what it is
What’s the difference between work and play?
Is it any accident that the wealthiest and most successful people on earth often say that they would do what they do (to produce monetary wealth) for free because they find it so satisfying? For them, work is play.
So, what’s the lesson for we lesser mortals?
It takes a certain amount of life energy to do anything – whether that be washing the car or working on your company’s organizational chart. Regardless of the task, what you are doing is what you are doing. Period. Everything else else is commentary.
Mentally segmenting our lives into compartments (work, play, planning, time with family, etc.) is so commonplace that we don’t even think about it. Mental boundaries serve as a barrier between us and the here and now. They certainly have their place (planning, reflection, etc). The mistake most of us make is we forget to defragment when we’re done.
By learning to become present regardless of the task, we bring the sheer joy of being to whatever we do. The distinction between work and play melts away.
As the saying goes, “life is what happens while you make other plans.” What you are doing at this moment is what you are doing. When you are doing something else, you’ll be doing that. Could it really be that simple? Hmmm…..
Create the Life You Want
Photo credit: Hilary Sellers
Just a few months ago the aloe vera plant pictured at left was struggling. Its leaves were turning yellow and its growth had all but stopped.
It was time to transfer the plant to a bigger pot. Within a week we noticed new growth. Over the next month there was an explosion of new shoots and its leaves turned a vibrant green.
In many ways we are like that plant. The structures we choose (our pots) can either inhibit or accelerate our growth. The structures can be physical (e.g. – where we live, the food we eat, who we spend time with) or mental (the size, quality, and appropriateness of our aspirations). There are other kinds of structures as well, such as emotional, financial, and spiritual.
The structures we choose have a major impact on all areas of our lives, including the rate of our spiritual unfolding.
There are stories in Indian lore (Far Eastern, not American) of yogic masters capable of manifesting physical objects out of thin air. The book Autobiography of a Yogi by real life yogi Paramahansa Yogananda is a fascinating read on the subject. The West has its version in Jesus of Nazareth. We know many of these individuals actually lived. Whether their fabled abilities were real or simply fabricated to illustrate our potential isn’t important. Firmly rooted in both the divine and human dimensions simultaneously, they could manifest new physical realities in the blink of an eye.
Most of us aren’t that good. It takes time for us create new realities (some faster than others). But we’re all learning.
A fundamental tenet of superior goal setting is to be more strategic than tactical in our critical thinking. Strategic deals with the what – the big picture. Tactical deals with the how. Spend more time initially on formulating what you want to create. The how can be determined after you get a clear picture of what you want.
The result is increased clarity and commitment. You’re more likely to follow through. And because your mind has a better handle on the challenge, the solutions it delivers are more creative and of a higher quality.
We all need structure to create our masterpieces. Michelangelo used the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Steve Jobs needed the iPhone. Oprah capitalized on the power of the media.
What does your pot look like?
“If I had five minutes to save the world, I’d spend the first four on formulating the problem, and the last minute on the solution.” – Albert Einstein
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5 Diet Secrets to Prevent Overweight, Premature Aging, and Sickness
Our health care system isn’t set up to keep you healthy; it attempts to diagnose and eliminate problems. The difference between the two is like night and day.
People interested in finding information geared toward helping them maximize their healthy potential will be best served looking elsewhere.
Here are five dietary changes you can make today that will help you live a happier, healthier, more productive life.
1. Eat Less. Modern life extension research began in the 1930′s when Dr. Clive McKay of Cornell University doubled the life span of rats by cutting their calories in half. Human trials are underway, and everything points to the same conclusion – eat less, be healthier. Click here to read more on this topic.
2. Decrease refined foods. The two biggest offenders here are refined sugar and refined flour. Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with carbohydrates – it’s refined carbohydrates that are the problem. Most of what grows out of the ground is mainly carbohydrate. In fact, carbohydrate rich foods are exactly what should comprise the bulk of your diet if you want optimal health. The secret is to eat them in their whole, natural state – and as fresh as possible.
3. Decrease consumption of animal products. You don’t need to eat animal products to get enough protein in your diet. Vegetable protein easily satisifies our protein needs – and without the health risks associated with consuming animal products. If you’re concerned about certain ingredients normally associated with animal products such as omega fats and vitamin B-12, there are vegetable based supplements which will satisfy your requirements easily and safely.
4. Eat more raw, fresh fruits and vegetables. In the last five years, I’ve increased my consumption of raw fruits and vegetables (I’m now at about 75% raw on a daily basis) and everything I’ve learned about this style of eating has proven to be true. Increased physical endurance, clarity of mind, far less colds (I can’t remember the last cold I had) are just a few of the benefits I’ve noticed.
5) Add sprouted foods to your diet. Sprouts are the richest source of food enzymes (enzymes are catalyts for chemical reactions; without enzymes, there is no life). They’re also teeming with life force. The forces which are awakened with the sprouting of a seed are at their most potent in the adult sprout. You can feel the difference. This is a real super health secret. I’ve been growing and eating my own sprouts for a couple of years; it’s easy and fun.
Any of these suggestions, when implemented on it’s own will provide benefits. When taken together, they work in synergy and can help catapult you to superhealth – bolstering your immune system, enhancing your endurance, energy, and clarity of mind.
