Kodak Courage

I went kayaking this weekend. (I thought the house and pregnant Sumati were all in good order for a few hours or so)

Lovely stuff it was.

A great group, a well oiled machine so far, we came around the corner to the main event.

The big scary rapid.

The large Kahuna.

The one the guidebook talks about and the one everyone tells stories about in the pub afterwards …

And not only did we have a large rambling party sitting eating their lunch,

Oh no,

But a gaggle of amateur photographers on a course.

What they were doing way out there who knows,

But their eyes lit up when they saw us.

We used to call it “Kodak Courage” -

That phenomena whenever there is a camera someone of lesser ability will attempt something harder,

That extra boost you get -

All for the photographic glory.

It works the other way too -

When you have a crowd,

People start to fall apart.

An interesting dynamic today was watching a team that had been styling down the river, fall into the same pattern.

Some did great,

Some did awful,

Some should have walked  - but they lived, and got their photo taken.

---> Self-induced pressure.

It messes with your mind and your skills.

How often has a rugby player kicked a ball over for a conversion in practice?

Come match day with a crowd and the result on their shoulders?

It’s much much harder.

You know this.

And it’s not just about the physical sporting realm.

It happens everywhere.

It's any skill, any decision making, any reaction.

Your mindset affects everything:

Your abilities at work, at home and at play,

And most importantly, your ability to enjoy yourself.

A crucial game is the mind game -

To every aspect of life.

For a solid, and solid foundation in mental fortitude and fitness

(I like the word “Resilience”)

And just plain happiness ...

I strongly believe everyone should have some kind of mental health / "fitness" regime.

You don’t get better at playing the guitar by accident.

You don’t get stronger by wishing it.

You don’t learn any skill or become anything different by doing nothing.

You do the work and get the results.

A regime, a practice, a thing you do to make you the master of your mind …

Is the greatest thing you can do for every part of your life.

Go here and I can help you with one that is super simple and extraordinarily powerful:

You won’t regret it:

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

PS.

I woke up sore from me adventures in me kayak.

It’s been too long, what with packing and shifting and lack of rain and what not.

And it was so worth every single ache and tired muscle …

Good times are worth it!

-

Trust What You Know - You Already Know

Last week I was talking about challenges. It’s interesting because you know the habits and programmes and challenges that face you.

And many of you also already know, because you told me -

You kind of already know how to get around these challenges.

You know a lot -

It's just that sometimes it takes someone else to tease it out of you.

And also -

Quite often life turns into a little bit of survival mode,

Just getting through the day - heading for the weekend.

Rare is it that we take time to really sit back and get clear on the important stuff.

On where we want to go and how.

Taking time to rest and see and be clear - getting an overview - is so valuable.

Without it you turn into a little rodent on a wheel.

Round and around and around you go.

You may know I’m going to say this -

But my Ishayas’ Ascension meditation practice gives this to me just in terms of a mini-break during the day.

A complete physical and mental rest which means I reset.

Perspective is regained -

Just through resting, disconnecting for a moment or two.

It is a luxury to some, to be able to take even 10 minutes.

But all because they don't realise how necessary it is to stop and get perspective.

They think - get jobs done then rest.

It never happens.

Does it?

You go in smaller and smaller circles.

From that, if you’re smart, and you ARE because you’re reading this -

You might realise the benefit of stopping and getting such an overview.

Because you already know what to do, what you WANT to do, and how to do it.

It’s just that it always gets pushed back, time and time again, for the hustle and bustle of doing stuff.

Carve out the time - you need it.

To help with this I think you should learn and practice Ascension meditation.

It is super simple -

And brings great clarity and perspective.

It doesn't take away your problems - it makes them easier to deal with.

Opt in here and I'll give you everything you need to know,

Starting with a free super simple Quick Start guide to meditation:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/ Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Your intuition often tells you what is right for you in a particular moment.

It just gets over run, doesn’t it?

Another valuable reason to stop and see and rest and gain some space -

So you trust what you know.

An incredible gift.

PPS.

Next Ishayas’ Ascension meditation course date is set -

12-14 May (starts 7pm Friday)

Note the date down in the diary,

Email me if you want a place.

Bookings will open as soon as I organise myself free of some boxes …

soon!

Everyday Things

What do you do every day? I imagine sleep is one of them.

Eating too, perhaps - unless you’re one of these fasting types (which is ALL the rage at the moment)?

What else?

Clean your teeth?

Errmmm … maybe!

There’s not a lot of things that you do every single day is there?

I saw a quote which brought some perspective - once again - for me:

____________ “Go 3 days without your favourite thing. Then go 3 days without sleep. It turns out sleep is actually your favourite thing.” Joel Comm ____________

For me the last few days have been spent in a whirlwind of shifting -

Taking items from one place to another.

All wanting to be in the house and set up so at least I know where my fresh underwear is.

Because … well … because the baby.

It’s all about the baby and getting ready for the wee fella to arrive.

There hasn’t been a lot of time to close my eyes and Ascend.

The local river has been going nuts and I haven’t even been down there for a little kayak.

^^^ That’s how seriously I’m taking my responsibilities as a good husband.

(Loud cheer in the background)

But yesterday I got a little more time to close my eyes to meditate …

Beyond a few seconds as my head hit the pillow last thing at night.

(or when I bounce awake in the early hours as Sumati with pregnant belly attempts the bed roll / full body bounce from one side to the other).

And the level of physical rest alone was spectacular.

Like dropping into a hot bath of my own being.

(If that makes sense??)

It showed me how there are my favourite things, like kayaking.

And then there are the things that I do every single day because I NEED to.

I need to clean my teeth because I dislike furry fangs quite a lot actually.

I need to regularly go to sleep well before 11pm because it means I operate better come the next day.

I need to close my eyes and do my Ishayas’ Ascension meditation because it recharges my battery.

It releases any niggles, any grumpiness, any of that stuff just like lifting the bath plug lets all that bath water flow down the drain.

So that is all really -

What are your favourite things?

If you want to make Ascension meditation one of them, head this way and I can help you out.

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

Or perhaps you have learnt but you’re not sure why you just don’t practice, simple and effortless as it is.

I can help you out too!

Keep the peace out there, ok? Arjuna - PS.

How come everyday things are the things - like sleep and like eating and like brushing the teeth that are “everyday”?

The things that are most important are the things we take for granted, aren’t they?

And only put in perspective when we go three days without them …

Everyday schmevery day, I say!

Do You Hate Mistakes Too?

I don’t know about you but I’ve made some mistakes. The trouble with mistakes is not in the making of them, but the harshness and criticism that goes along with them.

The head is a vicious little bugger …

If you excuse the term,

But I think it’s a suitable one as your mind can be so incredibly violent.

Trouble is - you never learn anything if you don’t make mistakes.

Right?

But if you listened to your head you wouldn’t ever do anything to put yourself in a place where you would learn anything.

Make sense?

It’s not fear of failure - to be more precise it’s fear of other people witnessing your failure.

I can fail in private all I like and it doesn’t matter -

It’s when you step up and try something and fail in public,

That’s when the mind wants you to cease and desist and “what were you thinking anyway?”

If you listened to your head you would stay the same, forever.

That’s ok for some, and I FULLY understand why -

But I think it’s not for you because you’re reading this,

And you want more from life than staying the same.

The rewards of managing the brutality of your own thoughts are huge.

I think that’s pretty obvious.

One side effect that is relatively unknown though -

Is that you become more understanding and less judgemental of others.

You get nicer to yourself and more forgiving and patient and knowing of how you tick -

And it automatically follows.

You become a better parent, leader, teacher, mentor, friend to any one.

Because you’re living it.

You’re IN it.

I can’t recommend learning and practicing meditation enough.

It truly is a life saver -

And means you can do the things you want to do while managing the self-sabotage as it tries to come.

The Ishayas’ Ascension meditation in particular is easy and simple and powerful, and enjoyable to practice as well.

Learn it and jump in: practice it and see how far it’ll take you.

Interested in more?

Go here and we'll get you started with a free guide to meditation.

Simple, powerful, easy to follow:

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

Go well! Arjuna

PS.

Mistakes are essential things.

Unpleasant to the ego -

But pleasant when you get used to being uncomfortable in that.

A small trade off - a slight squeeze, but one that boosts you forward.

If you’re watching and interested, that is ...

-

A Space Launch Sequence Would Be Simpler

In the new house with the plumber - He’s trying to instruct me in the ways of programming the thermostat.

But it’s so complicated he doesn’t know either.

Why is something like heat made so complicated?

Of course there is no manual supplied.

We do a google search and come up with the manual,

And it’s a nightmare.

Need a degree in engineering just to figure it out.

All I want is a simple switch, with a simple manual.

A “Hot Or Not” switch would be the best …

Remember that website from back in the day?

(I only needed 30 seconds to know that was the last thing I wanted in my life).

Alright - so back to heating.

I know I’m getting to the age when technology starts to out strip my intellect.

My dad always got me as a 13 year old to programme the video tape machine.

But really, learning how to set the temperature on these thermostats is harder than programming a space shuttle launch sequence.

(I am guessing - I haven’t actually done that. But you get my analogy).

The thing is it’s exactly the same with meditation.

It has become soooo complicated.

With over the top techniques and manuals and books and gurus and belief systems and apps and brain wave measuring devices,

That it’s lost it’s simplicity.

You come along just wanting some peace,

A clearer state of mind,

A way of taking things less seriously,

And being less reactive and losing some bad habits …

And it’s difficult to know where to begin.

I got you.

My job is to make it all so simple for you.

I strip it all back to the essentials that you need to know and do so you’ll actually stand a chance of knowing and doing them.

What if you do know what to do but you realise you’re just not doing it?

I can help with that too.

Been there, done that, so I can hand you a way out.

Go here and I'll show you just how simple we can make it:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/ Go well!

Arjuna - PS

The truth is the more complicated a meditation system gets, the further away you travel from what you actually need.

The return to your true nature is supremely simple.

If it’s not simple, it’s not true.

OK?

We Need To Talk (About Us)

I know it’s Valentine’s Day, and I’m sorry about this. I really, really am.

This is probably the most difficult email I’ve ever had to write.

But there’s something I need to tell you.

And it’s probably going to upset you.

I think …

Sigh …

I think we should take a break.

Things between us?

They just don’t feel right at the moment.

I mean, I really try to make things work …

Really I do.

I send you an email, and tell you my feelings just about every day.

I try and be entertaining and amusing, and show you things that educate and inform you.

But in return?

I get nothing.

Silence …

You just seem really … distant.

And if you’re “just not that into me”?

I’d rather you come straight out and say it.

I understand if that's too difficult -

There is an easier way.

Just go to the bottom of this email …

And click on the unsubscribe link.

If you do that?

You’ll never hear from me again.

Goodbye.

And thanks for the memories.

I don't regret a moment, really I don't.

Arjuna -

PS.

Wait!

Don’t go just yet -

There’s more …

When we first got together …

We had so much potential.

You were supposed to get my free Quick Start Guide To Meditation,

I was supposed to make your every moment filled with calm, focus and aliveness,

Making your mindset bullet proof,

Making you feel better than any man has ever made you feel.

Together?

We could have been so happy.

I guess what I’m trying to say is …

It’s not too late.

If there’s any chance that we can still make this work?

I want you to tell me.

I want you to tell me now …

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

Before someone else comes along to take your place.

And The Results Are In!

From your emails telling me about your biggest challenges, the results are in. And thank you for those - they really help me help you -

So:

Self-sabotage.

Procrastination.

Bad habits you can't seem to shift.

Triggers, knowing what triggers you but still reacting nonetheless.

Feeling like you don't make enough quality time for your family, for doing the stuff you love to do.

Not getting work/life balance.

Stress, worry and anxiety.

That whiny voice inside giving you all the reasons why you can’t and so you shouldn’t and "what’s the point anyway?"

That harsh inner critic that is constantly on the whip telling you how wrong you are.

All in all ^^^ an excellent place to start.

From what you are saying it's obvious to you that your greatest opponent lies within.

Which is a wonderful state to be in because it makes dealing with your challenges so much easier.

If you said it your biggest challenges came from outside of you then that's tough.

Changing others is HARD work.

Changing yourself - if you know the right ways - is so much simpler.

It's the inner game that dictates how you live.

How much calm, focus, happiness and fulfilment you experience.

Or how much stress, anxiety, distraction, confusion and “Is this all life has to offer me??” you have.

And it is a game -

Or at least you can come to see it as a game.

Because that makes it all a bit easier.

If you’re willing to face up and really examine your opponent (and that is the hard part) -

It’ll make this game all the more simpler.

Because when you honestly look you’ll realise there is very little you don’t know about them.

They’re in your head all day long - and they haven’t changed significantly all these years you’ve been on the planet.

Knowing the opponent is an awesome idea -

Because then you can EXPECT the voice, you can EXPECT the obstacles that they’ll throw up.

Expecting what the opponent will say and do is half the battle - ignoring that voice then becomes extremely simple.

Instead of doing battle - you shift your attention to other things, the right things.

And that is where the inner game is won.

From that you get peace, a sense of purpose, the ability to focus on whatever you want and ignore all distractions and worries, life gets easier and so much more fun.

Just so you know - it's not about killing your opponent.

You don't need them to shut up or even go away.

You just need to learn to shift your attention and they dry up through lack of nourishment.

They're only alive because you - unconsciously - feed them.

How about that?!

You want to do something about it?

You want to master this inner game - and therefore have the best foundation for everything else you do?

If I were you, I would sign up here without delay:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/ Go well! Arjuna - PS. It is the only game in town.

And a game best played with a smile in your heart and a tune on your lips.

Keep it simple, okay?

Understanding How Your Brain Works To Beat Bad Habits

Habits. Bad habits keep being mentioned as one of your number one challenges.

Stuff you do that you don’t like doing.

You know you’re doing them - you just don’t know how to stop.

Frustrating, isn't it?

Let me help a little.

Understand this about your brain:

You have a brain centre that is all about ease and short term reward.

You also have a centre that is in control of short term sacrifice for long term reward.

Now - I’m sure you realise all habits have momentum.

It takes time and persistent effort to overcome, to change.

You need the right motivation too - knowing why you’re doing something.

Now - The number one killer of all changing habits is stress and tiredness.

It’s a vicious cycle.

The more tired you are, the more likely you are to be stressed, which leads to more and more exhaustion.

When you get tired it’s easier to think with the short term “gimme gimme” brain.

The blood flow actually moves away from the long term brain.

(It shrinks in size too if you stay exhausted).

Instead of staying with the plan which will involve a sacrifice  - you give in and eat, drink, sit on the couch and do nothing, stay up way late flicking through Netflix or Facebook …

Your plan falls apart, you’ve failed again.

Less and less motivation because “nothing works”.

So:

Guess what helps not only making you less stressed and less tired -

(and you probably aren’t aware of how tired you actually are)

But also activate the long term brain more and more?

Meditation.

Science that is ^^^

Any habit change plan should be based on meditation.

It gives you the foundation to make any change way easier.

With a smile on your face even.

Head here and let me help you: https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/

Go well! Arjuna

-

PS.

Last chance to let me know what your biggest challenges are in terms of your levels of calm, focus and happiness …

As well as getting what you want from life …

Let me know, I really appreciate your answers.

Just email me at:

arjuna(at)arjunaishaya.com

Thank you!

Taking Out The Trash!

Trash?! How American of me. But it was the only way I could get a little alliteration in there. I love alliteration.

OK - so I’m moving house in the weekend -

Boxes are everywhere.

“Precious” items coming out of cupboards and being discarded as we actually haven’t been in that cupboard for years.

It’s all a bit ruthless - getting rid of the crud, the junk, the stuff that we just don’t use.

But I love it.

I love having a clear out because the less junk you have the more (obviously) external clarity you have.

It gives you a sense of lightness and possibility and freedom, just in your living space - but also in your mind.

Somehow you also get more inner clarity too.

I love that.

It’s the same when I had a PC computer.

Degragging that beast gave me great pleasure.

Clearing up, putting all the mess away in appropriate places,

It made my machine work so much better.

Loved that also.

It feels so good.

Clearing up is the same with you and your head -

The Ishayas’ Ascension meditation does what you need in terms of a spring clean - but every day!

And it's enjoyable too.

Done every day it gives you clarity and focus and a greater sense of purpose than ever before.

It sorts out your thoughts and gives you that head space -

So you can calmly go about your day and do the things you want to do.

With perspective, and not the mad rush of fighting fires everywhere, getting stressed, getting anxious.

Not reacting, not getting triggered, grumpy and absent minded, but clear!

Clear and happy so you can make the choices you'd like to make instead of jumping to the ones you don't want to make.

All for a much more productive and enjoyable life.

Interested?

If I were you, I would go here without delay. We'll get you started:

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

Take it easy! Arjuna

PS.

What do you find hard work in life?

What are your greatest challenges?

If you would, hit reply and let me know -

Then I can help you so much more.

Keep them coming - and thank you!

Thanks … And About Bad Habits

I've been asking people to write in. I want you to tell me what your biggest challenges are in regard to your levels of calm, focus and happiness, and being the best version of yourself.

Why?

It helps me to help you, so much.

Thank you for those who have - I know it takes some gonads to declare this stuff, but I really appreciate it.

And -

If YOU know what the biggest obstacles are in your life you can make a plan to overcome them.

One clear thing that is coming through being a challenge is habits -

Bad habits that mean you don’t do the things you really want to do

Or that mean your relationships aren’t as good as they could be

(simply because you annoy the crap out of your partner when you do these things)

Some of these habits are small, tiny things that lead to small tiny annoyances.

But some are big things that mean your partner perhaps is seriously wondering if you are at all interested in changing for them.

They think you won’t change and therefore they’ve either given up or worse …

May even be looking elsewhere.

It can happen without you even realising.

“Everything is fine” you think - and then: BOOM.

They drop THAT conversation on you and your world seriously gets shaken.

That’s what we don’t realise -

Partially because you don’t communicate with them on this kind of level regularly enough -

Partially because the focus can be about just getting through the day -

It means you don't step back and look at “how can I do some small things to really make my life better?”

Because if you had the above focus then one of the things you would be doing is talking a lot with your partner about how you can give more to them.

Habits are hard to change without motivation to do so.

The best motivation sometimes comes from some one else.

You really get off your arse if you realise how much you’re making your loved ones lives much harder work.

So find your motivation.

Talk this stuff over with your lady or your gentleman …

Find out what they want

See what obstacles within yourself there are to giving them that …

And make a plan together to overcome these obstacles.

Carry out the plan. Keep communicating, tweak plan if necessary, enjoy the rewards.

Rewards?

More lovin' and passion, more aliveness, more excitement. Being part of a team. Connection. More understanding and less stress, less arguments. Fun. Not just sleep walking through life.

Those kind of rewards.

The greatest foundation for seeing this stuff with clarity is Ascension meditation.

Clarity and perspective are wonderful things.

Go here and I’ll help you with all this, and more:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/ Go well!

Arjuna -

PS.

If you haven't, do write in and tell me what challenges you’re facing.

It means I can help you so much more, and I’ll reply to you for sure.

arjuna(at)arjunaishaya.com is the address

Thank you!

Do Dolphins Make You Angry Too?

Sumati was given this CD with a guided meditation to help with her upcoming labour … And it could well be the most annoying thing I have ever heard.

I’m not the target market for sure,

But as Sumati is a pregnant mum AND is scoffing big time too,

I’m not surprised meditation has a bad name when this stuff is out there.

One listen and you just want to burn something,

Not relax and be calm.

There are some good ideas, but:

The women’s voice has that “ideal” soft, supposedly peaceful, calming drone …

She talks about some things seriously disconnected from reality …

There is the sound of a wave crashing on a beach with pan pipes (urk) tootling away there too.

OH - And now the dolphins have come in

AHHHHHHH! Make it stop!

Sumati has it on at the moment and it’s awful.

Hahah - I was talking about triggers the other day wasn’t I?

Irritation is apparently a choice according to me.

Yet this thing remains a pet peeve of mine about the meditation “industry”.

I’ve met teachers who talk one way when discussing their day to day affairs,

Yet when they’re on duty their voice changes to something I suppose they believe is more “spiritual” or something.

Why?

Why not just deliver the facts of meditation and of life, as they are??

Why not help people without being silly about it?

Here’s the thing I have discovered:

You don’t need to change a thing about you.

You are you are you.

Meditation should be an extremely practical tool so you can become MORE you.

The biggest problem you have is that underneath it all you believe that you need to change in some way.

You don’t.

Once you see your patterns you may WANT to change - but that is far different from feeling like you SHOULD change.

You certainly don’t need to change to get calm, focussed and happier.

You just need to stop, regularly ...

Ignoring certain thought patterns is useful too.

But it is a simple matter of learning to direct your awareness.

Learning to bring it to the heart of the matter (which I can show you quicker than I can tell you), is incredibly restful and revitalising and means you can have an extremely effective and enjoyable life.

You need no pan pipes or “soothing” voices.

You don’t need an app - great places to start yes, but like trainer wheels on a bike.

They gotta come off some time.

You don’t need to be a vegetarian,

Or start speaking like some “guru”,

Or stop enjoying the rugby,

Or do anything you don’t want to do.

Be willing to grow and be educated, but trust what you know …

Alright?

To get the simple, direct, and way more powerful way, head this way and I’ll show you:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/ Go well - and be seeing you Arjuna

PS.

If you haven’t told me what your biggest challenge you're facing with your attitude / mindset and levels of calm, focus and fulfilment right now

Then do …

Just hit reply and tell me.

I really want to know and it’ll help me help you enormously.

-

Not The Joy Of Sex, No

Recently I wrote a blog about the joy of triggers, Not the Joy of Sex, no.

My parents had that book on their bookshelf when I was a young fella.

I must say I learnt A LOT from that classic 70s manual.

Then one day it just disappeared.

Shame that -

On a few different levels.

Anyway - back on track:

The Joy of Triggers

When you realise your own happiness CAN become a choice,

A choice YOU make despite the circumstances …

So the foundation of a full rich happy life becomes not so much about the WHAT

(ie. the circumstances and the situations)

But the HOW …

(ie. your response to these circumstances)

THEN anything that shows you that you are choosing to suffer becomes of great interest

eg. your reactions, your blindspots, your inner chimp raging -

It is choosing to be aware in challenging situations and not fall back into unconsciousness.

All so you can stop making that particular choice,

And therefore get better results in your life.

Hence: the Joy Of Being Triggered.

(Not masochistic, no, not at all.)

NOW -

It is a big bold step to take full responsibility for your own happiness.

I get that. It’s a bit scary.

It's actually easier to blame something or someone else.

And so I wasn't surprised that when I sent that blog out to my email list, a few people unsubscribed.

And well done them. If you’re not ready, you’re not ready.

But I wanted to say if you’re still here reading me, then GREAT.

You may not know how to choose for your own happiness, but you are clearly willing to find out.

Rare indeed is that.

All you have to do now is opt in here and join the club:

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

OK?

Good. Go well and keep the Peace!

Arjuna

- PS.

If you join, the unsubscribe is always at the bottom of my emails.

I never want to feel like a guest who has stayed too long …

So if you really have got this all sorted, you probably don’t need to hear from me.

No worries at all. I wish you luck. -

I'm Terrified

Scariest thing in my life? Turning into my father.

I’m not even a dad yet and I open my mouth and out comes my dad’s words.

What happened to ME??!

He’s a great man, really a great dad, and as a young fella I idolised him.

Your kids?

Are just the same.

They want to be just like you.

They copy everything you do.

Everything.

Everything you say, every facial expression, every single thing.

Had a friend sit down at his computer and his girl came with her plastic kids laptop and sat down beside him.

She opened the lid up, put her face in her hands, and made a huge sigh / moan -

You know that sound …

When you can’t be arsed, but you must.

When the weight of the world is on top of your shoulders,

And the drudgery of life is killing you.

At three years old she learnt it straight from him:

“This is life, and it’s a drag”.

Woke him up, straight away.

Think about it for a moment -

If you don’t change yourself and you don’t care then that’s fine.

But your kids are going to end up just like you.

They’ll get stressed at the same things you do,

Blow your top just like you do,

Have the same relationship with work and money as you do,

Be addicted to the phone and spend hours on Facebook just like you do,

Treat their partners just like you do.

They may well get to a point -

Perhaps like you (and me) they’ll realise they are going to do things differently,

But the basic foundation is already there, it’s laid so young.

If you want to do it differently?

Become conscious -

Make aware choices.

Don’t do stuff “just because” …

Meditation will give you that insight,

Simply and easily, with time and practice to be sure,

But it’s the quickest way of turning a light on and seeing what you are doing.

You want to make different, better, freer choices?

Let’s give you a programme, simple and powerful - and then give you all the inspiration you need to get it done:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb/ Go well!

And of course - take it easy,

Arjuna -

PS.

In many ways we can’t do things differently from our fathers -

Chances are we still have to bring home the bacon of some sort, with all of the pressure that CAN get picked up with it.

But nonetheless - what I’m talking about is not so much doing different things, but perhaps doing the same things differently.

Do you see?

When Chick Flicks Turn Out To Be Great

Is there a word for that pleasant sense of surprise when you really enjoy a film you had assumed will be absolute rubbish? There should be.

Sumati and I have been going to a lot of films lately -

We figure we won’t get so much of a chance when baby comes.

She really wanted to see “La La Land”

I agreed to go, because I’m a good husband -

But really I just had the idea it would be a chick flick and a musical combined, which is my worst cinematic nightmare.

I’m not a big fan of “girly films”, but I really don’t like musicals.

Just start humming the tune to that song from Frozen and I get all edgy -

(And this is with a daily meditation practice - imagine me without … )

And yet I liked this film.

More than that, I really LOVED it.

Left the cinema humming the theme tune.

What a nice surprise huh?

That should teach me -

Lesson No.1:

Stay innocent.

Don’t prejudge anything.

Have no expectations.

I know those expectations are usually there because of past experience, but be fluid with them.

Don’t hold them tight because you make your world super small -

They mean you don’t allow for change.

I certainly was glad I went along despite my (super low) expectations.

Expectations and assumption nicely dovetail.

It happens so much in life, doesn’t it?

We drag the past into this moment and ASSUME it will be exactly the same.

In relationship - so often people stop TRULY communicating because of these two things.

They expect and assume, so they never ask.

People assume that their relationships are solid, but they do little make SURE they are.

They don’t do the work to keep building the love up, least of all just to keep it alive, firing, exciting.

Relationships become “transactional” -

As in “don’t forget to get the milk”, or “can you pick up the kids?”

Busy lives mean relationships get taken for granted, the nurturing gets forgotten.

Don’t do this!!

It leads to awful results.

And so often you least expect it when they sit down and have “that” talk with you.

Because you’re so unaware.

Where does meditation come into all of this?

See - meditation gives you the awareness of your patterns and habits.

It makes you more loving and attentive.

It gives you perspective to see what you want to prioritise, and the headspace to follow through.

Alright?

I can give you exactly what you need to meditate like a champion,

And have the greatest relationship you have ever had,

(I’m know this because I’ve gone from uselessly unaware in relationships, FULL of expectation and assumption, to living the best relationship I’ve ever had, right now)

Opt in here:

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

Go well, keep the peace! Arjuna

PS.

I’m talking about ANY relationship.

With your kids, at work, with your team mates, the shop keeper

Every relationship you value needs you FULLY in it.

Trigger Happy?

A while back my meditation teacher told me that experiencing peace or pain in my life was my choice. My choice!?

It kind of annoyed me, actually.

I considered that somethings I had control over, and yet other things I did not.

I believed that suffering was going to happen.

It’s part of life, right?

As they say - shit does happen.

So someone telling me it was my choice whether I experienced suffering or not got my back up a little.

It - in a word - triggered something in me.

Who on earth WANTS to suffer and feel pain?

Now I have (gradually) become a fan of the trigger -

That is when someone annoys you enough to fire up a response within you -

Because it can actually show you where you can grow and become independent of the trigger.

Where you can master your own reactions.

And NOT be like a monkey on a chain.

Pulled every which way by every comment and happening,

Getting insulted,

Reacting, throwing tantrums and holding grudges.

Being overwhelmed by stress and events.

Which is the way so many live, unconsciously.

And that’s where my meditation teacher is right.

Being triggered may not be a conscious choice - but it is a choice, nonetheless.

It’s a choice to turn a painful event into ongoing suffering

By thinking far too much about it.

(do you see the difference?)

Seeing that process ^^^ within myself

Becoming aware of previously unconscious triggers …

Means I can do something about them -

And learn to NOT react.

Now - It’s within you to change those reactions and get free of the trigger, the hook.

With a bit of dedication it can be a constant.

How?

I have a plan for you to recognise these triggers and actually get something from them -

It's simple, powerful, rewarding, easy to do even on your worst day.

If you want to get free of suffering and claim your choice, head this way to get started:

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

Go well! Arjuna

PS.

Happy is the day when you welcome a trigger, do you not think?

Because you see where you can be MORE free …

Wouldn’t that be an interesting (and fun) place to live from?

As in "bring it ALL on!" ... ?

Indeed!-

-

Get Real

Life isn’t a box of fluffy rainbows all the time. I know that.

I know sometimes life sucks.

So you may not be able to charge ALL the time.

So you may not be able to have a positive mental attitude ALL the time.

You may not like the way life is right now,

But you can allow.

You can accept.

You can stop fighting the fact that you’re not feeling so great right now.

Because the fight and the resistance to how you’re feeling is causing you MOST of the stress.

This statement causes so much grief:

“This shouldn’t be happening to me!”

But it is.

Can you move beyond it?

Great, put your head down and do what you need to do.

Just the minimum - and then put your feet up.

The world will keep turning even if you stop.

If not?

Can you accept the fact that you’re feeling the way you’re feeling?

Can you be okay with the fact you’re not feeling okay?

And not seek to change it?

Not put any more pressure on yourself to be any particular way?

Of course you can … if you wanted.

So WHAT if you can’t be arsed to get out of bed?

Can you allow yourself a day to do nothing?

A mental health day is what we used to call it -

When it started raining meaning it was time to skivvy off work and head away kayaking.

A mental health day it is too when you look after yourself -

Just for a day (or two) -

To get your juice back.

Sometimes life is tough. You feel flat. You feel like the black dog is chewing on your heel and you don’t have the energy to struggle any more.

Give in.

Give up the fight -

Fully accept that this is the way it is (at the moment)

Take the pressure off, give up your to do list and your plans, and just look after yourself.

It won’t last forever.

But your self-judgement and self-induced pressure to be different will make it seem so much heavier.

I know that.

Alright?

Go well - take it easy.

Arjuna

- PS.

Sometimes you can’t change what is happening,

But -

You can change your relationship with what is happening -

And that makes the world of difference.

It is a simple thing, a simple practice.

Let me tell you about it.

Opt in here:

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Anyone Want To Be Alone In A Haunted Hotel Room?

I’m in Stratford Upon Avon in a hotel to do a meditation and yoga course for the next 4 days. England’s most haunted hotel, apparently.

Though I’ve never seen anything yet, it could well be that this new room is the one.

I’ll let you know.

Now, as glamorous as I thought hotel stays were, I’ve become desensitised.

I love teaching, but really don’t like the staying away from home.

I’d rather curl up with Sumati at the end of a day, rather than go it alone in some impersonal, and maybe haunted, hotel.

What a sob story!

What a wiener!

The thing with this trip is that Sumati is in the last 4 weeks of her pregnancy -

Which means things could get serious any day now.

I didn’t realise that ^^^ when I booked this (and next) week’s course.

Not a good look to cancel a course -

But there is no way I’m missing the birth of our child either.

So cross your fingers for me, please?

I’d really like to do both, if at all possible.

What does this have to do with you, meditation and having an amazing life?

Priorities.

There are some crucially important things in your life.

And then there are the top tier - THE absolute essentials.

My relationship has become one of these.

I must admit it never used to be.

I was a little “take me or leave me” in my outlook.

Quite unconcerned, actually.

Funny how a commitment in the form of marriage, and then on top of that a pregnancy, has completely turned that around.

I now really want to make the most of this -

And my Ascension meditation practice makes bringing the best version of me to the relationship super simple.

It’s made it super clear it’s what I give (not what I take) that nurtures it.

The more I give the better it gets.

Do I still get grumpy, annoyed?

Of course.

Do I notice it sooner and take action that is good for both of us?

Absolutely.

Sometimes that’s saying something before annoyance reaches anger, many times it’s just letting it go.

And because I’m doing my best to give my best -

Our relationship is better than ever.

It’s alive, and fun, and feels like it’s constantly growing.

Which is very new for me - and I like it.

You know - I keep practicing Ascension meditation because it gives me peace, and meaning, and clarity, and a quiet non-reactive head.

But -

Time with my eyes closed also means I can be a better husband.

When our daughter comes I just know it will help make me a better dad.

Meditation doesn’t take away from your life - it adds to it in a million different ways.

It really does uncover the very best version of you, simply.

It shows you what is important and what is crucial.

It allows you to sort out your priorities - and give to them,

It makes tough times easier, it enables you to keep a sense of humour even when it all hits the fan.

You want that?

It is so simple.

Opt in here and get a FREE guide to meditation. It's 5 pages of highly condensed experience - everything you need to know and nothing you don't:

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Go well! Arjuna

PS.

Everyone says they’d like to be the very best version of themselves -

Everyone says they’d like a really exciting, close relationship -

But how many do you think actually take the big steps to make sure they have that?

It is so simple to do.

Don’t be the guy that thinks “that’d be nice” and do nothing about it.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. -

Bites, Scratches and Will Mess You Up

Expect all the bad things to happen, that’s my motto. Pessimism is a virtue.

(Actually it’s not - quite).

Though if you buy not one, but 2 lion cubs, as FAMILY pets - expect them to cause trouble.

And pee everywhere.

The family who are trying to sell these cubs were surprised to find out they weren’t so tame.

Why do people do it?

Obviously there wasn’t any kind of dawning that perhaps it’s not a good idea.

If you’re an experienced lion tamer?

Maybe. Maybe.

It’s not quite up there with the guy who went ice fishing and instead of taking the time to carve a hole, decided to throw a stick of dynamite to create one.

His dog raced off and fetched it for him.

… but it’s in the same ball park.

Explosives, wild (and even semi-trained) animals - they all require careful handling.

Here’s something you need to know too -

Your mind, untrained, can be your worst enemy.

Some psychologists have talked about how negativity and worry is the mind’s “default” position.

Your mind actually tries to help you by looking for all the things that could go wrong.

It’s an old caveman style protective mechanism to point out all the things that could put you in “danger”.

You know this if you’ve ever tried to go to sleep at night and your mind takes the quiet time to let you know exactly what you need to look out for…

… (again and again and again) …

Or if you’re caught MIA thinking about that work problem at the dinner table …

Or!

If you’ve ever embarked on an ambitious project - say in business or training for a big event - and all the doubt and the limitations and the reasons why you’ll never succeed come FLOODING in.

(That one is particularly vexing).

You know your mind, like a dog fetching dynamite, can be very, very “helpful” …

As in, not at all.

Here’s my tip -

Treat your own head like a wild lion cub or a stick of dynamite.

Expect the worst -

Handle it with great consideration -

Know that it will go mad sometimes -

Take the thoughts with a huge pinch of salt -

And train it.

Train the thing!!

Because trained it can be legendary.

It can be the greatest tool you possess.

Wouldn’t having a well trained lion be awesome??

(I actually don’t know if it’s even possible)

Take that for a walk in your local park and watch everyone fall over.

Anyhoo -

Two things in training your mind:

Be present to this moment in time, and get a bulletproof Positive Mental Attitude.

It’s the two things your mind is useless at.

They are your biggest weaknesses, that when mastered, will become your biggest strengths.

They mellow and counter all the “Watch Out” and “Danger” default tendencies of your head -

All the judgements, the anxieties and worries, the "What Is The Point?"s -

Giving you a rock solid foundation for calm, clarity, and great happiness -

So you get stress free, great productivity, awesomely loving relationships, and so much fun and fulfilment.

And freedom from thinking too much.

Want the simplest, no nonsense or dogma, super direct HOW to train your mind?

Opt in here and I'll send you a FREE How To Meditate quick start guide, and we'll continue the conversation.

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Go well! Arjuna

PS.

Don’t wait till your head bites you really hard.

You can’t sell it on eBay.

And anyway, no one else wants it.

-

Who Wants A £500 Gold Pizza

Did you know …

For £500 you can order, and eat, a pizza covered in gold -

(If you really want to).

I can’t imagine you’d do it for the taste, simply to say you’ve done it.

I was in a whisky bar in Glasgow once and enquired as to the bottle they had centre stage on the bar.

£1000 for a single 30ml measure.

Whooo boy.

Would it really taste that much different from a merely expensive single malt?

I’d kind of like to find out …

Would you?

Experience.

That’s what makes life come alive.

You can spend your life thinking about stuff -

Or you can get amongst it and feel it, do it, taste it.

That why meditation is so valuable.

It gets you out of your head and into the experience of life, of this moment in time - the one moment you can actually live in.

Our world is so rich.

Chances are you reading this have everything you need and many of the things you want.

And yet we are so poor.

There is so much experience, but it’s hollow.

There isn’t a foundation in gratitude or appreciation for the simple things.

And that makes ALL the difference.

I had everything I wanted in life and yet it never fulfilled.

I had this annoying doubt, this voice in my head that just said:

“Is This It?”

All this stuff, all these wonderful experiences, and yet NONE of them satisfied, for long.

Your inner foundation in presence and attitude is critical to this.

It is the answer to the “Is This It?” question.

It makes it disappear, completely.

It makes every experience full and rich -

So whether it’s a gold pizza you’re scoffing or throwing yourself off a waterfall in your kayak or a walk in the park with your family -

It makes sense, it means there’s nothing missing any more.

You do things not from internal need, but because you want to - a hugely different way to live.

Sound good?

Learn to meditate. Practice it. Learn to let it master you and you'll be the best version you, constantly:

Opt in here and I'll give you everything you need to know and then some:

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Go well! Arjuna

PS.

How do you think the remains of a gold pizza comes out the other end?

Hmmmm …

-

Happiness Is Like Push Ups, But With Less Sweat And Pain

Did you know...? Thinking too much, anxiety, worry, anger, fear, stress, actually negativity in general …

All of these things are just habits.

They are something you’ve learned to do in response to things that you don’t like. The more you react in a certain way, the stronger that “way” gets and so the easier it is to respond like that.

It becomes a habit, a reaction.

It’s a bit of a bottomless cycle, a slippery slope.

But the good news is that it is just a habit.

You can create another habit.

The even better news is that you don’t need to work out why you get stressed, or anxious, or not respond to life in the way that you want -

Just make a different choice.

A habit is simply a strong pathway in the brain.

Want a new habit?

Make another pathway. Do something else that takes you in another direction.

A little known key to life is what you put your attention on, grows.

The more you do it, the more the new habit becomes stronger and more “slippery” for your attention, the old one less so. You become incapable of behaving like you used to, simply because all your attention is on the new way of being.

Happiness and calm is way more attractive to the mind than stress.

If you give it a chance it will become your default.

Good news indeed. I believe it was Aristotle who said:

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”

In this way, happiness and peace is a lot like going to the gym -

You don’t need to believe push ups will make you stronger and healthier, you just need to do them - with good form and regularly - and the results are obvious.

Regular practice, then, is everything to being "happy calm".

What kind of practice?

Meditation - all the way.

Because it retrains and rewires your brain to stop giving so much attention to what causes you stress and unhappiness.

It makes you present, it makes you more positive, it makes you "anti-fragile".

You need to give it enough time to create a new habit, for it to become stronger ...

But the more you do it, the more your life changes and so the more you keep wanting to do it.

It becomes self-propelling and motivating.

But you need to start. And you need the commitment to follow through.

Grab a buddy and make a pact, set aside a time each day. Just close your eyes and do it. Remind yourself to see everything as being half-full. Be as present in this moment as much as you can.

If you need any assistance in this, let me know. I know some good ways.

For real I do. In fact if you’re serious and want a super simple, yet very powerful meditation technique you can get going on today, head here:

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

- Arjuna

PS.

Happiness is indeed much easier than exercise.

No sweat, no aches and pains, no weird diets.

You can wear your lycra to meditate in, if you want, if it makes you feel like you’re doing something.

But really you need nothing.

You can meditate in the bath if you like (though a rubber ducky helps).

Or even at work …

All you need is a means of bringing your attention back and refocusing.

Ooh - here’s one great means:

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