you're missing out on the one thing that makes all life so sweet.

Why not dive in? You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Hope you have a great day.

Go well - Arjuna

How about a honeymoon with 78 others?

A quick one before I run off to my honeymoon. If you haven’t caught up, I got married, and in spectacular form with a spectacular gathering of family and friends to help celebrate.

It was awesome.

And now to the Greek island of Patmos for a little relaxation with she who is no longer the fiancee but the wife.

We’re sharing our honeymoon with 78 others.

It’s a European Ascension teacher’s meditation retreat you see, and I can’t wait.

My meditation teacher once told me that this is the path of joy, and he was right.

78 very happy, very peaceful people is just the thing to surround yourself with.

Of course, we’ll make plenty of her and me time…

… but immersing myself in some quality meditation teaching with my meditation teacher with 78 like minded folks is my idea of heaven.

Just got to get some last minute packing and organising done.

I thought after the wedding there would be nothing to do.

But actually it’s been just as busy - with all the stuff I’ve put off till “after”.

The top tip I’ve discovered when life gets supremely busy?

Do one thing at a time.

No matter how big your to do list is, you can only do one thing at a time.

Giving your attention to all the other things that need to be done later is the recipe for stress.

Prioritise, make yourself a list if need be, and then do the very first thing, and that thing only.

Don’t let your attention stray to what may be next.

Don't think about it, consider it, plan it.

Leave it all alone.

Just do what is in front of you.

And not only will you do that one thing faster and with more enjoyment, the other things will come with the same straight forward ease as well.

There is no need to be stressed.

It doesn’t HAVE to happen.

The more you meditate, the more you will realise this.

The more you do your Ascension meditation, the simpler and easier being stress free AND incredibly efficient is.

Find out how by emailing me, or going here:

www.thebrightpath.com

Go well!

- Arjuna

Organising a wedding - separated before a divorce is even possible?

It turns out there are quite a few things to do to arrange a wedding. I thought it was a suit, a dress, a ring or two, and a bit of a party.

What I’ve found is that the demon, as always, is in the details.

The list appears to be unending, and the day is coming quickly (Saturday)

So -

1. Apologies for the break in your usual email service. But I’ve been busy! I’ll get back to you asap (after the nuptials)

2. I can really really see how people say weddings can be one of the most stressful times of your life.

I also see why people just throw money at an organiser to do it all and end up in debt for the next 10 years paying the wedding off.

The old me would be huddled in a corner right now, rocking back and forth, murmuring to himself, strugging with so much to do, so many people to chat to.

But the new me - with the foundation of calm and clarity provided by my Ascension meditation practice - is feeling cool as a cucumber.

You see many people practice when they enter a state of emergency.

A challenge hits them so (if they’re halfway sensible) they start to close their eyes to deal with the stress.

The approach I recommend is to practice when life is easy…

…so when disaster strikes (not that I’m comparing marriage to a disaster), you sail through it.

The challenge becomes simple and straightforward...

Not complicated and pressured and too much work and overload resulting in arguments with your lovely wife to be.

Makes sense doesn’t it?

It’s the difference between managing stress and ending stress.

Do you see?

Why merely manage something when you can finish it??

I know what I prefer.

And you?

I think you know how you would prefer to live.

How about starting now?

www.thebrightpath.com Take it easy, and talk more soon! - Arjuna

Easily offended? Look away!

The other day I mentioned a guy called Paul Mort, who is awesome. He sent me an email about “body shaming”, and I wanted to reiterate what he said.

A way back there was an advert for a weight loss company and it created such a big outcry. Apparently there is another one.

I’m not interested in going into the details simply because they don’t matter.

What I want to talk about is that people got offended over an image, and a message.

I do get it - I do get the power of the media to create an environment where you start to see the world in a certain way.

I realise there are certain pressures in regard to well, everything.

There are so many images and ideals of perfection, and you will always fall short.

Now I’m not saying don’t try and create change in the world.

Please don’t get me wrong - this is not what I want to talk about.

I want to talk about your own reactions to the things of the world.

If you’re getting sucked in and find you’re having your buttons pushed regularly by adverts or events or what he said/she said…

…even if it is the most noble thing…

…even if you think you are morally in the right…

If you’re losing your cool…

and blaming someone else for it…

There is definitely something there for you, in your own choices.

You see, it’s like this:

In order to stop the hurts as you walk across the world you can:

Attempt to carpet the whole thing…

…or you can take a small piece of padding and secure it to your own feet.

The most efficient way of dealing with stuff you don’t like is to take responsibility for your own thoughts and feelings and actions.

If you’re getting triggered by stuff, surely the fastest way to get around that is to work out how not to be triggered by it…?

There lies freedom.

You can try and change the world all you like, but if you don’t change yourself you will just keep hitting things that trigger you.

You’ll always hit up against something that will offend or bewitch or ensnare you.

They will find you!

If you see that trigger point and are able to make another choice it won’t matter what people say, what the adverts say, what happened, you are free from that knee jerk reaction, free of that chain.

You are able to be self-contained - in you. Needing nothing. Approval or condemnation? Uh-huh, thanks.

And in that you will have such a different (and more powerful!) leverage over the things you do want to change.

Because it’s not personal anymore.

Interesting huh?

Start with yourself, and then work outwards.

Try it out.

The fastest and easiest way I know of changing reaction into free action is meditation.

The regular practice of an effective technique such as Ascension meditation brings great rewards.

And it just so happens I have some personal coaching spots opening up. If you want one: https://arjunaishaya.wufoo.com/forms/z1lypp5w0gshcsx/

Have a great day, a free day. - Arjuna

PS. I only got a few places, and when they're filled there's no more. Get in there: https://arjunaishaya.wufoo.com/forms/z1lypp5w0gshcsx/

The answer to the biggest hurdle to learning anything

The single biggest hardest thing with any kind of program of education or self improvement that you will be involved in is the same no matter what program it is. Whether it’s cooking, getting a degree, learning a language, or becoming the master of your own mind…

The single biggest problem that everyone has…

And I mean it, overwhelmingly, the greatest hurdle is…

It is very likely that you will give up too soon.

You stop before you get there.

Becoming different from what you are now is a process.

It takes time.

Because it takes time you need to keep going until you get there.

You need to keep taking the steps until you know you have arrived.

The trouble is very often you have no sense of perspective within yourself.

Other people will have a better grasp of that than you…

They can see what is happening better than you, in many cases.

Simply because your own mind is much more likely to tell you that you’re no good.

That because of this bump or hiccup or that problem you’re never going to make it.

It never gives you good feedback (so stop listening).

So you quit, all while you’re racing ahead to your goal.

The best thing you can do to avoid this is commit. Fully jump in and don’t stop until you have become the thing you want to become.

Commitment is everything. If you are 100% in, then little bumps don’t matter.

You carry on regardless.

Therefore: Commit. Don’t stop!!!

The other thing is getting a system of outside objective feedback.

A community of people that will be honest with you. A buddy to help out.

Or a coach, if you like, who is so valuable in learning anything.

Coaches are rarely cheap, but always, always, always, the ones I have gotten to help me have always got me results, way faster than I could alone.

Coaches will give you objective feedback, they’ll give you the fast path, they’ll be on you - for your own interest.

They will stop you recreating the wheel, answering doubts, giving you a programme that means you keep going.

The bottom line is that doing it yourself only gets you so far, then your progress slows to a crawl until expert help points you in the right direction again.

The other thing is, to come full circle:

By paying a coach it means I have also been committed, you see?

I’m going to do what I need to in order to get what I say is important to me.

It means I won’t stop too soon.

If you want that, if you want someone who will help you be the master of your own mind, to conquer stress and struggle, to make a life of purpose and fulfilment and contentment, then…

I have a couple of one of one coaching spots opening up very shortly.

If you want one of these, then fill out this application form and we’ll discuss what we can do together: https://arjunaishaya.wufoo.com/forms/z1lypp5w0gshcsx/

Have a loverly day:

- Arjuna

PS. Remember your greatest teachers? Of course you do. They were the people that helped make you the person you are today.

Amazing people. Why not drop them a line and tell them how awesome they are?

You’ll give both of you a lift.

Get in on the coaching right here. There are only a few spots while I work out the next group meditation mastery awesomeness programme (coming soon - stay tuned):

https://arjunaishaya.wufoo.com/forms/z1lypp5w0gshcsx/

Everybody wants to be somebody else

I’m on the coaching program of a guy called Paul Mort  - he’s a genius: about so many different things. And he’s 100% himself. Totally loud, a little obnoxious - but always in a happy way, always with a huge heart. That’s him.

He's also super open about his struggles. He makes no apologies for laying everything out. He doesn’t hide and pretend everything is perfect, that he’s somehow mastered everything - but all so people can learn from his mistakes.

That is so refreshing in this age of media “perfection”.

I gotta say, I love him and his style to bits. It’s not me, but it’s so welcome when someone is just themselves.

“Here I am!”

No apologies or hiding, just authenticity.

It’s really great when you have a conversation with someone who is 100% content in themselves.

I remember when I was younger, starting to meet people who had nothing to prove.

It was so obvious. There was something about them. And I loved it. I wanted to be around them more, you know?

It meant I could rest, let go, and just be me too.

The conversation is then more intimate, if that’s the right word.

There’s more connection there, no trying, no attempting to impress.

It’s a wonderful way to live, really it is. Simply being you means you take such a load off.

And you know what - authenticity is the biggest thing Ascension meditation has given me.

The ability to be myself.

To not hide behind masks and projected images and guessing what other people want to see.

It’s so rare; and it was something I really wanted, but it honestly wasn’t until I started a regular meditation practice that meant I could.

I had a tool to erase all the beliefs and habits of wanting to be like someone else.

And ever since I learnt this practice, I started meeting many many different people - all whom were super open and real. Coincidence?

Nope.

If you want authenticity - to just be you, in all your warty amazing glory, I say learn Ascension meditation.

It makes things super simple, super fast. It really does.

If you want to be a part of that - I have a few one on one personal coaching spots opening up.

Fill in the application form here if you’re interested in working with me closely: https://arjunaishaya.wufoo.com/forms/z1lypp5w0gshcsx/

Have a great day! Arjuna

PS. There is a new group program I have brewing, but since I’m organising a wedding and a honeymoon (so taxing I know…), you’ll have to stay tuned until my personal life settles down (haha- who really wants that?)

Til then, if you want personal meditation coaching, get in here: https://arjunaishaya.wufoo.com/forms/z1lypp5w0gshcsx/

Being selfish is the only way forward

When I was younger I could work all day at a physically and mentally tiring job (outdoor instructor). I would finish, swoop home and grab something to eat, and then go out kayaking again for another 3 to 4 hours.

I’d come home, eat some more (there’s a common theme in my life), shower, crash from a height into bed, wake early and go again.

Repeat and go. Charge!

I seemed to be indestructible, there was no need for rest.

Yet as I got older things took their toll a little more, energy levels decreased and injuries increased.

I began having to look after myself way way way more - doing yoga, meditating, eating better, sleeping well.

All these little tweaks meant even though I could no longer be full on all day and night long, I could still keep up when I needed to.

All of this is to say you probably need to invest in yourself a little more.

You’re not 21 anymore. You can’t get away with burning the candle at both ends.

But if you do take time for yourself - like the good stewards of the aeroplanes say: put your oxygen mask on first - then you have so much to give others.

Every morning make sure you start with a full tank.

Have a routine that means you nourish yourself. A daily Ascension meditation practice is a great way of doing this.

Then go out and serve others.

Otherwise you’re operating from a position of running on fumes: rush and hurry, scarcity, fear, worry, inefficiency.

And no body wins.

It’s not fun, it’s not effective.

It isn't selfish to make yourself the priority every morning.

It actually expands your ability to help others.

You can only help others by first helping yourself.

Make the time - you won’t regret it. - Arjuna

Getting more peace in your day

Everyone says they want peace. But not everyone has it. How about you?

Have you got more peace than you know what to do with?

Peace doesn't need to randomly happen to you. The amount of peace you experience in your day is down to one thing, and one thing only:

How much you prioritise it.

How much you make your own peace the most important thing.

Not later, when you’ve gotten through the things to do, but now - right now - in each and every moment.

It involves taking active steps to keep the peace.

It involves effort in as much as you need to dedicate parts of your day to closing your eyes.

It involves sacrifice in that you have to give up drama, as well as the addiction to the past and the future.

But it gives so much.

It means you’re running on full - you can operate from the best place possible.

You can do the things you want to do from a place of clarity and calm. All things might not become easy, but they do become straight forward. There’s no fuzzy thinking, just this, then that, then this. One thing at a time.

You get more creative - you have more headspace to come up with better solutions.

You have more energy, you are more relaxed. You notice the things around you, your senses come into focus.

You can have a quality interactions with the people you love, not just fitting them in around the thoughts in your busy head. You can truly nurture them, and be nurtured by them in return.

You smile more, you take yourself seriously less. Life is given perspective.

What I would do is take a look and see how you want to live your life.

The HOW is way more in important than the WHAT.

And it’s more in your control. The how you approach things is all about your attitude. And there you have choice.

But choice comes easier when it’s prioritised, when it’s practiced.

Cos that’s how you get rock solid - by practicing.

So if I were you, I would prioritise your choices for peace. Just do it and do it and do it until it becomes second nature.

Won’t take long, promise.

Have a great day - Arjuna ___________________________ How to be mentally fit, fluid and free www.arjunaishaya.com