Why So Serious? (Don’t Ruin It For Yourself)

An interesting and informative point I saw from a kayak course I did the other week. Although I was drained from having spent what felt the whole night on the toilet (stomach bug you see) and not able to eat anything, I was having a ball.

After all - even though I’m not as sharp and full of beans as usual (literally - hur hur) …

———-> I’m on the river (wahey!) <———

or more aptly -

———-> I’m NOT in an office or mowing the lawns (yay!) <————

Yet one of my fellow guinea pigs was having a rough day.

No joy at all - it looked like he was getting more and more frustrated with his abilities as the day went on.

Didn’t matter what I said to encourage, to try and point out what he was doing good, you know?

I used to be exactly the same.

Hyper-critical to the point of ruining my own day.

This is what I learnt:

The deal is sometimes you’re totally on the ball, in the Zone, firing from the sweet spot.

And sometimes it’s just not your moment.

That there is a fact of life.

You need to make your own enjoyment your foundation.

Because everything you do comes easier from that.

You’re looser, less tense, more focused on what goes right as opposed to what went wrong.

And you're having more fun!!!

Which is the point.

You know?

Sometimes you need to adjust your definition of success for the day.

Sometimes its not going to be what you hoped for.

You see we humans take stuff far too seriously.

And it seems like the older we get the more seriously we take it - even our leisure.

Everyone wants to get better - (and to be seen doing well) -

BUT the only way to really get better fast is to make sure you’re having a ton of fun.

Keep your eye on the prize!

Protect your peace and joy.

That there is the only thing no one can take away from you.

It’s yours, your choice, your inner response, yours and yours alone to make and have.

If you want to know how your mind sabotages your own enjoyment and skills and fast progression and what to do about it?

See you in the PS.

Otherwise have a great Sunday!

Keep the peace!

Arjuna -

PS.

A live seminar on the mind and sports performance, 

with me, in Darlington.

Wednesday 26 October 7.30-9pm.

(Actually I should call it LIFE performance because it's all the same. But I didn’t. But you can if you want?)

I did call it:

"5 things you need to know to stop your mind being your worst enemy”

Stop your own mind sabotaging your skills and abilities, your learning curve, your enjoyment.

Here's the link to get a seat:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/mindmastery

I’m going to talk about what the problem is - so you’re aware of what’s happening -

And what to do about it - so you have a solution.

Problem awareness and solution given.

All you need to do after that is execute (with a smile).

Wednesday 26 October 7.30-9pm.

If you preregister, you get it for £3 rather than £5.

Again, here's the link if you'd like a seat.

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/mindmastery

All proceeds go to the Felix Fund - the bomb disposal charity.

A night of fun, useful information and giving to charity too.

You can't go wrong!

-

Live Event - 5 Things You Need To Know To Stop Your Mind Being Your Worst Enemy

It's official! And you’re invited.

I've finally got myself together and can tell you about the seminar on the mind and sports performance that I'm doing which you might well want to come along to.

I've named it:

"5 Things You Need To Know To Stop Your Mind Being Your Worst Enemy"

But I'll probably talk about more than just five things.

I get a bit chatty.

It’s held on Wednesday 26 October in Darlington, 7.30-9pm.

Here's the link to register and get a seat: https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/mindmastery

What will you get from this?

Ever since I was a competitive swimmer and triathlete in my teenage years I realised that my mind had a huge part to play in my physical performance and enjoyment.

My coach would talk a lot about mental toughness. That ability to focus not on the complaints of the mind but on what needed to be done.

I even stuck the words "mental toughness" to my ceiling as I wanted to be the first words I saw when I opened my eyes.

If only it was that simple …

It was a shame that we knew so much about how important the mind was to getting my goals, we just had little idea of how to shape it.

Later on I became an outdoor instructor and it was even more so.

It was so obvious that physical ability was nothing without mental ability. You could all the talent in the world but without the right headspace, nothing would happen.

My job as an outdoor instructor was as much mental mindset coach as physical skills coach.

And that led me directly to being a meditation and mindset teacher.

I saw this is the stuff that changes the mind.

• Meditation and mindset focuses it, gives it toughness and flexibility too. It rewires faulty patterns, habits, and programmes.
• It alters negative motivation and energy sapping beliefs and addictions.
• It changes self sabotage and regret and concern and anxiety for quiet confidence, presence, awareness and enjoyment.
• It doesn't decrease hard work, but it makes working hard enjoyable.

Everyone likes being on top of their game, no matter what game that may be.

So I thought I'd talk about what I know about your performance and your mind, and how to get your mind to help you not hinder.

It will be related to sports as in physical stuff, but it's the same thing over if you are a musician or an artist or just want to be a better human.

So come!

It’s held on Wednesday 26 October in Darlington, 7.30-9pm.

You're officially invited, here's the link to register and get a seat.

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/mindmastery

It costs £3 if you pre-register, £5 on the door and all proceeds are going to the Felix Fund, the Bomb Disposal Charity.

Valuable learning to you, and you get to give to a worthwhile charity. Awesome.

Register here and bring your friends!

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/mindmastery

Any questions? Fire away as usual.

Take it easy! Arjuna

PS.

I will talk a little about the upcoming meditation and mindset course that runs the weekend of 5-6 November (begins 7pm Friday)

But mostly I want to give you more clarity about what your head does to you AND what to do about it.

Come, bring your mum - be great to meet you both.

Going With The Flow

I’m sitting here without coffee, my usual go to blog writing beverage. I contracted some nasty bug which means I haven’t been able to eat for the last 48 hours.

Yesterday I was booked on a kayak course - and not wanting to miss out - I went along, having spent most of the night on the toilet and having no food in me.

Probably not my most “sensible” decision, but we do these things sometimes don’t we?

But even though I was shattered after -

What wonders were had from some good old fashioned coaching!

The biggest thing I learnt, and what I see can be applied to all of life is as follows:

Don’t eat out of date food.

No, actually -

The coach Ken (Hughes - great fella) got me working with the river, not against it.

I was fighting, trying to impose my will on something substantially bigger and stronger than me.

Turns out there’s an easier way.

Letting my kayak and the river do the work is different, it results in getting places with more style, having more energy, less stress and a real sense of flowing with the river.

It doesn’t mean giving up and letting the river push me where it wants me to go -

because that would mean I would be fish food pretty quick -

So I still need to be prepared, and do the work -

But at the right time, at the right place.

It means working with the river - going when the river goes, stopping and resting where the river rests.

And - tenuous link with life coming up ...

That’s what we don’t do.

We fight and we struggle and we push against the current.

So many people try and impose their will and simply get bashed and stressed fighting against the inevitability of something.

Meditation has shown me the uselessness of resisting something I can not possibly change in this moment.

Much easier to work with it.

“OK, what CAN I do in this precise moment in time?”

The thing is so many people don’t trust that life will turn out alright if they loosen the grip on the reins a bit.

The fact is if you stop fighting, you’ll stop getting stressed immediately.

You become more fun to be around, you have more energy. You can see clearer.

And as I found in my kayak, you can use what you have to get the most out of it.

All I can say is give it a try.

It’ll take some practice to recognise when you’re fighting and struggling against something you can't change,

And when to back off and when to go further.

But I think it’s the answer to making life so much smoother.

It gives you that sense of “Flow” too - even if you’re just pootling about your house.

Give it a go, let me know how it goes if you like?

Take it easy!

Arjuna

PS.

If you’d like to join me for a weekend of meditation and mindset tools that will mean you become the boss of your own mind -

Where you can control it, rather than having it control you -

Sign up here for more information on this course and upcoming courses.

And get a free quick start guide to meditation, giving you some solid advice to get going straight away:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

PPS.

I do have a seminar/workshop coming on Wednesday 26th October at 7.30pm in Darlington.

But since I’ve been busy being sick and kayaking I haven’t quite got it all together.

Coming soon though!

-

One small thing to make your relationships shine

I know this because I see it every where - and I can get lazy with this too. It’s one small thing you can do to make your personal life so much better.

When you first met your partner / wife / husband / significant other …

You were all over them.

Checking in, saying hello, buying presents, saying nice things, paying attention and compliments …

Am I right?

Now?

It’s easy to take them for granted.

A quick hello and a kiss on the cheek, and you’re somewhere else.

On the same couch but in different worlds.

On your phone, thinking about work, thinking about the weekend …

It’s easy not to be so full on now you’ve got them, now that they’re around all the time.

The thing is - all your relationships are living things.

If you want them to be in a half-way decent state, you have to feed them, you have to put effort into them.

But if you do go the extra mile?

If you do what you did when you were first getting together?

If you really engage and show an interest and give them more attention and appreciation?

You'll have:

- less arguments - more understanding - deeper connection - more and better sex - happier them, happier you - a team, not two individuals

And more.

I think you know what I mean.

Memo to self:

Don’t let up. Keep giving.

The more you invest in your relationship, the more you get out of it.

I”m off to buy some flowers.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

As always, if you ever ever need anything at all, just hit reply.

PPS.

Meditation Apps:

Someone was asking about these.

I don’t really recommend many meditation apps because you now have the tools you need.

Apps can mean you can start to rely on something outside of you, and you really don’t want to rely on anything external to you, if that makes sense.

But if you like to have a guide, I’ve heard these two are good:

Stop, Breathe, Think, and Headspace.

The thing is it's so simple to learn how to meditate anywhere anytime - so you don't need a prop.

For more information, and a quick start guide to simple meditation, go here:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports PPPS.

I've got a live seminar coming up on Wednesday 26th October, in Darlington. 7.30pm

It's all about sports performance - well, and life performance, without self-sabotage and stress and struggle.

In other words, making it easy - because life can, and could, and should be easy and fun.

More details coming!

-

"Wear This Hoodie and Get in The Zone"

Nope, not an promo for Adidas -

Though I do like the cut of their jib.

(If you’re a marketing manager for Adidas? I’d be a good fit, absolutely!)

But they have released a new hoodie - that promises to get you in the zone and “Find Focus”

Awesome.

And they come in white!

I’m getting one.

Unfortunately-

If only it were that simple.

Slip on a hoodie and get mental absorption and complete satisfaction.

It’s like those 10 minute fitness programmes I see.

If 10 minutes gets you fit, then I’m a monkey.

The only way is to practice.

And that takes time, and commitment.

But taking the time gives you so much more.

Hitting your lines and skills with so much fluidity your outdoor and sporting buddies will think you’re made of liquid.

Solving problems at work and home with so much less effort.

Being super happy - all the time - for no reason.

Brushing off stress and pressure like water off a duck’s back.

Having better, closer, more meaningful relationships than ever before.

Just through closing your eyes and heading in the right direction.

Who would have thought?

Meditation has only been around for … let’s see ... as long as humanity.

For the sole purpose of making living in the Zone a reality.

Not so you can visit.

Not so you can buy a hoodie and get down to business.

But so you can live permanently in a state of Flow.

To get going on this, go here:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Take it easy out there

• Arjuna

PS.

I really do like Adidas.

It all began with Run DMC.

But you don’t need anything external to yourself to be in the Zone.

A tool, a way, a direction pointer all helps without a doubt.

And that can be as simple as thinking the right thought at the right time.

Want to know more?

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

How To Improve, Fast

No one likes to remain the same. But no matter the subject - sometimes it’s difficult to know which direction to move in to improve.

The problem then is information.

It’s “how do I do it”?

When you don’t know, you don’t do.

And so nothing is done, there is no change.

The other thing that happens is we can perpetually get ready to get better.

Humans will gather a lot of information and sometimes spend years in the research phase, but not actually putting it into action.

Gathering and gathering and not actually doing.

Not out there making mistakes and learning through experience.

I know this one quite well. I used to do a ton of it. If gathering could weigh something, my past "getting ready" would be hefty.

The problem here is not of information, because there is more than enough, but actually not seeing how the information suits you through experience - how it works for you.

Because - as I’ve also discovered very recently - we’re afraid of looking foolish in failure.

We don't try because we don't want to look silly.

Which is fair enough - but ultimately useless as a growth strategy.

The other problem is one of motivation and momentum.

You can have a great idea to get better at something - you may even begin - but after the initial fizz and buzz of activity,

You realise how change actually requires a little work, and (unless you are extraordinarily motivated) left to your own habits, you revert back to not doing.

Having someone else hold you accountable to your goals is a great thing.

Because sometimes it’s easier to let yourself down than it is to let someone else down.

NOW:

All of these things you can find for yourself.

There is no end of information now out there on the internet (some of it good, some not so).

You can make sure you take action and don’t just research and prepare.

And you can find a buddy to hold you accountable for doing what you said you wanted to do.

(I know someone whose default on not meeting his goal means he has to vote for Donald Trump. And all his friends know. He’s quite motivated, as you’d imagine.)

You can do all the above - or you can get a coach.

A coach gives you the right information, the right goals, the right accountability, the right support:

Everything, simple and quick.

I really want to get better at kayaking so because of this I’m doing some courses.

I have a meditation teacher, and a business coach too, because I really want to improve.

How about you?

You don't NEED a coach, but going to one can help extraordinarily.

And I'd like to offer my services.

If you’re interested in getting better in this mindset and meditation business fast -

if you want to know how to be calmer, more focussed and happier so that you have the mental skills to do what you want to do and be the person you want to be and live the life you’d like to live, I can help.

The first thing I’d recommend is starting here:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Great stuff.

Have fun out there.

Arjuna

- PS.

I'm nearly done on my holidays.

And I have a seminar and a few other things up my sleeve to get going on.

I'll let you know when - end of October sometime, and it'll be in Darlington, AND it'll be all about sports performance beyond the mind.

How you can think less and get better quicker with more fun.

Something like that.

Talk more soon.

-

Overwhelmed? Yah, that is a possibility!

I have seen that the difference between overwhelm and an adventure is all in the way that you look at it. Isn’t it just?

One person's “awesome” is another's “OMG!!!!”

Now currently there is a situation in my life that I never thought would ever happen.

Even now, I could ponder and scratch my head and think “how DID that happen?”

Of course, I know the mechanics of how it happened,

But more the question is of a philosophical nature of “how did I come to this point in my life?”

You see, my wife informed me a while back that I am to become a father (in 5 months or so, now).

It was far too easy.

Surely there should be at least a written exam for something like this?

Some sort of warrant of father fitness?

Of suitability for raising the future?

Apparently not.

Now - younger me would have cried out in horror “but what about me?!” as a world as I once knew it looked like it would end.

Now, these days, instead of overwhelm, the choice invariably is for adventure.

A “how fascinating - bring it on!” type approach.

And it's the same here.

I mean, how hard can it be?

It’s not like I’ll lose any sleep or anything, right?

I’m sure we’ll train the little fellow to start contributing to its upkeep soon enough with simple tasks like fetching the paper and sweeping the floor.

heh heh.

Honestly the coolest thing is the staying absolutely present and not going into overwhelm.

Not going into the “what ifs”.

Because being around a pregnant lady is a minefield.

No smelly cheese, no sturdy sausage products, not too much coffee, no hot pools, no lavender even ...

(I had no idea lavender was so, well … aggressive).

So much could go wrong.

And yet, so much could go right.

When did any one stay awake at night thinking too much about what could go right?

Exactly.

So I’ll leave you there with those thoughts.

Your mind loves overwhelm, and what has to be done, and what could go wrong, and staying with what it knows.

But if you can embrace change, and excitement, and what could go right, well, there you have adventure, and the time of your life -

All through a shift in perspective.

Take it easy! Arjuna

PS.

You realise I’ve worked this in - just casually mentioning it - so you can buy me an ale if and when you see me next?

PPS.

I am so glad I have the ability to meditate.

Something tells me calm and a steel mindset is going to come in handy.

I’ve done it again haven't I?

Casually worked it in so you can realise how useful meditation and attitude and mental fortitude would be in your own life,

And how opting in here would give you the best meditation and mindset "how to" advice you could ever find:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Whoops! Shameless. -

"I'm Not Listening Unless You Drink"

Recently I gave what turned out to be a curious talk on meditation -

I do hope I haven’t told you already.

I forget things sometimes.

But unlike my father who finds it a great aggravation, I think it’s somewhat funny.

It is what it is, right?

No point getting all excited about it.

Never mind - I was about to tell you a story.

Doing a talk - and everyone is sitting down, and before I can speak, this older gentleman pipes up and says:

“Do you drink?”

I confirmed that indeed I do, that ale and red wine and a good whisky are all fondly received if he wanted to express his gratitude for my presentation.

He - noticeably relieved actually - replies:

“Great, because I wasn’t going to listen to another word if you said you didn’t drink”.

I laughed, because I liked his style,

And we carried on with the whole evening proving to be slightly unusual

(in a good sense).

There’s a common perception that meditation involves doing certain things in a certain way.

And if you’ve tried, you may have been taught some things by people who have been taught some things by other people but never really asked why, or tried anything different.

I used to believe there was a “right” way of living - a certain diet or a certain belief or a certain thing that if I dialled in correctly, then I would have a quiet head.

The truth is much simpler.

Meditation, finding peace, calm, focus, happiness, more Zone action - all of this has little to do with what lifestyle choices you make.

When I teach the Army Bomb Disposal teams to meditate I love asking them their ideas of meditation:

“Tree hugging”, “Sitting around a campfire singing ‘kumbaya’”, “Sting - too much time and too much money” “Legs crossed, chanting OMMM in a cave” “Living in the country in a caravan eating nothing but your own homegrown veggies"

And then I give them a taste of the reality -

The practical “HOW TO” as opposed to the ideas about it:

They get to realise very quickly how very very useful it is to have a means to control your own head, as opposed to having it control you.

And how it all comes from simple mental exercises in awareness, not from lifestyle choices.

So I want to say to you is this:

You need give nothing up.

It’s helpful to want to give up limitation and stress and struggle, but even that’s not necessary cos the goodness comes and gets you anyway.

Meditation should be a supremely practical practice, the result being that you love everything you love now, but more so.

It makes you more you.

More authentic and more alive.

So if you find a meditation teacher and they start telling you that you have to stop doing this and give up that and be like that in order to be calm and focussed and happy and the boss of your own mind, then find someone else.

OK?

And if you’d like to learn to meditate with me (and I think you should because it's fun and simple and powerful), head here for how to get started and some more details:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Till next time! -Arjuna

PS.

Of course being aware of addictions is supremely useful.

Where you over rely or are dependent on something.

Like where a thought pattern essentially says “I need this in order to do/feel that”

But I’ve found for many people simply meditating takes a lot of the juice out of addiction.

With a little willpower, they come to a point where they realise they simply don’t want to any more.

So, combined with a little will power, they don’t.

No great drama.

I’ve met previously raging alcoholics and drug fiends who simply aren’t any more.

It’s not true that you’re an alcoholic for life IF you get rid of the root cause in the mind for the pattern of excess.

Isn’t that cool?

Every little bit helps, as they say.

-

Do You Do Too Much Of This?

Yes you do, because you are human. And humans are addicted to it, more than anything else in the whole world.

That thing?

Thinking.

It's actually over rated.

And bad for your health.

True!

Thinking the wrong thoughts will kill you quicker than any cancer.

If you think you are in control of your thinking, take this little test:

I want you to notice what you are thinking for a day - like when you are awake. (Don’t worry about when you are asleep - that is a bit tricky)

Simply be aware as you go about your day what you are thinking about.

Ready? Ok - go.

Come back when you’re done.

Done already? Awesome.

What I want to point out is how much you are involved in unnecessary thinking.

Sure - and this argument always comes up -

Thinking can be pleasurable, it can be creative.

But be scientific about it for a minute.

Objectively observe yourself.

Have a look - take note of how much rubbish you think every single day.

How much non-creative, same old distracted thought that goes through your head.

BUT - also notice how much negative thinking you indulge in.

Judgement about others or yourself, or just the good old “I can’t”, "I'm stupid".

So - I’m not saying thinking is bad, it’s just that thinking is ALL some people know.

The only thing that some people know.

They know thinking so well they miss out on what is right in front of them.

Life, passing them by one moment at a time.

And if you’re honest - the reason you love the things you love to do -

Just as I love being in the outdoors, and in nature,

Is because you move away from thinking too much.

It calms down upstairs.

There is focus as well, you become immersed in this moment.

And from this calm and this focus there is happiness.

You love what you do at least partially (but probably more than partially) because your head doesn’t think so much.

If you can see this it will be the beginning of a new era for you.

Because you become more present to the only moment you can do anything about - this one.

More presence means being more alive.

It means life becomes Life.

It means you get better at what you love to do,

And you enjoy it more.

As well as being able to make the most of those moments where you’d rather not be there but you have no choice.

Like bathroom shopping for example.

I’m not saying anything, I’m just using that as an example.

So if you want freedom from thinking too much, or thinking the wrong stuff (ie. BAD thoughts), go here, I have what you need:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

But right now I gotta scoot. My good wife wants to pick out a bath.

And as we all know, happy wifey makes a happy lifey.

Keep the Peace! Arjuna

PS.

I don’t take baths. Rather a quick shower. In and out, as it were. Job done, let’s do something more fun.

I call it “minimalism” - the least effort for the most result.

My wife calls it being “a grubby little monster”.

Tomaaato, Tomarrrto.

How To Be Fearless

I wrote that title first - and I’m instantly not sure about it. I don’t really trust anyone who says they have “no fear”.

I think they’re not being honest, least of all with themselves.

Or maybe they’ve never placed themselves in a position where fear might come.

Regardless -

Although fear or at least hesitation may (perhaps??) be there forever …

… you don’t have to entertain it much at all, let alone allow it to control you.

I think,

(once again - I’m open to be wrong on all of this)

That a little fear is actually a good thing - and if you’re feeling it, it means whatever you’re about to do is important to you.

Needing courage then is a great sign.

Because you’re doing important stuff, you’re stretching your comfort zone.

You’re not staying the same, stagnating in a pond of your own making.

That is the very reason why I love the outdoors - in fact any physical activity.

Because you can always find something bigger to do.

And in that challenge it can be a little intimidating.

Here’s what you can do about it:

Stay absolutely present, completely here, in this moment in time.

You see -

Fear only exists as a response to thoughts about the future.

You stay present - there is no fear.

You’re afraid?

Get really present - and the fear rapidly vanishes.

If you could stay present forever would fear end?

That would be well worth finding out, huh?

It is never the actual thing that causes the pain, it’s the thinking about it that kicks you.

You gotta see that.

It’s the thinking about the future scenarios, the “what if I fail?” that brings fear.

and while it’s important to realise the consequences of your actions -

It’s the continual regurgitating of those scenarios in your head that creates overwhelm and paralysing fear.

And so you don’t make that move or you don’t climb that hill or you don’t attempt to lift that weight or start that business or publish that book.

Even though you really really want to.

So it’s in your head - and down to what thoughts you pay attention to.

Choose wisely!

If you’d like help with that, I can help.

In fact I’m running a whole weekend devoted to this “mental game”.

I’ll give you all the tools and understandings to get to a place super clearly where you see how you create the overwhelm and fear and anxiety that comes from listening to your thoughts.

And how to get out of this overwhelm and back into calm and clarity.

Go here to get more information, and how to get going:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Take it easy out there

- Arjuna

PS.

I actually do know a few people who are so present and in the zone they are fearless.

At least they say they are - and I trust them on that.

And at least one is a motorcycle rider so I imagine he knows a little about the fear/challenge/courage balance.

The key for me is the potential, the possibility that and end to fear's grip may be so.

I can say from my investigations into thinking and fear even a little progress gives a sensational amount of freedom.

Why not give it a go?

You’ll have your own head for most of your life - you might as well investigate it closely.

Here's how:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Like A Crack Addict At The Pipe

I’ve been bitten hard. It’s been years - over 13 in fact.

And I just thought I’d dip my toe in the water, and something huge and undeniable grabbed it and pulled me in, wholesale.

I’m talking about being back in the outdoors,

Specifically kayaking on rivers - I’ve become so hooked over the last few weeks that there’s no turning back.

Maybe it’s a pre-midlife crisis,

Maybe it’s a true passion for the good things in life showing itself once again.

Whatever it is, I’m loving it.

Being in nature, the flow of the river, the flow of me and my boat when it’s all working well, the challenge, the smiles … oh the smiles.

I used to kayak a lot -

It was a huge passion for me. It was all I thought about.

And then I stopped - the story is to big to tell, but basically I tried to do what I thought I was “supposed” to do.

So there’s a lesson for me, and for you - if you want one:

You have to do what you love to do.

Find a way to fill up on what you love doing, because life can be “fine” without it, yet it can be extraordinary with it.

I know you’re busy and you have commitments …

BUT you can, and you should, find a way.

They’re really just excuses, it’s just resistance. It’s just that grey voice of “should” putting the brakes on something.

I don’t care if it’s collecting stamps, find a way of giving yourself at least a little bit of time to get in there and do it.

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

And you jumping into your passions isn’t selfish - if you have the right approach.

When you’re at 100% you can give so much more to everyone around you.

Life is too short not to.

In order to be at 100% you need to come to terms with that little grey voice in your head.

We all have it -

And you don’t need to get rid of it.

Just be aware of how it affects you and shift your attention to something else.

The less juice you give it, the less momentum it can hold, so it just slows and shrivels.

Awesome.

It’s one of the things I’m teaching on this weekend meditation course.

It meditation, but not as you think you know it.

Think of it as giving you the tools and understandings so you can be without mental limits, and live a full, juicy life of 200%.

If you're interested, head here for more information and a Quick Start Guide to Meditation for Athletes to get your going:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Have a great day!

Arjuna

PS.

If you need anything, just get in touch, as always I’d love to chat.

I Was Hit By Lightening

I had an epiphany the other day. An epiphany - as I discovered - is a moment of sudden and great revelation or realisation.

(according to my trusty Mac’s dictionary)

A veritable bolt of lightening,

A switching on of the lightbulb,

A penny dropping.

What was it?

I realised that I would rather look good than be seen making mistakes.

I would rather maintain a facade (a thin facade at that) of seeming totally competent and in control …

Than going out on a limb and making mistakes and learning from those mistakes and ultimately improving fast.

All because I valued looking good to others more than progress.

I saw it on the river - and it meant in the past I wouldn’t try new things. Just the old trusty ones I knew I could pull off.

I saw it in my business - and it meant I wouldn’t speak in case I was wrong, it meant I wouldn’t do something new and uncomfortable in case I messed up.

People always talk about a fear of failure. ____________

“The real fear is NOT of failure but of 'looking' like a failure or 'looking' silly”. - Paul Mort _____________

He’s right - the real fear is indeed a fear of looking stupid, of looking like a failure.

Well today I celebrate - because I see the little sucker, that little programme thats been stopping things before they even begin.

Now I’m aware of it, I can do something about it.

Awareness of this stuff is the only way forward.

Because now - despite what the thoughts may say - I know about it. I can ignore it, and do things anyway.

I’m now prepared to possibly look stupid for the sake getting better, faster.

Because I can actually handle looking a bit dumb but I can’t handle not making the most of my time here.

Bring it on!

Arjuna

PS.

The reason I love the meditation I teach - and what I have practiced myself every single day since 2003 - is it gives anyone who does it greater awareness.

In awareness you have clarity so you have free choice.

It gives you calm and focus so you can carry out that choice, even if it requires courage.

In choice you can change and improve.

And when you improve you feel fantastic, and the whole world opens up a little more.

If you'd like to join me, I have what you need right here:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Religious Experience In the Fish and Chip Shop

My first religious experience was in a fish and chip shop playing the video game Gauntlet. You may know it from your youth?

(Showing my age here)

But the point is, Time seriously stood still.

There was no “Valkyrie is about to die” (she was the best) because I couldn’t lose.

I was so calm, and so tuned in, and so full of quiet joy.

Skills and senses met perfectly the challenge of the little pixels.

People came and went, I was immersed in the one constant.

And I knew what a religious experience was, at the altar in my little fish and chip shop church.

Life made perfect sense, you know?

Life came Alive.

Trudging home on a rainy night, the pavement shone.

I was just happy, for no reason.

And after that night, that was all I was really interested in.

Finding that again, being that again.

It’s the reason I love being in the outdoors -

From the very first moment I was taken on my first outdoor camp as a kid, it’s always been about getting into this Zone of complete fullness.

I didn’t have the language then, but I do now.

It’s all about being so present and alive.

Having heightened senses and buzz and contentment and ALIVENESS.

Everything slotted into place, everything making sense, the whole rat race, the whole of meaning and purpose found in one moment.

And I’ve tried drugs - it seems the psychedelics replicated that sense of Zone and flow the best.

But were ultimately unsustainable and unpredictable.

Hence why I kept looking and eventually found meditation.

Ascension meditation that was simple and powerful, and didn’t mean I had to believe anything, or change anything,

Just gave me a tool to go beyond thinking too much, beyond regret and fear

And be perfectly, completely present and immersed and alive.

Now - I don’t want this to be self-indulgent.

My aim is to make these ramblings about you - and how your life, sport, career, relationships, etc can be bigger and better.

Because we humans settle for so much less than is possible.

And I, in my small way, can help that not be the case - if that is of interest to you.

Let me know if it is.

Take care out there, go well, live fully.

Alright?

Arjuna

PS.

You might be interested in learning meditation from me.

I’ll teach you how to find your church - in the Faithless "God is a DJ" sense.

Really showing my age today.

-----> The place where everything makes sense.

Where you find sanctuary, and rest, and Life.

You don’t have to believe a single thing I say. It doesn’t matter if you are religious or not.

Just be open minded, and commit to practicing a few simple things.

Go here for a taster:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Donald Trump Does It

Found a quote, purportedly by the Don himself. Regardless of your opinion of him he’s hit the nail on the head right here: ___________________

“I try to learn from the past, but I plan for the future by focusing exclusively on the present. That's where the fun is.” ___________________

I’m not going to get into whether you want to be like him or not, it’s all a bit boring actually.

BUT:

All of your best, most memorable moments?

- You were absolutely present, absorbed in what you were doing.

When everything came alive, when all of your senses tuned into the task (even if that task was as simple as staring at a fire?)

- You were so present and involved in the experience of being right here, right now.

When it seemed you could do no wrong, your skills just flowed, there was balance and excellence and fun?

- That's right -- You were completely present and immersed in this moment.

When there was no such thing as doubt or anxiety, your mind was calm with intuition and flow and creativity to the fore?

You focussed exclusively on the present, and the task, and nothing distracted you at all.

You thought very little, and allowed your body to do what it needed to do.

You know what I’m talking about?

Yes you do.

If you want more of those experiences?

You gotta be like the Trumpet.

(In some ways)

Learn to focus and be present and alive to this moment in time.

How?

Just tune in, right now.

Give more attention to what is happening right now.

Think less.

Do more - even if that doing is doing absolutely nothing.

Train yourself to detach from pointless thinking.

Learn to become more here and less past/future.

Give up regret and worry and “I can’t”.

You gotta practice - you have to make time for this.

If you want more of those memorable moments,

If you want to fill up your life with awesomeness.

If you want to be a better athlete, better at your career, a better partner and parent and friend.

This moment is it.

Don’t miss out!

Keep the Peace Arjuna

PS.

I have a practice, a group of techniques that will develop your ability to be more present.

Super simple, super powerful, super cool.

Through using these techniques you get the ability to stick to this present moment.

Meaning more calm, more focus, more happiness.

A better life, where ever you direct your efforts.

If you’d like to get started, I'll send you a Quick Start Guide To Meditation for Busy People, and we'll talk more:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

PPS.

I'm out and about in the Italian Alps, arm wrestling mountain guides and yodelling and all sorts of character building type activities.

So I won't be writing as much - but if you do want to say hello or ask a question, do fire away - I will reply.

Word!

I used to be so certain, now I’m not so sure

Humans need certainty. Now certainty is a tricky thing. What is really certain in this world?

When I first discovered adventures in the outdoors, one of the things I loved about it was the difference sense of certainty from what I was used to.

I’d go and be in these wild places and test myself against natural forces that really, in essence, allowed me to be there.

And I’d come back to civilisation with all the small scrambles for certainty and security - my bills, the worries about my job, the arguments about who was right with my girlfriend -

All of them had a different perspective.

What came to the fore - what was more real, more defined, more certain than anything else - was the simple fact of my existence.

What was real was the simple beauty that I lived, that I had choice, that I was aware.

That gave me security, and certainty, simply because it was so definite.

The worries and doubts all born of the rush to create some kind of “life” for myself were still there - but became lighter.

That world was still a world I wanted, and needed, to play in, but the outdoors gave me a substance to my existence that lay beyond all of that.

When I look around I see how radical that is, how lucky I am in that.

And meditation has simply reinforced that sense of inner constancy in a world of change and rush and scrambling and getting.

Not removed me from it - just given me an anchor amongst it all.

I say I’m lucky because I look around and I see so many people look for security in places where there is none, really.

Their perspective is all out of whack.

They hunt for security and constancy in places where by definition there is only change and unpredictability.

People think a good job means security.

Yet my Dad went through 3 redundancies back in the 1980s - and now it’s zero hours contracts.

Do you see what I mean?

Ask the partner who's just been cheated on and had no idea. Ask the family whose house just got wrecked in an earthquake. Ask the stockbroker who just saw her investments die in a crash.

I’m not saying don’t play in these worlds, I’m not saying don’t invest or save or get married and work at it or take pride in your house, I’m saying know that nothing is certain, nothing is really secure in the places most people try to find it.

And when you work that out, you're a little bit freer from the dependency on the outside world.

Because it allows you to look for security and certainty in the one place that can’t be taken from you - within.

An inward “gaze” helps because you start to find true security.

You realise that the only secure thing not the what of your life, but the how - how you live, how you respond, how you choose.

When you look after the how you start to become more aware of the constancy of your own existence.

The fact that your awareness has been constant since before you were born, and will stay constant for a great deal yet.

Base your life in that and you’ll find true certainty.

If you’d like help with that - I have just what you need right here to get started:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Any questions?

Just ask - I’d love to help.

Arjuna

PS.

I’m away on an extended trip into the Italian Alps, with a little trip to Venice for some culture.

Hooray for me I hear you say.

I won’t be writing as much as usual - but if you do need anything, just email.

I’m sure they’ll have internet goats up there.

They may be a little slower, but we'll get there.

-

When People Start Dying Around You

So 7 people died in the Alps over a single week recently. You probably heard about it, you might have even known some of them.

When I first realised you could die doing these very cool, very life-affirming and life-enhancing things in the outdoors I was shocked.

At the time, the news that a friend died kayaking on a grade three river (medium risk, not so risky really - or so I thought) absolutely baffled and stunned me. 

I couldn’t balance the sheer joy I got with the fact that I, or my friends, could actually die.

“How could that happen?”

I didn’t really know.

Since then it’s almost become almost a fact of life.

Especially when I lived in a mountain town packed full of climbers and jumpers and kayakers and skiers and snowboarders.

All of a sudden that guy who I would smile across the bar at was gone.

Now it’s -

- and the words are going to come out wrong no matter how hard I try so bear with me -

Now it’s almost a bittersweet thing to me when someone I know or in the outdoors community dies.

There’s sadness for them not being around, for their partners and families who they leave behind.

But there’s inspiration too - because these guys inspire me no end to make the most of each and every single moment.

I’ll never be as good or as bold as some of these people - nor to I want to be - but they still inspire me to live life well.

Even in dying.

Because we just don’t know how much time we have.

There was a guy I worked with who - at 23 years old - went home early with stomach pains and was dead 2 weeks later.

That was a huge lesson.

A huge wake up call, actually.

And when someone else goes, again I get that reminder.

Steph Davis, the climber and base jumper says it well when she says that death shouldn't be removed from life: __________________

“Death is a part of life. To me, what matters most is living a good life and a curious life, one that is beautiful and true to one’s heart.” ___________________

Time is limited, and the I want to fill it with as much goodness - in every aspect of my life - as  possible.

Take care out there, enjoy it. - Arjuna

Bored At Work? Sue Your Boss

So there’s a guy who is bored of his job -

... and so he sues his employer.

Awesome!

Pass all your responsibility on how you feel over to someone else.

I actually can’t believe this happened.

But the BBC reports it, so it may have a smidgeon of truth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36195442

I get it too - who hasn’t been bored at work?

Who hasn't wanted to sue at least one employer for something?

You know,

Maybe it’s a good thing -

Sounds like all these people got so bored of the treadmill of unfulfilling working life they did something about it.

The article is all about how they went off and became teachers or writers or potters or travelled or whatever.

And if you’ve been reading these ramblings of mine long enough you know I’m the first to encourage people to break loose and go and do something different or bold.

However!

We are sold - conditioned if you like - the idea that your happiness comes from something, something external to us.

Like a job - it’ll give you happiness.

Or money from that job will buy you happiness.

Or a relationship will make you happy. Or a car, or holidays, or more TVs, or a newer phone, or that kayaking trip.

Not happy?

Change your job. Or get a new relationship, or car, or TV, or phone.

That fact is:

- and it seems like people are starting to wake up to it -

Nothing can make you happy.

It is a personal choice to be happy or not -

You can be happy anywhere, anytime, doing anything.

Same with boredom.

It’s a choice.

You may not currently know how to make or unmake, but happiness and boredom are both choices that you make, constantly.

If you’re looking for something or someone outside of yourself to give you constant excitement and stimulation?

- Well, good luck.

Because you’re not going to find it.

And you’ll spend your life a little bit lost, searching for it.

Want an end to boredom?

It’s all in your attitude.

And then everything you throw on top of that attitude will be even better.

That new career path, that holiday, that new house …

Or even just sitting in that cubicle, shuffling paper.

Even better.

Don’t let anyone or anything take away your own happiness.

OK?

Job done, meaning of life found.

(Don’t say I never do anything for you)

And have a sweet day, Arjuna

PS.

It’s true - the meaning of life is found not so much in what you do, but how you do it.

Your internal choice. Your attitude is it.

Simple.

Want it even simpler?

Get started here, with a free guide to meditation.

Quickest way to get a bullet proof attitude.

No nonsense, just practical how to:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

And - as well - I'll tell you more on the other side.

-

Gandhi Was A Time Bender

You ever know anyone who is everywhere, doing everything? Seems like they know how to bend time in that they get so much done -

And yet they have the same 24 hour day as everyone else.

I know a guy who is awesome in this sense.

He has his own (great) business, an awesome family life, takes regular holidays, and manages to keep super fit as he’s a boxer (no small thing).

He ticks off goals at a rapid rate, and yet also has balance - he doesn't ignore his family, his health or his passions.

My complaint was that there was never enough time to do all the things I wanted to do.

And then I met my friend and he showed me that was just an excuse.

At the same time I read a biography on Gandhi.

Gandhi was no slouch, he did so much stuff - on an international level.

And do you know what?

As well as making sure his priority in each and every day was peace and calm,

He had a whole day of complete silence.

So no one could bug him.

(I think they still tried)

My friend above? - Very similar.

As well as practicing the mediation I taught him every day, and having the weekend,

He also has a whole week day to himself, to do whatever he wants with it -

As long as it’s completely non-business related.

You can’t just keep charging and expect to do things at a high level.

In fact - like Gandhi and my buddy - if you want to do a lot, AND maintain great health and a great relationship, you need to take time out.

Gandhi said that taking time for himself, taking time out, meant he had MORE time in his day.

No longer was he running around like a blue arse fly,

(not sure if Gandhi ran around like that, but you know what I mean)

Instead he found clarity and focus and calm and could execute simply and straightforwardly.

Meaning the same job took less time.

I don’t care if you’re interested in business or simply making it in good shape to the weekend for your next mission -

Don’t get busy and get busier.

You’ll just run around in little circles being less and less effective.

If you want more time in your day, take regular stoppages …

To do absolutely nothing.

Now - I recommend meditation because it rests your body to a huge degree,

Resets and rewires your head through getting rid of limiting thought patterns,

Means you can be more present and alive, anywhere you find yourself,

So that you have way more fun and less stress than anyone else around you

Want to learn?

If you go here, I'll give you a super simple yet powerful meditation practice, and we can continue the conversation:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Simple.

If you need anything, if you want to chat through your goals and how I might help, just ask.

Take it easy!

Arjuna

PS.

A whole week day off - isn’t that somewhat ballsy?

You may not be self-employed and in a position where you can do that

But you could take ten minutes, twice a day to let go of the rubbish and tune into what is important.

It’s well worth it.

And if you want help knowing how to “let go”?

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

-

-

Going From Being A Turkey To Being An Eagle

Watched a cool film the other night - one I didn’t expect to like, even though it has my man Hugh Jackson in it:

“Eddie the Eagle”

You know - about the ski jumper back in the 1988 Olympics …

Go watch it, it’s cool and very inspiring, actually.

What did I get from it?

You can say what you like about his mannerisms, but that guy (Eddie) had some serious gonads.

The 90m ski jump is huge - it makes jumpers who have been jumping since they were 6 nervous.

I’m not so keen on heights anyways, but Eddie didn’t let anything stop him competing in the Olympics.

Not a governing body, not a lack of experience or skill, nothing.

He just kept going till he got there.

How many times have I told myself that I’m not ready to do something? That I’ll collect more skills and experience and then go?

You ever done that? Waited until conditions were right? And waited, and waited …

The best scene was towards the end (it’s not a spoiler).

Eddie is riding up the elevator with the world champion up to their jump.

The champ turns to Eddie and says they are similar.

The others are competing to survive, to not fail. They are competing for an external result.

Eddie and him, on the other hand, are competing against their lesser selves.

Failure to the both of them is backing away from a challenge that they have set.

The result is irrelevant, the personal challenge is everything.

And in comes Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics all those years ago -

“It’s not the triumph but the struggle that counts”.

I love this stuff.

The result isn’t so important, but the steps you take to get there.

Keep taking the right steps, and the result comes.

It’s never so much about what you do, but how you do it that is important.

You can control the what to a certain degree, but sometimes it’s totally out of your hands.

However - you can always control the how.

And that’s the significance of life to me:

How you do this, or - your inner standing with yourself.

Because you can hide from everyone, but you can never hide from what you know to be true for you.

Right?

Keep the peace!

Arjuna

PS.

Join me in a weekend course?

One that will give you everything you need to get rid of old limiting patterns, and ignore that grey voice of doom and doubt?

Go here and I'll send you more info, as well as a starter guide to get going straight away:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports

Getting A Spanking And Loving It

You ever have those moments where you feel more out of control than in? Spend a whole day on Sunday feeling just that.

I was kayaking - on a more challenging river than usual.

In the warmup I was just feeling out of touch, not connected to my boat, to the river, to anything.

Whatever I did, it didn’t matter - there was no style, no power, nothing.

And so I got to the first big rapid … and got an absolute spanking.

Upside down, backwards, staring at the sky (it’s not a good thing when your kayak is vertical).

Yet thankfully, somehow flushed out at the end …

To a round of applause from a group of boy scouts out on a walk.

I’d rather be smooth as silk when I’ve got an audience.

Not this time.

As well as a bash to the ego, what it gave me was a good dose of fear.

A big chunk of the river to come, and I was feeling useless.

Feeling out of control, no skills, no balance, nothing.

I haven’t been in that position of fear for such a long time.

I’d forgotten how it eats away at you.

Your head goes wild with "what if?", your heart rate goes through the roof, your belly twists in knots.

The past failure leans on your heavily, right?

What I used to do was go into survival mode - just give up and try and get down the river as quickly as possible.

Or - I’d get angry with myself. Frustration at not being as good as I thought I was would mean I’d start swearing and hitting things.

(Not that useful a reaction actually)

Yesterday I did something I wouldn’t have done years ago - even when I was paddling much better.

I picked up my kayak and walked back up to the top, and tried again.

More than anything - given my meditation skills I wanted to see if I could better my own head, to not let that grey voice of “useless” win.

To be as present as possible, and not let the past get to me.

What happened?

It was grand.

I got another spanking, but I loved it.

Even though I was only slightly better skills wise, I didn’t let my head win.

And I remembered to have fun.

5 more times I walked back up, just to see - just to give it a go.

And that was the important thing for me in that moment - not so much being better than the rapid, but to not give up, to not let fear or frustration win.

Sometimes you have to change your definition of what success is.

Be happy with a lesser challenge without giving up.

You know what I mean?

I think that might apply everywhere in life, don't you?

Take it easy out there!

Arjuna

PS.

If you’d like to up your mental skills game you might well like to head here for a super simple, and super effective guide to getting going with all this:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sports