BEYOND BELIEF

"Coursing through every civilization are the myths that shape what its people come to believe about reality and possibility.

Some of them are healing and some damaging.

Some are easy to recognize for what they are.

But some are more subtle, more pernicious, permeating the substratum of culture and the marrow of the psyche."

MARIA POPOVA

remember

Our Beliefs shape the way we see the world.

Some beliefs are chosen, they are convictions that you orient too in moments of strength & devotion & fall away from in moments of weakness & distraction.

Most beliefs we don’t even notice, they are products of how you make sense of your culture & conditioning


If you can notice the habits of mind that shape the way you see the world then you have an opportunity to see beyond the limits of belief to the possibility of a better way.

PONDER THIS

What is a belief that is holding you back?

What’s it like to observe this belief?

If you were to let go of this belief what might be possible?

If you didn't belief it what could you see?


What is a belief that if practiced and made real would influence you in a positive way?
What can you do today in service of that belief?


Are you open to seeing beliefs that are currently invisible to you?
How might you see them?


BE YOUR OWN GUIDE

“He who cannot obey himself will be commanded”
Nietzsche

If we are not careful our tools become our masters.

One of my Brothers asked me about a self lead meditation practice.

This is an empowering step in our meditation journey - when we choose to free ourselves from the guidance of an app and tune into ourselves instead of our phone.

Here a some simple instructions to cultivate your own practice.

TRY THIS

Choose a simple practice - breath into your belly**

Commit to it for a certain amount of time (time within practice & schedule for consistent practice).

Set a timer and do it - breath into your belly.

Every time you notice you’re doing something else -come back to breathing at the belly

If you notice frustration, impatience, doubt, boredom, bliss, joy, peace name that as part of your experience & come back to the breath at the belly.

If you notice that you’re constantly distracted & find it hard to focus understand that -this is the work, this is the way.
Gently and firmly come back to the breath at the belly.

When the timer goes off take a moment to reflect on the practice.

What did you notice?
How does it feel to have practiced in this way?

Have a mindful day.

**The simplicity of this practice is what makes it “hard” for many of us to commit to - but the sensitivity & equanimity that arises from the practice can have a profound impact on how we relate to ourselves our people and our projects.

IS YOUR ATTITUDE ON YOUR SIDE?

"But if you are engaging in spiritual practice your attitude is very important, it bleeds through all our practice; it may be the key conditioning factor in your study.

So you need to pay attention to it, and to cultivate it in a particular direction."

Zokestu Norman Fischer


"Set" is the mindset we take into our meditation practice.

Theoretically it doesn't really matter the mindset we bring into practice - if we stick with it the practice it will do it's thing.

But practically it can be very helpful to cultivate an attitude that supports our practice.

This is true in meditation & in almost any practice we engage in.

PONDER THIS

Before you engage in a task - be it meditation, training, connecting with family

What attitude might support me in this moment?

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?

"Focusing is a choice.
Refocusing is a skill."
Michael Gervais

Distraction does not equal failure - as long as you refocus
Falling of the path does not mean you're a failure - as long as you come back to the path.
Not living up to your standards sometimes is ok - in just means you have standards that test you.

Loosing your way is part of the journey.
It's almost inevitable.
How you choose to respond is the defining factor.

PONDER THIS 
When you loose focus this week how will you respond?

BONUS QUESTION
How will you notice you're loosing focus before it's lost and what will you to re-align?

COURAGE TO DREAM, COURAGE TO FAIL

"Nature loves courage.

You make the commitment and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles.

Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up.

This is the trick.

This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood.

This is how magic is done.

By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it's a feather bed."

Terence McKenna

What would you commit to if this were true?

If there were such a thing as magic.

If obstacles were removed

If the "abyss" was a featherbed

What would you commit to if the universe was on your side?

Perhaps an even more powerful question if what would you commit to if it wasn't true?

What would be worth the risk of failure?

WHAT WOULD LOVE DO?

"We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power.

Then will our world know the blessings of peace."

William E Gladstone

WHAT WOULD LOVE DO?

Sometimes the loving act is to push,

Sometimes the loving act is to pull back.

Sometimes love listens deeply,

Sometimes it leads courageously.

Sometimes love is passive.

Sometimes very active.

Sometimes love shares

Sometimes it holds back.

Real Love always moves it's target toward wholeness & wellness

even though it doesn't always feel like it.

What would love do right now?

Is not an invitation to take the easy way out it's a reminder of the, sometimes hidden, force that empowers you to do what you believe to be right (even when you don't feel like).

TRY THIS:
Next time you feel stuck or are unsure of what to do, next time you need guidance, next time you feel exhausted or overcome by emotion ask yourself

WHAT WOULD LOVE DO RIGHT NOW?

DO NOT WASTE THIS LIFE (FORCE)

“To learn to be always in a state of meditation means never to let your vital energy wane."

Suzuki Shosan

Your time and energy are precious

- and they are running out.

Your people, your projects and your potential need you.
How will you show up for them?

PONDER THIS

What can & will you do this week to cultivate & honour your vital energy?

(Put a different way - What will you do to build & restore your energy? How will you use that energy?)

ARE YOU IN THE ARENA OR IN THE CROWD

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,"

Theodore Roosevelt

Anytime you strive for growth, for change, for greatness (whatever that means to you), you are likely to hear critical voices.

Some of those voices might be real, others perceived, often the harshest & most cutting critical voices come from within.

Doubt, despair, fear & judgement can be the catalyst for harsh words, warnings & criticisms about your ability to shine.

These critical voices, whether real or perceived, can make it a lot harder to do the work it takes effect positive change.
They can hold you in more comfortable, familiar ways of being.

The question is what is worth overcoming these critical voices for?

What arena will you step into?

What is worth the risk of failure?

What is worth the price of success?

If you were filled with courage what would you do?

What can you do this week to make that happen?

MAY MY HANDS BE SERVANTS OF MY HEART

"Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals.

How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be?

Your nobler self cannot wait any longer."

Epictetus

Blessing comes from prayer.

The most potent kind of prayer is action, hard work.

The most empowering blessing is to work toward a worthy ideal.

To answer the call of your soul, your heart, you conscience.

PONDER THIS

What's one thing you you could do in the next day or so that is an expression of who you really want to be?

SET & SETTING

"The more disciplined your environment is, the less disciplined you need to be. Don't swim upstream."
James Clear

In a blue print for greatness we talk about Preparing yourself and your environment to help make your plan come to life.

In meditation, and many other healing modalities, we talk about set & setting, the state of mind & environment we practice in.

In the kingdom of Soul-train we set up the gym so that a workout flows seamlessly.

By taking the time to organise your environment, both internal and external, to support your discipline you make it easier to access you genius, step into flow and perform at your best.


PONDER THIS

How can best prepare yourself and environment to be at your best this week?

YOU'RE MORE & LESS THEN YOU THINK

"Awakening to the truth is a deep realisation of what you are as an experience.

What is it that is listening?

What is it that is feeling?

Feel it.

Sense it.

Welcome it."

Adyashanti

Meditation is a practice of awakening

Awakening to the experience that you call you

Tuning in and noticing what it's like to be.

This simple practice can have profound implications.

It can allow you to see where you are stuck & move beyond.

It can allow you to see through who you think you are,
to see how you're seeing and how that's shaping you.

You are much more and much less then you imagine.

TRY THIS:

Tuning In

The tuning in practice is an opportunity to deliberately pay attention to the present moment.

It’s simply taking the time to notice what is making up your experience right now.

Start by taking 1 - 3 belly breaths.

What do you notice around you?

What can you see? .......... hear? ........ smell? ............. feel? ............... taste?..........

What's happening inside of you?

What thoughts are present? How do you notice your thoughts?

Are you experiencing any emotions or feelings? If so where do you feel? How do you notice them?

What about your body? Can you feel the sensations your body? Maybe you can feel the sensations of your breath?

Notice if these -thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations - related in anyway?Notice if they are shaping the way you’re experiencing yourself and the world?

What's it like to open to your experience in this way?

KALEIDOSCOPE OF THE MIND

"The world is your kaleidoscope, and the varying combinations of colours, which at every succeeding moment it presents to you are the exquisitely adjusted pictures of your ever-moving thoughts." 
James Allen

Through what lens are you viewing the world?

You perceive the world through your thoughts, emotions, moods, physical sensations and cultural norms.

These perceptions shape your reality.

To hold too tightly to &/or not recognise your point of view is to limit your sense of the world.

Meditation can be a way of seeing the lenses that shape your view.

It can loosen "fixed" view points and expand your perspective.

This can empower you with an orientation to
curiosity over criticism

&
a willingness to understand rather than assume.

TRY THIS

Tuning In

The tuning in practice is an opportunity to deliberately pay attention to the present moment.

It’s simply taking the time to notice what is making up your experience right now.

Start by taking 1 - 3 belly breaths.

What do you notice around you?

What can you see? .......... hear? ........ smell? ............. feel? ............... taste?..........

What's happening inside of you?

What thoughts are present? How do you notice your thoughts?

Are you experiencing any emotions or feelings? If so where do you feel? How do you notice them?

What about your body? Can you feel the sensations your body? Maybe you can feel the sensations of your breath?

Notice if these -thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations - related in anyway?
Notice if they are shaping the way you’re experiencing yourself and the world?

What's it like to open to your experience in this way?

THE WAY TO HARMONY

"You do not have to fight with your nature, habits and limitations, because by doing so, you are creating animosity within yourself."

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

The way to harmony is to make peace with chaos.

When you practice being still and opening to fully to yourself in any given moment you're practicing meditation.

Beyond resistance, boredom, impulse and wondering if "am I doing this right?"

is a state of knowing that becomes the meditative state.

To require complete obedience of our internal world is to be forever seeking.

To follow every thought and impulse is to be forever distracted.

To accept whatever is an be unmoved by it is the beginning of seeing.

Harmony will follow.

NOT ALL WHO WANDER (or wonder) ARE LOST

“A genius is the one most like himself.”

Thelonious Monk

Not all who wander are lost.

But what if you don’t know who you are?

It can be frustrating to have a sense

"I am somebody,

I am destined for something,

there’s purpose there for Me

- but it’s not clear who or what it’s is."

If where not careful this wondering can leave us stuck, haunted & confused.

But people aren’t born fully formed

We become who we are by choices made consistently over time.

By following intuitions and ideals that appeal.

Some of us do this with a strong sense of direction & clarity -

“this is my destiny” - “I know where I’m going and who I want to be.”

For others it’s not obvious who it is we are becoming or where it is we are going

Perhaps we lack a sense of purpose and personal becoming

This can feel disheartening and we might imagine that until we figure it out our destiny is on hold.

That our genius is being suppressed.

That we are wandering, lost through the world.

But not all who wander are lost.

That you are making choices, paying attention and orienting to those things which spark something inside of you means the "YOU" you wonder about is surely being formed.

Free from the illusion of certainty that some people hold,
your genius is manifest in moments that might not to seem to have much momentum.

But often magic is a happening beyond our current capacity to notice.

It can be helpful to remember Dr Seuss' reminder

"Today you are you that's truer than true.

There's no one alive who is youer that you."

When you make choices from your heart, choices from that place that feels true to you - even though there might be doubt and uncertainty, even when the choices seem small and insignificant - you are honouring the inner guide that is shaping your destiny.

Movement, Meditation and Mindfulness are ways we can form a deeper connection with our selves and also get beyond ourselves enough to see who we are and the forces that shape us.

On December 2nd we are running a live event to immerse you in some simple but profound meditative practices.
The experience is designed to create a shift and empower you with some tools to foster a deeper connection and self awareness.

Tickets Here

YOUR BEST IS FLEETING

"only those who are inferior are always at there best,
and I am not inferior."

OG Mandino

With in you there is greatness.

There is a best version of you.

It may seem fleeting & inconsistent

It may be easier to recognise it's absence then it's presence

It may be hard for you to admit it

But it's there.

PONDER THIS

How can you be at your best more often?

How can you rise to the challenge when you're not at your best?

Day of SOUL. REST IN PEACE

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself.” 
Hermann Hesse

Imagine stepping out of the rush of time and into a state of deep rest and presence

Imagine putting down your worries for a couple of hours to connect with your body and catch your breath.

Imagine stepping into a practice of restoration and coming out feeling revitalised and more yourself.

On Saturday 2nd of December we will be running our last Day of SOUL for the year.

An opportunity to slow down, connect with your body, rest your mind and restore your spirit.

BIG JOURNEY SMALL STEPS

"Well being is realized by small steps…but it’s no small thing."

Zeno.


Well being is culmination of action and attitude.

When you navigate life's little challenges skillfully and appreciate life's blessings wholeheartedly your well being begins to be realized.

CONTEMPLATE THIS:

What small steps can you take to increase your sense of wellbeing?

What is stopping you from taking those steps?

How might you navigate those challenges.

A WELL FUNCTIONING MIND

"A well-functioning mind recognizes the futility and cruelty of constantly finding fault with its own nature… [It] can quieten its own buzzing preoccupations in order, at times, to focus on the world beyond itself."

Alain DeBotton

When you find yourself stuck in your own head

Being overly judgemental, unhelpfully critical, focused only on what is wrong

Know that you can choose another way.

Knowing is sometimes enough.

Knowing that you are stuck in one particular way of thinking, seeing, being can sometimes be a catalyst for a shift.

And sometimes another way is required.

One can look at the nature of the mind in this moment as a way through.

The obstacle becomes the way.

Look at the thoughts that are bouncing around, that are telling stories, that are triggering your emotions and are shaping your experience.

Look at the feelings that support those thoughts, that animate you in a certain way and seem to trigger more thoughts (& more feelings)

Look how this inner world is manifesting in your body.

How are you holding yourself? What's your posture like? What physical sensations do you notice in your face, neck, shoulders, hands, hips, feet?

Notice what it's like to notice in this way.

What's it like to take a moment to neutrally notice that which shapes your state?

Another way is to expand out.

To expand your point of view

To open to a more whole, open way of seeing and being.

This can be done

Via the senses - by looking around and listening. What can you see and here that you hadn't noticed before?

Via the body - by moving and "burning off" or expressing some energy

Via the mind - by remembering that this moment of time & space exists with in eternity and that it will pass.

When you find yourself stuck in your head you've found yourself.

This is the first step to freedom

A PLACE CALLED MIND

“The mind is its own place, and in it self can make a
Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n,”

John Milton


Meditate on the Mind

Watch as thoughts shape it.

Watch as it shapes you.

Notice that the mind has the power to instill

fear & courage

despair & hope

chaos & calm

Notice that by noticing, the mind loosens it's grip,

you are no longer at its mercy.

And that you can choose how to shape it.