Always Be Yourself, Unless …

Unless what? You ever seen the Lego Movie?

I saw it at the end of a 24 hour flight back from New Zealand and I thought it was hilarious.

I may have been suffering from exhaustion and subsequently my judgement may be off, but I did laugh my head off.

Hearing my laughter, Sumati was thinking she was missing out.

She must have watched 3 minutes before she switched it off, eyes rolling in that “you’re a doofus” way she has.

Lovingly of course.

So I'm excited - I’ve just seen there is a new Lego film, with the best catchphrase ever:

“Always be yourself … unless you can be Batman, then always be Batman”

Haha - Love it.

Who wouldn’t want to be Batman (minus the grumpiness of course)?

Anyway:

There's so much stuff out there about finding yourself, and being true, it’s all become a bit of a cliche, and commodified out of sight.

You can buy this thing and express your individuality, you know?

It’s all warped a bit.

But, like all these things, there’s a kernel of truth there.

So many people hide behind a mask, they try to live up to their idea of what other people want.

I used to do the same.

Exhausting, right? Trying to be liked, trying to be cool, trying to say the right things.

Oh man.

The greatest gift Ascension meditation has given me is the ability to be authentic.

It’s a case now of “Here I am, and I’m perfectly content with that sense of me, this is what I like, this is what I say, this is what I do.”

So much stress, so tiring trying to live up to an idea.

So much ease and calm from just being okay with who and what you are.

So much honesty too. So much more direct communication with people.

If you find you’re trying a bit hard (and you’ll know it) - what’s the solution?

Be absolutely present.

It's the solution to everything.

You have to think to hold up a mask; to be you is effortless.

Keep detaching from thinking about how you “should” be, that habit will crumble, and life will get much easier, and fun.

It takes effort to hold such a habit in place. It takes nothing to let go.

Alright?

Meditate.

You need to meditate. It is the solution to making all your problems simpler.

How? Opt in here and I'll give you the how:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/

Everything comes from being okay in your own skin.

Acceptance is the best foundation for any transformation too.

Awesome.

Keep it easy, ok?

Arjuna

PS.

Batman takes himself a little seriously but I’m sure if he hangs out with the new Wonder Woman a bit, he’ll loosen up - don’t you think?

-

Quick Meditation Tips To Lose Mind Flab

Mind flab?

It’s a scientific truth. A certainty.

How do you rid yourself of unsightly mind cellulite?

Buddha there doesn't have it, because he meditates.

Enter my 5 page Quick Start Guide To Meditation, which you can have for FREE.

I like it a lot - it’s many years of personal experience teaching and practicing squeezed into only a few pages.

Because you want quick and simple, and actually - that is ALL you need.

Don't over complicate something that is so simple (meditation).

Many people just do this all their lives. This is as advanced as it gets in many meditation traditions.

It is the culmination of thousands of years of monks tinkering with it.

I may even be making them mad by letting you in on the secret. Mad monks are quite the sight I can tell you.

If for some reason you don't have one yet/or the dog ate it, go here, opt in and I'll send you one:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/

You have the means, now get cracking and practice.

Practice shows you so much.

Mastery of the small, whiny, scared, frustrated, confused part of your brain -

(deny it as much as you like, we all have this part - see mind flab, above)

Comes from putting the time in.

I wish I could do it for you, but I can’t.

And actually, IF you practice every day you will find it is rather enjoyable.

Just the amount of rest and recovery on a simple physical level you get is quite significant. Lovely even.

You’ll gather some momentum on your practice just from that.

But you have to get started.

So!

Given what you know right now -

How do you meditate better?

Better! Faster! Stronger!

1. read the FAQs (Quick Tips) that are in that Quick Start Guide.  They will help you so much. In fact, much of below is a re-hash of those, complete that they are.

2. Just friggin do it. Everyday. If you didn’t do it yesterday, definitely do it today.

3. Don’t strain, try, control - it’s not necessary

4. You have thoughts - but if you can witness thoughts it means you are not them. Hmmm … what are you?

5. You will get distracted. Don’t make it a problem. No deal. Honestly.

6. Get comfy. No need to physically strain either.

7. If you feel agitated, chill out.

8. if you really feel agitated, try taking it up a step. Do some deep breathing for example. Head back in when you’re ready.

9. You can’t get this wrong. Really you can’t. See those thoughts that say you’re getting it wrong, and ignore them.

10. Don’t change thoughts - ignore them. Focus on the technique.

11. Do it with your eyes open throughout your day.

Oh - and take nothing seriously.

You’ll end all your problems right there with that one.

Questions?

Fire them at me!

Go well, keep the peace, and make every day a little more awesome. Arjuna

PS.

Don’t you love tips?

I do.

But you can have tips coming out your ears and still do nothing.

The truth is you need no more tips.

If you want to be the best version of yourself, the key is to do it.

No one will do it for you.

-

Why You Get Stressed And How To Avoid It

I’m so stressed … Actually no, I’m not.

I’m a meditation teacher - and this one is walking his talk.

I have a reputation to uphold (haha - but more importantly my own peace to protect)

But the potential is there - it would have thrown me not too long ago.

Why?

I have a to do list the size of my arm, and as it all seems to be needing to be doing at the same time.

We’re moving into a new house and having a baby at the same time.

The house project manager is my father in law and he is the DIY king (which I am not).

So practical, organised, knows what to do when …

And he’s away in Norway.

Of course, everything is going wrong at the same time.

I got this and I got that, and then the phone rings and something else needs my attention, now.

Busy!

So the potential to be stressed is huge.

Because I know myself, I know my head - I know what I need to do to avoid it.

What is the cause of stress - so YOU can avoid it?

The key thing is that you have left this moment in time.

You are no longer present.

The solution will always be to become present again.

Get out of your head. It’s not as useful as you think it is.

Now, that begs the question:

Why do you leave the present moment, think and feel too much and then get stressed and get a sick feeling in your belly and get ulcers?

Here’s a few reasons. I’m sure there are more, but this’ll do for a start:

1. You are thinking about all the many things you need to do.

You are trying to carry all of it in your head. There is so much that your head is overflowing.

Busy! Frantic!

Solution?

No matter how busy you are, you can only do one thing at a time.

Do that one thing, be focussed on it and it alone.

Don’t try and speed things along by multi-tasking, you will slow and get stressed.

One thing at a time means you can give your whole attention to what needs be done.

That thing, then the next most important (yet not urgent) thing, then the next.

Don’t carry anything in your head. Write that down if you need to.

If you’re walking, walk. If you’re listening, listen. If you need to prioritise, sit down and work it out. If you’re driving, drive. And maybe sing along to the radio. That's ok.

Do what you are doing. Don't think and do. You'll get overwhelmed with a constant feeling of busy-ness.

2. You are thinking about all the things that might happen

You’re stuck into all the “what if’s?” … future surfing in other words.

If you need to plan for a future - sit down with someone and work through the possibilities.

Do what you can, let go of the rest.

Deal with the possibilities IF, and WHEN, they arise.

Don’t go over and over it in your head. Stay with what you know. Stay with what is right in front of you.

3. You are resisting what is happening

You get stressed when you try and resist an undeniable reality.

It is happening and you don’t like it.

If you can’t do anything? You must work with it.

Stuck in traffic? What can you do?

Exactly.

“Why is this happening to me??” is a huge cause of stress.

It is happening to you - what will you do?

Don’t avoid - sometimes you just have to do it (whatever it is). Sooner you do it, sooner it’s done and you can stop thinking about it.

OK -

If you’d like to overcome stress and struggle the best foundation I know is meditation.

Meditation gives you that awareness and clarity to see and act in a non-stressful way.

It means you can be present and focussed no matter what is going on around you.

Meditation won’t get rid of your problems, but it will put them in perspective so they’re easier to deal with.

Want the easy, simple, powerful way to meditate?

Head here, opt in and I'll send you a Quick Start Guide To Effortless Meditation that you can get going on, and we'll talk more:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/

Go well! Arjuna

PS.

Why do people shift house and have a baby at the same time?

What sort of clear thinking went into that decision?

haha - exactly! -

Like Lemmings On Skis

A slippery slope indeed ...

You can distill the cause of ALL of humanities problems (outside of chemical imbalances) down to a few things.

One of these things is not being present.

People are so much in the past and the future that they spend virtually no time in this present moment.

We think too much.

Thinking is useful - but you might recognise that an excellent tool sometimes (perhaps often) takes over and becomes a tyrant.

If you’ve ever had trouble sleeping at night you’ll know this.

If you’ve ever tried to banish a worrying, anxious or fearful thought pattern you’ll know this too.

If you’ve ever had your kid tugging on your sleeve and telling you that you’re always distracted you’ll know this.

We're never present, here, in the one place where life is. Where, since there is one thing at a time, life is manageable.

As children we were taught to start thinking but never taught to switch the damn thing off.

Like lemmings on skis, we were pushed down a slippery slope and never showed how to turn, how to halt.

The result is your head gets faster and faster, more and more preoccupied with things that you can’t control.

You get tunnel vision - you lose touch with your senses, your awareness.

You start to become trapped in patterns and habits of thinking,

You become more and more stuck in the past and the future,

With little ability to absorb yourself in this present moment when you want and need to.

The exception to this is when you’re doing something you love.

The reason I got into meditation and this mind training was I realised that my head got quieter when I was in the outdoors.

The worries and doubts and to do list all were put aside -

All for the experience of being immersed in what was in front of me.

For me that was kayaking or snowboarding or climbing up a steep hill somewhere.

My head got quiet and I realised I was never happier than when my head was quiet.

I needed so little to be satisfied and content.

For you? That may be tiddlywinks …

But you love it (at least partially) because it brings you to a state of focus and presence.

It brings you out of your mind tunnel.

You can let the head go.

Now -

It’s good to recognise it’s not so much what you do but how you do it.

If you can do one thing with utter immersion and enjoyment you can do everything the same way. ^^^

It all begins with watching your own head, the thoughts and feelings within, and where they want to take you.

Enter a meditation practice.

Meditation is never about stopping your mind -

That is such an important point, because that ^^^ is hard work indeed; impossible for long periods.

Meditation is about becoming aware of what your head is telling you, and making another choice.

Just to watch, to not follow, to come back to that awareness.

To see what is there beyond thought and emotion.

To rest in the field of your own aware presence.

All the do-ing in your life becomes balanced with some time not doing.

Just resting and watching, and learning to halt, and breathe, and wait, and simply be - aware, mindful, present.

Boom.

Then you can go again. Because you’re recharged not drained. You have clear perspective not foggy, limited vision. You have more aware choice - not reaction.

Keep it simple.

Close your eyes, but do the same with your eyes open.

See the difference between what you can control and what you must let go.

Be the difference between day-dreaming all day long -

- and having the crisp, sensory, intuitive way of living when you’re present and focussed on what is in front of you.

It is a habit, just a habit.

But one that when mastered means you master the causes of all your problems.

You can sail through tough times.

It’s well worth doing.

If you’re interested in doing this properly ... if you'd like to be free of needing apps and such things … if you’d like to master your own mind and have an incredible life from that basis,

Then delay no longer. Opt in here and get a FREE Quick Start Guide To Meditation and get going with mastery.

You can't lose:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

Go well! Keep the peace. Arjuna

PS.

If you ski without knowing how to stop, better wear a helmet.

And one of those back braces.

Why A “Pretty Good” Life Can Be A Curse

It may be an odd thing to say -

But bear with me.

I get to meet a fair few people.

And the one thing that motivates like nothing else …

... is suffering.

Everyone I’ve met who is determined to live the very best life possible - 

The basis of that being a solid foundation in being calm, clear, focussed and able to take nothing too seriously …

Has usually experienced some degree of difficulty in their lives.

Which means they haven’t wanted to go back there.

They’ve wanted to find a way out of suffering, for good.

And fair enough too.

It’s a wake up call.

When you realise life sucks, you don’t want to hang around.

It motivates you to do something different.

It’s the same reason I’m here.

Sometimes a pretty good life means you have just that - it’s pretty good.

Nothing comes and shakes your tree enough that you’ll decide to make it really really good.

And that there is a shame.

Average is pretty good.

But why not go for amazing?

It’s actually pretty simple to have a bullet proof mindset,

To have true stability and calm and happiness - no matter what is happening in your life.

And therefore enjoy each and every moment,

Bringing the best version of you to your relationship, your family, your work, your sport, to all of life.

It just takes a touch of dedication and persistence.

To keep going until you master your own mind, your reactions, your choices.

And sometimes that commitment only comes from such a wake up call.

(An alarm is never nice - but it certainly gets me out of bed)

So if life is tough at the moment -

If it’s not going your way,

If it seems like everything is going wrong, falling down around your ears,

Or maybe it’s just a bit hollow. It doesn’t make sense.

Maybe you have everything but there’s a nagging doubt at the back of your mind of “Is this it? Is this all there is to life?”

Then you may actually be in a great place.

A place of awareness.

The dawning of awareness sometimes hurts.

But ultimately it’s a wonderful thing.

Because there is no choice without awareness.

Even if you become aware of yourself and what you’ve been doing or how you’re living -

And it seems like you come up short,

Then wonderful.

I mean that.

Because now you can do something about it.

The lights have been switched on and you’re no longer stumbling around in the dark.

Now you can get to a place where you don’t let life define you or your actions or your feelings any more.

Now you can make better and better choices. Choices you can increasingly be proud of, not ones you regret.

Choices that mean you define life - and not the other way around.

Does that make sense?

I hope so because you CAN get to a place where that one day you’ll look back on your past,

And be GRATEFUL you were in a bit of a hole -

(I’m serious)

Because it made you live the best life you could,

Rather than sleep walk through life.

So go well - chin up, keep going. Head on up.

Small steps, you’ll get there.

If you opt in here I'll give you a head start and we'll continue the conversation.

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

Take it easy

Arjuna

PS.

Of course suffering isn’t necessary.

So if you’re not hurting don’t panic.

Sometimes it seems it’s useful.

(or maybe it’s just my glass half full approach)

But only so you never go back there again.

In reality you can use anything for motivation.

To be a better parent and/or partner, to make sure you get to the end of your day and regret nothing, to make sure you can be super productive yet stress free and still laugh your way through your day …

There’s a million reasons why you might want to do the work to make sure you have an amazing life.

What are yours? And what are you going to do about it? -

An Amazing Thing Happened The Other Day

I was sitting in my other office reading the news of the day, and I almost fell over. In El Salvador something amazing happened.

A few days ago they had the first day for over 2 years where there was no one murdered.

One day - no killings.

That is cause for celebration in a country (population 6 million) where the record for the number of murders in a 24 hour period is something like 122.

Puts things in perspective on life here doesn’t it?

Things are pretty good I reckon.

Really - you’re not in a war zone, chances are you have everything you need, you have a body that works remarkably well, a roof over your head, internet access …

And yet … do you really know how good life is, as it is, right now?

Perspective is a powerful thing.

Where I come from - New Zealand (pop. 4 million) - the biggest news is when someone is caught with more fish than their quota.

And yet it has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

How could a small corner of hobbity paradise have that much misery?

All the strain in life? Comes from upstairs.

Mindset, thinking, attitude - it changes everything.

The TV series Breaking Bad:

Saw a line from the main character who has lung cancer:

_______________

I have spent my whole life scared, frightened of things that could happen, might happen, might not happen, 50-years I spent like that. Finding myself awake at three in the morning. But you know what? Ever since my [lung cancer] diagnosis, I sleep just fine.

_______________

Perspective and mindset and thinking - the most powerful agents that affect your life.

Where ever you go, whatever you do - you take your head with you.

Where ever you look - you look through your own head -

Your vision is filtered by your beliefs, patterns, programmes, thoughts, feelings.

You never see the world as it is, but actually as you are.

Your perspective and mindset is the foundation for all of your life.

Want to do things differently?

You’re in luck - nothing is fixed.

You can change those filters, you can change your perspective and your mindset.

You can learn to become in touch with this precise moment in time, never taking it for granted again,

Choosing to appreciate rather than condemn, to know the simple beauty of being alive.

You don’t have time NOT to get involved in this stuff.

It’s not frivolous, unnecessary, something for when you get around to it, just for the hippies …

It’s the core cause of everything you do.

No one can make you see this, but if you’re unsatisfied with the results in ANY part of your life,

Look at the thoughts and feelings you’re paying attention to.

If you’re interested in fast change there?

I know an easy and simple practice of meditation and mindset that brings quick transformation.

If you'd like to know more, opt in here. I'll give you a Quick Start Guide To Meditation and we can talk more:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

Questions on anything? Just ask, I'd love to help.

Go well! Arjuna

PS.

Take nothing for granted.

Who knows?

Soon the Trump might come out speaking Russian.

Then things will really get interesting.

Feeling Masochistic? You're Doing It Wrong

One of the things that seems to happen in this self-improvement lark, A lark that begins when you realise you want to bring the best version of yourself to life more often (perhaps even ALL the time) -

Is harshness and being so serious.

There is this idea that growing involves hardship and at least a degree of torture.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for adventures (in the outdoors especially) where you come up against your comfort zone.

That sense of challenge and uncertainty of “can I do this?”, of hearing your mind squeak and carrying on anyway.

But there is always a sense of JOY in that (for me).

When it stops being fun, I stop.

What’s the point if it’s not?

I wasn't always like that though. I used to believe that harshness was necessary to conquer my messy, chaotic mind.

I thought I SHOULD do x, y, z to get what I wanted -

(Turns out I was wrong. Luckily I found out sooner rather than later, huh?)

Yet if you look around at some of the programmes and practices out there there’s the same idea:

It all started back in the day with walking on hot coals or snapping an arrow with the point held against your throat,

And now has gotten really quite extreme -

Where it ranges from sleep deprivation all the way through to some quite full on SAS torture training experience weekends.

There’s a significant section of the meditation and yoga community that have a similar mindset.

The bed of nails may no longer be around but there's still the idea that unless it’s really hard work, “you’re messing around”.

Some of these guys become so serious, so rigid in themselves, even harming themselves becoming hardline vegans when it doesn't suit their bodies, becoming all grey skinned and wrinkly.

Here’s the thing:

I know there's something in everything for someone, but please trust me when I say harshness will not bring you closer to a better version of you.

You don't need to do half the stuff people say you NEED to, to get the results you want.

Whatever you choose to do, don’t lose your sense of joy, your sense of humour.

Your meditation and mindset practice for example.

If you are straining and efforting, if you’re sitting on the floor in some yoga position and it’s uncomfortable …

If you’re forcing yourself to stop your mind, being aggressive to yourself, getting impatient and frustrated …

If it’s as fun as a trip to the dentist …

You won’t do it for very long.

You’re not going to practice it day in day out - because it’s not easy nor joyful nor rewarding.

The momentum won’t develop.

And you’ll just add more stress into your nervous system.

^^^ That is one of the whole reasons for meditation ^^^

To release all the stress and strain that you’ve built up over the years.

NOT to torture yourself all over again.

Harshness of any kind is not necessary.

You don’t need to dominate your lesser tendencies, I promise.

That kind of attitude is so counter productive.

Just having the courage and boldness to candidly look at yourself and make different choices is heroic enough.

One of the true motors for change AND an indication that you’re doing things right?

Maximum enjoyment of each and every moment.

Honestly.

Want some?

Opt in here, I'll send you a super cool, super simple, super powerful meditation practice you can get going on straight away, AND we'll continue the conversation about all this:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

Have a great day out there. Have some fun!! Arjuna

PS.

Commitment is crucial, harshness not.

Gentle persistence is the key, always.

If you’re not having fun then find out why not.

Makes sense, huh? -

The Stink That You Can’t Wash Off

Had the meter reader guy come in yesterday and, sheesh … The bloke had a bad case of body odour.

Like serious.

It lingered long after he had left.

Left an oily coating on the walls.

So aggressive it stained my teeth.

I don’t want to make fun, really I don’t. 

I know for sure that my breath can be volatile at times.

Due to me doing some intermittent fasting -

(Basically skipping breakfast, no eating until early afternoon, as part of my health and fitness regime.)

And that can cause my good lady Sumati to turn away.

At least she lets me know - so I can get a banana or something in me to fix fasting breath before I go and be with people.

But - and here is my point:

There is a kind of “stink” that no one really talks about.

And that is the stink of stress.

You see, it doesn’t just affect you -

Like a personal hygiene problem you might have grown so accustomed to a certain level of stress and struggle that you don’t notice it at all.

But the people around you certainly do.

Your kids, your partner - they know.

They may not be able to put it into words, but they know.

How does that work?

You ever walk into a room and it’s obvious that’s there’s been an argument?

You can almost feel the tension, the sparks left over.

And vice versa - you know it when you walk in somewhere or are with someone and you instantly relax, you’re comfortable.

It’s more than nice - it’s a relief.

I remember this one more senior guy I used to work with.

I was new, and loved being around him because he was unflappable.

We had a pretty dynamic job as outdoor instructors, busy, long, physical days -

And he was so awesome because his level of calm meant even when things went unexpected  -

(which they did, often) -

He didn’t freak out which meant … I didn’t freak out.

I could deal with the challenge, and all with a smile on my face, simply because he had carried this “no problem” attitude right there beside me.

Talk about a mentor - I wanted to be like him.

It was never what he did that impressed, just how he did it.

How he carried himself probably made more of an impression on me that anything he said -

And made me look for a way of becoming like that too - which led me to learning Ascension meditation a few years later.

Now, here's the thing:

You CAN be like that guy too, no matter at what point you’re starting from, and for the sake of your loved ones you SHOULD.

You'll be like a breath of fresh air in their lives.

Taking care of business, dealing with the demands of your day, and yet coming home and fully there with everyone, big smile on your face -

Everyone wins.

Part of it is attitude, part of it is meditation, part of it is learning - or having the courage - to make different choices (or make the same choices differently).

That’s why I set up a programme that’s not just meditation.

It’s using the awareness and clarity that comes from meditation in all parts of your life.

Go here if you’re interested, opt in and I'll give you a super simple meditation practice you can get going on AND we can talk more about it:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/ Go well! Arjuna

PS.

Why would you go without breakfast?

You see, I LOVE food - But if I just ate and did nothing else?

Yikes.

So, enter fasting and exercise - a necessary tradeoff -

All so I can eat pretty much what I want to eat, just in a concentrated period.

Seems to work well (for me) to help keep the dad bod at bay.

Also clears the body (and the senses),

And it isn’t harsh at all.

Harsh is a waste of time. And a waste of life.

I’ll tell you more about that next time …

Efficient, Focussed, Ruthless - Like A Laser?

Some of you guys have pointed out that since my emails go out incredibly early in the morning, I must be some kind of machine. Efficient, focussed, ruthless like a laser.

I like that, but actually -

I write the email the day or two before and then schedule it to go out so you have something to start your day with, if you wish.

I hate to ruin your image of me,

But the truth is mornings aren’t my best time. I’m actually a bit groggy.

I can do them,

However I’ve learnt that other things than writing are best for first thing.

I do things that don’t require me to be too switched on.

It’s exercise and meditation and admin.

That routine helps me wake up and get going and have a good base for the day.

I have tried to force myself into a kind of pattern that I was told was best by someone else -

But experience told me different.

So I changed to what works for me.

What works for you?

When I teach people Ascension meditation I’m very aware that the techniques are one thing,

The getting into the habit of using them is another.

And that ^^^ is quite a personal thing.

I used to be “you MUST practice meditation for these many minutes at these times every day to get the benefits in the shortest amount of time".

But I have realised that is just not realistic.

And that’s one of the reasons why I like working one on one with people - we can work out what works best for them.

I now always get people to do what they can do easily - and build from there.

20 minutes is a good goal to get to.

(if you’re in a hurry to see benefits, 20 minutes twice, or even three times, daily will really mean things start shifting for you)

Things seem start to happen quick when you’re able to sit for 20 minutes.

(if you’re just starting - don’t worry, it doesn’t take much to get to)

But if that seems impossible, start at say 10 minutes and work up, as slow as you like.

Meditating, like any habit, becomes more enjoyable the more you do it.

It develops a momentum.

You see the rewards of being calmer and clearer, reacting and losing it less, you’re more productive and more fun to be around -

And so you want to do it more.

But if forcing yourself to sit for 20 minutes is really hard work for you, you’re not going to get to that point of momentum and enjoyment are you?

Dial it back.

So much better to have a good balance between persistence and realising what and when works for you.

The great thing is making people realise what they can do on their worst day.

So if everything falls down around your ears you know you have at least one “backup” session.

Often that works as last thing at night - perhaps even in bed.

Everyone has to close their eyes sometime to go to sleep, right?

Why not head off slightly earlier and meditate off to sleep?

Even if that’s 2 minutes of conscious meditating and a lot more drifting - awesome. Not bad for a worst day scenario.

I love meditating in the mornings because it sets me up so well.

But sometimes I realise you’re not going to get that.

If you’re not a morning person (like me) do try and work up to it because it will make your whole day more enjoyable and effective.

But also make a plan and realise what you can do on your worst day.

Does that make sense?

There’s no point in trying to be a machine about this.

Get that balance between being focussed and committed and persistent and realising that you will also slip.

No deal.

It doesn’t really matter if you stop, just pick it back up again.

OK? Go well!

So - If you’d like some help through the initial habit forming phase,

Perhaps you’ve already learnt but stuck in a stop/start cycle - you know what to do but you don’t know why you’re not doing it,

Or perhaps you want to learn to meditate “properly” and no longer rely on apps and people talking in your ear,

Or perhaps you’d like someone on hand can clear all the obstacles out of your way, answer all your questions and make meditation supremely simple, enjoyable and perhaps even more profound,

Opt in here and I'll give a you my excellent Quick Start Guide To Meditation:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

Have a great day! Arjuna -

Knickers All In A Knot?

You ever thrown a tantrum? Spat the dummy?

Sulked a bit?

I don’t think you have - not really.

Not properly.

There’s this guy in Japan -

And he hasn’t talked to his wife for 20 years.

They’re still married and live together, they have kids …

A whole life, and yet he’s been giving her the silent treatment for all that time.

Why?

20 years ago he got jealous about the attention his wife gave his kids when they were born.

She, obviously, was busy and involved with babies and so what does he do?

Sulks. For 20 whole years.

Long past the time when the kids are grown up, he keeps on sulking.

Why she put up with him for that long I don’t know -

But it serves a point.

How childish are we?

Really - how often to we lose it because things don’t go our way?

Instead of opening up and communicating and/or seeing how we could do things differently?

Shut down, or lash out.

Or shut down and lash out.

Or lash out and sit down.

(Something like that)

There are certain programmes that you have in your head that stop you from having an easy, super rewarding life.

You may not hold a grudge for two decades,

(actually, maybe you do … ?)

But there are certain (often unconscious) ways and habits and patterns you fall back into that don’t help your life.

They don’t help your relationship be strong and super loving and exciting, for example.

They mean you do things and say things you regret.

They mean you don't put the attention into the relationship it deserves - so they wander off,

Or -

You start to look around and see who else is out there … and you wander.

Now -

There’s no reason why you can’t have an incredible relationship with the person you are with right now.

But you have to work on yourself.

^^^

It’s a bit of cliche, but maybe its a cliche because it’s true?

The only person you can change is you.

In relationships we’re constantly waiting for the other person to change.

Like our 20 year sulker, he was waiting for her to approach him. To apologise for “ignoring” him.

But when you learn to stop blinding reacting and make aware choices,

When you take responsibility for the results of your life,

When you start doing some small things to make yourself better -

In all your roles (husband / partner / father / friend / team mate / worker / boss / gimp (?) …)

Things really start to happen,

Because you’re not waiting for the world to change.

And you can do this - just because it’s all just a habit.

Whatever programme just has a bit of momentum that’s all.

It’ll take boldness to step into some new territory -

But you can do that.

You’re here reading this because you want to, and it’s important to you.

Expect needing to be a bit bold and do it.

Don’t wait 20 years.

As you may well know I love the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation because it has given me, and continues to give me -

The foundation of greater awareness, of choice, of calm, of clarity, of focus -

So I can create new habits and mental programmes that serve my life, not hinder it,

All simply and easily and fast.

If you’re interested, opt in here and I'll give you free things to get cracking straight away:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

The man in our story?

His kids set up a meeting with his wife in the park where they first met.

He opened his mouth and apologised to her.

That must have taken something after 20 years huh?

Good on him.

Actually, good on her for being so patient.

I like a happy ending to a story.

What's your happy ending going to be like? -

Why Your New Years Resolution Has Already Failed

OK, so I’ll get to the point because it is Sunday, and you have fun things to do - Right after you read this excellent email from me, that is …

Factoid for the day:

90.8% of all New Year Resolutions will fail.

Chances are your resolution has already failed:

Almost a THIRD of all resolutions won’t make a seven days.

Why?

You see, people have great intentions -

But they don’t set up the systems to make sure they succeed.

Everyone has started something and then quit.

Am I right?

How do you start something and make sure you keep doing it?

Here’s a few things I have discovered in teaching the Ishayas' Ascension meditation over the years:

All resolutions, whether made in the New Year or not, take regular doing.

If you don’t do them, they don’t happen.

So that’s the first reason trying to change yourself fails.

Sometimes it’s too big. It’s too much change at once.

The change is way too “chunky” and not bite sized enough.

You need easy and simple.

So make a change plan where you make small, achievable goals,

That relate to easy things you can do, even on your worst day,

But then build on that success so what is achievable to you gets bigger.

Also:

Measure your improvement, not your distance to your main goal.

Make sense?

If you’re always looking forward you’ll never realise how far you come.

Look back and be successful, look forward and you’re always got further to go -

Which CAN be demoralising (but indeed, not necessarily so).

And:

Get a reason for changing that you are invested in.

Why do you want to change? What happens if you don’t?

Remind yourself of your why, otherwise you may just lose motivation when the dip comes.

The dip always comes - the initial buzz stops, the motivation drops, it becomes too hard - so you stop.

Expect the dip.

Lastly, which may well be the biggest thing …

It’s also why Weight Watchers ads say you may lose up to seven times more weight with them than doing it alone …

Accountability.

i.e. get someone on your side to make sure you do what you said you would.

You can create audacious change if you have accountability.

Get a buddy, a coach, join a group, tell your partner and get them to remind you why.

Public announcements and updates are excellent for this.

You’ll get support - but you’ll also make some people guilty too.

Which may mean you get some funny comments.

No deal - it’s not about you, you’re triggering them.

Keep going!

Alright?

Because excellence is just a habit.

It’s making sure you do something enough so it becomes a ritual, a non-negotiable part of your day.

And that’s when you ENJOY doing it for it’s own sake, not just for the change you want from it.

It’s the same with learning to control your own mind,

To switch off from work (or doubt or worry) when you want and need to,

To have an incredible relationship,

To get a handle on stress and struggle,

To really be there as your kids grow up,

To have more balance and way more fun - no matter what.

A simple meditation and mindset practice is everything to having that.

Opt in here and I'll give you one, free:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

Go well, Arjuna

PS. Have fun out there, alright? -

The French Are Getting Some, Are You?

It’s a fine, sunny morning here in Richmond, Breakfast with Sumati, exercise and Ascension meditation are all done, coffee is in hand.

A good start to the day I’d say.

Found out recently that French workers have started getting legal protection from too much work time due to mobile phones.

Very useful things them phones.

I love mine.

The problem, as you will know if you have a work phone, is being switched on all the time.

So even if you’re at home or on holiday, you feel like you should be checking those emails.

Which means even if you’re with your family, you’re not really.

You’re still at work.

Because you’re thinking about it, you’re not present with them.

This is a huge thing for me because I realise now how much I used to be absorbed by work, and it DIDN'T make my life better, at all.

It made it worse.

“I wish I spent more time at work” -

Said no one ever.

Yet there is a pressure to feel like you should.

If you’re self-employed?

The pressure is probably greater.

Cos the buck stops with you.

But here’s what I’ve noticed.

Unless you have one of those very rare species for a boss -

The enlightened kind who realises they can’t squeeze you all day and all night and still get excellent work from you -

And therefore tells you to go home and switch off, completely -

You have to be the one that makes sure you do - for yourself.

Rest and switching off is not a reward for hard work.

It’s a necessity.

Take the time to do it. No checking just to “make sure”.

You’ll tell yourself it’s only a little bit -

But it’s the thinking about it that counts, that adds to the pile of constantly being "on duty",

That wears you down,

That means you have no energy or time to exercise,

That makes you grumpy and reactive,

That means you’re not present and miss out on seeing your kids grow up,

That means your relationship goes stale underneath your nose, because you’re not there.

You need to find a way to get balance in all aspects of your life.

You actually CAN sit on a chair with one leg -

But it’s exhausting.

Solely focussing on work means you’re going to fall on your arse sooner or later.

Balance.

Give to your work, but also give to your family, your health and fitness, your sense of fun and adventure, to the sense of connection to your purpose for being here.

Give to all of it.

Then you’ll have a life that nurtures you, that is enjoyable, that is wholly and completely satisfying.

Not just a mad race on the hamster wheel of work and sleep and eat.

You don’t want to be a fanatic about just one part of it.

Good stuff!

Go well - you CAN do this. Arjuna

PS.

I know you’re busy, so you need something that fits into your busy life.

A programme to get balance and learn to switch off, especially from your own head, has to fit into your life, not the other way around.

My goal is to keep this supremely simple, something you can do even on your low days.

Like to know more?

Opt in here:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

-

What They Don't Want You To Know

I found out something huge today - Something not of great importance in terms of world peace but of great “hmmmmm…” none the less.

Did you know you can replace your iPhone battery?

Isn’t that awesome?

I thought you had to throw those things away when the battery stopped working so well.

Granted, being Apple it’ll cost, but not as much as a replacement. And it’s a little bit greener.

Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?

Perhaps because they want me to buy a new phone. Well, I'm onto them.

But the first question I asked was -

What else don’t I know?

That’s a can of worms isn’t it?

Some things I don’t know are merely on a interest level.

For example, it was only recently that I discovered that giraffes fight by throwing their necks at each other.

It looks brutal - huge giraffe necks whipping against each other. Youtube it!

Other things that I don’t know can make a real difference.

This game of life - for me - is about self-discovery.

Gaining greater awareness of yourself.

You see, in awareness you have choice.

If you don’t know, you can’t do anything about it.

If you do know, you can start to consciously shape the way you think, the way you feel, what you do, what you say -

And all of that changes what you get -

In your career or business, with your partner, your kids, your health, your sport.

When I first got into this kind of thing it was a bit shocking.

Because the more I looked, the more I saw stuff I was a bit ashamed of.

All those habits and patterns and stuff meant sometimes I behaved in ways I didn’t like, at all.

I saw I had two choices:

I could turn back, and forget that I could actually be quite ignorant.

Or, I could keep going and make some real change in me so I could actually be the person I wanted to be.

So I could have the life I wanted to have, with the impact I wanted to make.

Meditation will give you that awareness so you can have step into that potential ^^^

Meditation techniques like the Ishayas’ Ascension will actually rewire your brain so it’s harder to slip unconsciously into reaction and stress and limitation.

But no matter what you do, you still have the power of choice.

You still have to make the choice to perceive something different, to be more patient, more compassionate -

You still have to realise when you’re focussing on the negative, when you’re letting yourself get wound up, when you let your mind run away from you.

Awareness is a wonderful first step, but then what?

Choice.

Choice is key.

If you want to do this, you can.

Just keep making the choice.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. And then another one …

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Join me, if you’d like, and we’ll get you what you need to make greater and greater conscious choices, and be the best version of you.

It’ll be fun, straight forward so you can do it on your less best day, and totally rewarding.

Opt in here for more:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

-

Heroic Slacker?? - (Don’t Do Something, Just Sit There)

Those people who want more from their life are rare. Rarer still are those who are looking to do something about it.

Infinitely rarer than that are those who ACTUALLY follow through and take steps.

It’s so easy to point the finger and blame everything else why our lives are the way they are.

It’s the economy, or it’s my upbringing, or it’s my partner, or it’s my children, or it’s my …

It is rare, and actually heroic, to find someone who takes responsibility for not only what they say and do -

But also the way they think and feel.

The trouble is this, this last small group are usually warriors - 

They’ll bash their heads through brick walls if they thought it would bring them what they wanted.

I’ve found that’s also why the middle group -

The ones who want to do something about having a better life shy away from jumping in and actually doing something, because -

It seems like monstrously hard work sometimes.

You might have to become a fanatic.

You might have to be perfectly dedicated, with hard as nails focus, never slacking, never having off days …

And who is like that, really?

Take meditation for example.

I thought it meant changing my life, as in becoming a vegetarian and fasting regularly.

I thought it meant sitting on the floor with my legs crossed and enduring hours of discomfort and boredom.

I thought it meant stopping my mind.

I thought it meant discipline and focus and hard friggin work to get a leash on the small grey parts of my mind.

All of which I was prepared to do because I wanted freedom from said parts of my head.

I wanted calm, I wanted perspective, I wanted more fun.

I wanted an end to the depression, the worry, the foul moods I would find myself in.

I wanted to stop sabotaging my relationships and make them so solid and nurturing and fun.

And so I did what I thought it took.

I can’t say how grateful I am that I found specific meditation technique that I now practice, every day - The Ishayas’ Ascension -

Because hard work is not necessary to get what you want in terms of meditation and mindset.

As I think Bill Gates noted, give a hard problem to a lazy person and they’ll always find the easiest, the quickest and most efficient solution -

Simply because them slackers want the easy life, they don’t want hard work.

^^^ I think Ascension meditation was invented by these guys ^^^

Don’t get me wrong - you have to be a touch heroic, simply to want to change yourself.

But a heroic slacker attitude is perfect.

Why drag yourself over hot coals when you can sit in a deck chair, sipping a drink with a small umbrella in it?

Character?

Oof.

Just turning up and being consistent takes character enough.

Life is busy, and tough sometimes.

Make it easy on yourself.

Choose the easy, fast, fun path.

You want less anxiety, depression, mood swings?

You want more fun, more peace, more focus?

You want to be the great parent, not the grumpy, distracted, snappy one?

You want to stop sabotaging your relationship, even just through taking it for granted?

You want to a way to be able to sail through tough situations?

If I can be brutally honest:

(and I know it’s not so politically correct to say this, but …)

Not all meditation techniques are the same.

They aren’t.

If you are a heroic slacker - like myself - and want the easy (and yet quick) path to results,

Learn Ascension meditation.

Find a Bright Path Ishaya - I can vouch for our teachers - and learn.

They’ll teach you right.

I can’t recommend this enough -

And I’m not doing this just because I want to make money off you,

I’m saying this because I want you to have an easy, fun, awesome life -

And this is the easiest, fastest, most transformative way of jettisoning all the mental and emotional rubbish you’ve picked up over the years that I know.

Are there other ways? Maybe. But this is what I know for sure.

It’s the one thing I’ve been doing every single day for the last 14 years.

There is a link in the PS if you want to know more about what I have to say, but really, I honestly just want you to be outrageously happy.

Whatever you do, make it easy, OK? -Arjuna

PS.

If you want to know more about these heroic slackers ways, opt in here:

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2017 End Of World Panic! (Pull Yourself Together Man)

Is the world going to hell in a hand basket? I don’t even know what a hand basket is, but I did hear the phrase on the Simpsons a long time ago.

You can trust the Simpsons.

But it would seem at the moment there’s very little you can trust for sure.

It would seem the world is falling apart in a rapid way.

Just this morning I opened my newspaper as I like to do when I sit on the loo -

And there was mayhem.

(In the news, that is).

Wars and diplomatic tension and politics and embezzlement and voting controversy and hate and trolling -

All on a scale seemingly like never before.

Just like the morning before and the morning before.

Yikes!

So much to a happy new year, a fresh beginning and a chance to start anew, huh?

It might all end before I get a chance to renege on my first new year resolution.

What to do?

I don’t know.

Well, I do know one thing.

Get a grip on yourself.

No, really - I’m trying to be funny, but NOT in an old school “pull yourself together”, "take a cold shower and man up” kind of way,

But do get a grip on the part of you that panics, that worries, that thinks the worst, that falls apart when the going gets tough.

Don't let that mindset sabotage your life.

Do make the most of each and every moment.

Do get a grip on real stability and security.

The only place you can find that is within yourself.

When the airplane is headed for a crash landing you put your own oxygen mask on first, then you can help others.

Then you can see clearly, with perspective and with a degree of calm, what to do, if anything.

You need to do this because it's always been this way.

The world has always done crazy.

I think I mentioned this before, but I remember my Dad being made redundant so many times in the 80s.

The first time was such a huge shock to him - he thought he had a job for life.

Now we’re kinda used to zero hours contracts.

Things change, sometimes they change fast.

What are you going to do about it?

Going on precedent, 2017 WILL have some tough moments.

That you can guarantee.

How YOU deal with those moments?

That is the uncertain bit.

Practice calm, focus and clarity now while the going is good.

Practice taking nothing seriously now while it’s easy to laugh.

Get going on your meditation practice and get control of your crazy mind.

Learn the Ishayas’ Ascension - you won’t regret it.

Something so relaxing and enjoyable and that is still good for you, transformative even …

That’s what you want, isn't it?

Go well! Arjuna

-

PS.

Let me know how I can help you.

I do appreciate the fact that you take the time to read through to the PS, so how can I help?

Let me know. Just email me and quickly tell me what you think your challenges will be in 2017.

PPS.

Want to know more about the very fast path to getting good at this meditation and mindset stuff, while not taking a single part of it seriously?

Opt in here to get regular more:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

-

2017 Has Been Cancelled

Ready for a New Years Motivational? Nah…

It’s been so nice doing absolutely nothing.

Eating, drinking, reading, board games, chatting, a little tree chopping, some kayaking, a load of just closing my eyes and snoozing and meditating.

I’m still not really ready to jump back in.

I can’t be arsed still.

So much for a new year “Lets Go” speech, huh?

But I know the juice will come.

If you can arrange your time even a little I think it’s important to respect these times when you don’t want to push.

There’s a fine line isn’t there?

You have to do the work to get where you want to be, but if you REALLY can’t be arsed it might be a good idea to take a break.

I figure that way you can recharge and come back with a full battery.

Inspired and full of energy as opposed to a coming from should.

My wife was a bit antsy last night saying she thinks she should be doing something.

This is at 7 months pregnant and therefore puffing like a steam train whenever she climbs the stairs.

She’d spent 2 weeks before Christmas charging - painting a room and preparing the house for all the relatives.

Not to mention all the cooking and shopping for food and drink.

So I knocked her on the head and made her lay down with a cup of tea and a book.

(no, not really).

I don’t think going all the time is a good idea. I don't think you can, can you?

Juggling a million balls at once is a nice trick, but not really sustainable.

We used to do meditation courses in the country close to London.

And the people would come the front door and you could actually feel the speed they were operating at.

Freakish fast.

It wasn’t that nice to be around actually.

But - by Sunday they would be sliding out the door, super relaxed.

Less haste more speed as my nan used to say.

The secret is to take breaks before you need to.

To rest and recover and recharge before you feel exhausted, and grumpy, and/or depressed.

Regular Ishayas' Ascension meditation is such a life saver - and one you probably won’t realise until you practice regularly.

(Or stop practicing for a little while …)

It gives you the ability to be the very best version of you.

Topped up and ready for action.

Or - totally disconnected so you can really switch off and be away from work (or whatever you need to switch off from at the moment).

And get some perspective and clarity, and real sense of fun back.

Just do it.

(There you go - knew I could find some motivation for you - heh heh)

Go well, keep the Peace!

Arjuna : )

PS.

As always if you need any help, just ask. I’d love to help.

And if you’re serious about jumping in and really coming to grips with your mindset, your attitude, your thoughts and emotions then you're in the right place.

There is a simple and easy and enjoyable way.

Meditation is the answer and it need not be boring nor weird. It can fit into your way of living and being.

Opt in here if you’d like to know more:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/ -

When Death Comes A Little Closer

I’ve noticed that men of a certain age are a little reflective after some recent news. George Michael dying at 53 …

Hardly old, now is it?

The one thing I know is that I don’t want to get to the end of my life …

And not do the things I really wanted to do.

Apparently it’s one of the biggest regrets of elderly people.

Wasting time on what appears important, and not giving enough to the essentials.

It can manifest as spending too much time in the office.

Working to support your family is important - but balance is essential.

Otherwise you just end up like the stereotypical father figure.

Never there.

Thankfully it’s slowly changing, I think men are waking up to the fact that they don’t want to repeat the same cycle.

But it still seems like so many still do.

And it’s not so much the amount of time, but the quality of that time that is the most important thing.

It’s also the bringing home the stress and the thinking about work.

So even at in these holiday times,

Which are blissfully quiet as people seem to hunker down and relax (at least in my town).

When I talk to people there is still the thinking about work.

Which means you’re home but not really there.

It was something I used to do so much.

I was lost in my own head in a future or a past moment.

And partially why I wanted to learn how to meditate:

So I could be more present, and not think about things that weren’t in front of me.

Because I realised how much it took away from life, from my enjoyment, from my ability to give to my loved ones.

I realise how I was missing out on the essentials of my life.

Now,

After a morning spent with the extended family, young and old all working outside -

Doing some jobs and working up an appetite so we can sit down to another huge lunch,

Then go see Rogue One, the new Star Wars film together this afternoon,

I realise how good I have it.

The ability to really be fully here with everyone is so enjoyable.

So satisfying.

And probably more important still, I’m not fending off work from taking over my head.

It’s not trying to sneak in.

My Ishayas’ Ascension practice has given me the ability to really focus on the here and now so other stuff just doesn’t come up any more.

Which is awesome.

Because if I do happen to leave this planet at an earlier than desired age, like George,

At least I will have filled my time with presence and enjoyment.

At least I will have done my best to prioritise the essentials over anything else.

And not spent it stuck in my head worried, thinking needlessly about “stuff” that I have no control over, or that isn’t in front of me.

Full life begins with full presence.

You can have that.

You can.

It’s just a matter of practice.

Go well, -Arjuna

PS.

Opt in here if you’re interested in learning about how to get more Life from your life:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

-

It’s All Over!

The big day is done. All the roast potatoes are eaten.

Dishes? Done or in the sink “soaking”.

Kids? Exhausted from their 5am getup on the big day.

Presents opened, chocolate tree decorations consumed, hangovers (perhaps) now in full flow.

I hope you had a great time. Life is there to enjoy, is it not?

So what next? As you send your in laws off and on the road (with a sigh of relief maybe?)

As life returns to “normal” …

As you get a moment to yourself, away from everyone else,

Why not take a little time and have a look.

How do you want normal to be?

What do you want standard operating to entail?

How do you want to be in your relationship? In your job or your business? In your health and fitness? In the things you love to do?

Are you going to do the same things (and get the same results)?

Or are you going to try and do things differently?

Who will help you? What will hinder you?

And what’s your plan?

So many questions I know …

But it’s traditional at the end of the year isn’t it?

To take stock and to see what worked, what didn’t work.

Important too.

Otherwise you just get the same.

And if the same is fine with you, then well done.

If not?

You can do something about it.

It takes so little and you gain so much.

As do the people you love.

Because when you’re at 100% everyone wins.

But when you’re not, no one really does.

And why not?

Why not indeed.

I gotta go - the river is a calling.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

I know seeing what you want to do is one thing, but the how is another thing.

If you need help with either the seeing or the how-ing, opt in here:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

The Nightmare That Is Gift Giving

Gift giving - what a nightmare. If you’re like me, you’re a bit useless at giving gifts.

There’s the fact that you have no idea what they would want.

Or the ideas that you subtly suggest upon passing shop windows - say a dress for your wife - get greeted with scorn and derision by said wife.

Oops.

And the wife wants a surprise and so won’t suggest anything.

Surprised she will be when she gets that shiny new kayak, won’t she?

Then there’s the fact that you’re slightly competitive when it comes to giving.

It has to be THE best gift for that person.

So anything less is a complete failure.

Throw in some social anxiety in the form of giving to people in more wider circles, like the wife’s cousins who’ll be around for dinner.

What if I didn’t buy something for them and they bought something for me? What if I did buy something and they didn’t?

Round and round in circles it goes.

No wonder Christmas was hell.

If you're like this all I can say is watch your own head. Don’t obsess about it and try to enjoy it - and actually give something.

Like anything - the more practice you have in giving, the better you get at it.

Not giving doesn’t work.

There was a phase where my present panic meant I didn’t give any gifts.

I tried to justify it as as a protest against rampant Christmas consumerism, but really it was just being useless.

A certain girlfriend back in the day had serious words with me - and I’m grateful for it.

Not giving really bolstered my propensity to mess up relationships.

I think generosity is such a valuable personality trait to cultivate.

It doesn’t have to be money - I know Christmas IS a pricey time of year.

What I mean is generosity of the heart.

No matter what time of year, the kind of attitude that speaks “how can I help you?”

Based in that, the greatest gift you can give is your own presence.

Your full and undivided attention.

You know it when someone is really WITH you.

It’s nice, you feel valued or something - and yet it’s increasingly rare.

In this time of mobile tech I see so many people together, but worlds apart.

Sitting at the same kitchen table but universes away.

If you want more from your relationships with your partner and kids and family -

BE with them.

Don’t be on Facebook, don’t be over thinking about presents and the turkey (you turkey) …

Show up.

Many things are important, like the turkey and the kayaking trip on Boxing Day -

But relationships with your partner and family are essential.

They are worth spending your presence on, simply because if you do your life gets easier, happier, calmer, more fun.

When you hit tough times you can sail through, that much easier and smoother.

Alright?

Have a great day and talk more later,

Arjuna

PS.

If you’re interested in a training programme of sorts that means you can effortlessly more present, be more generous and less selfish, stress and worry less and laugh way more, then you’re in luck.

Opt in here: https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/

-

Hot Or Not? How To Get Effortless Blue Steel

All going well as the last few dark days of winter tick over?

I’ve just been into Darlington town, mayhem that it is.

Don't worry about me, I'm all shopped. Everything sorted, I’m just in town to spectate and partake of a pork pie.

Got something for my good lady wife that isn't a kayak.

I don't know why she doesn't want something as useful AND aesthetically beautiful as a whitewater craft, but there you go.

It is her only fault.

On my journey I happened across the most grumpiest man I have ever met.

Hate this town he said.

It's rubbish. It stinks, like a sewer bad. Newcastle is far better, apparently.

As my brother would say,

(and I love this expression so excuse me if it’s a little lowbrow) -

He had a face like a smacked arse.

He really did.

So I did what I usually do in such a situation -

I ran off as quickly as I could.

As soon as I made myself scarce, I realised something.

Since I am fully Christmas ready, I have a look of serenity on my countenance that says I am experiencing shopping peace.

Needing nothing, I am free of the bonds of suffering.

Now - I am a monk of sorts and so of course I do try and look incredibly tranquil most days -

Image and public relations are important, after all - it’s what you look like that counts most, is it not?

Actually I do believe I am being facetious … waggish and jesting and all …

Of course it’s not how you look, it’s all about how you feel.

You don’t have much choice in how you look, you’re just born that way.

But you do have a choice in how you feel.

Then (and what I realised with my Newcastle man), how you feel changes how you look.

It does - true!

The internal choice is an excellent beauty regime.

Internal contentment, clarity and calm affects your external physicality.

So (to get to the point):

If you want to be ridiculously good looking and throw down effortless Blue Steels a la Derek Zoolander -

You need to meditate, since meditation (and in particular the Ishayas’ Ascension which I do love), is a very fast path to internal steadiness and joy.

In order to give the gift of your hotness this Christmas,

And be irresistible to that certain someone …

Then focus on the good.

Feel good, look better.

But you’d better get to it - you only have 4 days left! Arjuna

PS. What else is important?

World peace or something?

PPS. Confused about where to begin with being calmer, or more focussed, or more content, or more happier?

Or confused how to continue? What to do? What if this and that happens?

Doing it but not sure? Or not doing it so you need help making it a habit?

I can help, for sure. Me and you can make all of this rapid, effortless and enjoyable for you.

Let’s talk turkey (and other things) when you opt in here:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane/