#beenmoreproductive

[michaeltheexceptional]

Recently I spoke at an event and during the Q&A session I received a great question from a man who was just starting out his meditation practice. He said am a bit confused because what am hearing is that meditation is about disconnecting but isn't the act of connection essential in our lives, he explained that for him connecting to people, connecting to work, connecting to the world around him was deeply important in his life. So I'll start by affirming that he was absolutely right, we need to connect, we have to build relationships, we need to connect to the work we do in order for it to be impactful and we have to connect with whatever brings us joy and gives us purpose. The problem is that we often become so consumed by such things that we lose balance and perspective, so through the practice of meditation and mindfulness we are learning to disconnect in order to connect. When we lose our way its often through disconnecting that we can get back on course so for instance we can disconnect from busyness in order to connect to a slower calmer pace. We can disconnect from distractions so that we can better focus. We can disconnect from the noise in our minds so that we can quite the stories we have the habit of telling ourselves that don't serve us. We can disconnect from the stress and anxiety that muddles up our thinking in order to connect with stillness and clarity. We can disconnect from fear in order to connect with the deeper wisdom within ourselves that can better guide us in times of uncertainty and we can disconnect from chaos in order by breathing deeply in times of overwhelme in order to find peace. So by all means connect with the world around you, relish is the beauty of your surroundings, engage in meaningful conversations throw yourself into your work and what brings you fulfillment but come back again and again. When life becomes too busy or overwhelming, when you're seeking clarity, stillness or perspective remember to disconnect in order to connect with what matters. #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou #naturalproducts #livinghealthyandfit https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ok9UWJ__t/?igshid=afzzbqap7l0p

[michaeltheexceptional]

As a way to encourage a little more calm in your life we decided to dedicate an entire day April 5th to the pursuit and enjoyment of been calm. So happy International calm day. In school I learnt geography and algebra but no one ever taught me how to move through challenging emotions or how to calm myself when swept away by anger or fear. Some say that calm is a super power, it might not be the same as super strength or flying or becoming invincible but based on how difficult it's been for me at times to pull myself out of anxiety or reactivity I have to agree. The capacity to tap into a sense of calm when swept away in a cyclone of emotions feels like a super power to me. This practice of tapping into our inner calm is a way to find refuge when life feels uncertain rather than letting our strong emotions overwhelm us, rather than letting the groundless of life shake us, we can come home to ourselves at any moment to find peace of mind. We could travel the world a hundred times turning over every stone on earth to find peace but it really only be found within us and its always there waiting for us. But this skill takes practice, we have to first have the awareness of the need to find calm when anxiety takes hold, with that awareness we can pause, stop, breathe and find some clarity. And as we practice over and over our ability to calm ourselves deepens so that in those times it's most difficult we can soften our anger or fear we can relax the body or mind we can nurture ourselves by diving into an ocean of calm we become our own best friend. I came across a beautiful quote that speaks to this, source unknown "Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou #naturalproducts #livinghealthyandfit #goals #weightloss #networkmarketting #workingfromhome #achievements #nurturing #selflove #meditation #growth #aversion #myinnervoice #selfcare #caregiving #caregivers #covid19 #bepresent #presentmoment #succe https://www.instagram.com/p/B-l2AzvJGz4/?igshid=b1raxdi84500

[michaeltheexceptional]

Through this practice we've been working on remaining in the moment. It is natural to want to get to the next one quickly because that's how we're conditioned. Look at the way we approach goals for instance we want to succeed in life so we create goals and fix our attention on them. We've been taught that goals is all that matters, that if we take our eyes off the goal we fall off course. There is this rush to attain and arrive. The problem with this approach is that when we are solely fixed on a specific outcome we disconnect from the process. The more fixed we are on a particular outcome the more of a chance our narrow mindedness will miss possibilities, solutions and surprises. The goal isn't to rush through life missing it all together, it's to find meaning and joy in every day moments. Everyone from successful artists to athletes to business people are beginning to discover that joy isn't actually found in the destination but in the doing and that enjoyment of the process is the key to joy. Many of the people we admire most didn't get there by talents alone, they got there by loving the process of getting there. When we focus on the process we are most likely to arrive at the outcome we desire. As Victor Frankel said "Again and again I therefore admonish my students in Europe and America; don't aim at success, the more you aim at it and make it a target the more you are going to miss it for success like happiness cannot be pursued it must ensue and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a course greater than oneself or as the byproduct of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen and the same holds for success you have to.let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it to the best if your knowledge then you will live to see in the long run, in the long run I say success will follow you precisely because you forgot to think about it." #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou #naturalproducts #livinghealthyandfit #goa https://www.instagram.com/p/B-jDfZhJbPP/?igshid=i195jvy41g4i

[michaeltheexceptional]

So what does it really mean to find home within, to find our own stillness, it means finding a place where we can get quite and feel grounded. It means creating a landing place when you need one. This involves tuning in and connecting with this very moment whatever it looks like seeing whatever comes up creating a safe space for it, welcoming everything so that when there is pain or sadness or fear in that space you can offer yourself full acceptance knowing that you are okay, that comfort that home we seek, we can always find within. As Sri Ravi Shankar said "find the love you seek by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you. That is your true home." #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou #naturalproducts #livinghealthyandfit #goals #weightloss #networkmarketting #workingfromhome #achievements #nurturing #selflove #meditation #growth #aversion #myinnervoice #selfcare #caregiving #caregivers #covid19 #bepresent #presentmoment #workingfromhome #grounding #innerstrength https://www.instagram.com/p/B-gs25HJLXU/?igshid=8k5wsqghj24p

[michaeltheexceptional]

Mindfulness isn't a practice of trying to be a certain way or change anything. It's a practice of turning towards ourselves, listening and accepting whatever is happening in the moment. In a sense its becoming our own best friend so that we can support ourselves through whatever is happening in our lives no matter how hard or disappointing or scary it feels. So remember that the breathing space is a place you can return to whenever you want to reduce stress and feel more centred, safe and calm. In any moment we can find grounding in the breath. #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou #naturalproducts #livinghealthyandfit #goals #weightloss #networkmarketting #workingfromhome #achievements #nurturing #selflove #meditation #growth #aversion #myinnervoice #selfcare #caregiving #caregivers #covid19 #bepresent #presentmoment #mindfulness #breathingspacesweater https://www.instagram.com/p/B-d_giApHFU/?igshid=hbeh8g35j3b1

[michaeltheexceptional]

Today in the spirit of April fools day I thought it will be timely to talk about the importance of levity. Sometimes in the obstacle course of life every little stress and challenge feels like it means the world. We miss our bus, a weird charge shows up on our phone bill, our boss puts another project on our already over loaded plate and then we spill a blanch of hot source on our favourite plants frustration seamers and our day is ruined. Often we're missing out on opportunities to enjoy life because we take things all so seriously everything feels its life or death. But if we can step back and creates some space between ourselves and what's happening its possible to find some humor in it all. Many years ago I worked at a busy restaurant the dinning dining room manager Debbie remained upbeat and cheery even during the stressful dinner rushes. Remember guys she will say as the servers raced around in frenzy we are just serving food the same for United nations. It reminded me that; okay so the place is packed with cranky customers and am feeling overwhelmed but why take things so seriously what's the point if we can't find some enjoyment in it all. Sometimes we need a reminder that life is precious and fleeting. There are limitless things to be grateful for that this too shall pass. That there are people in this world at this very moment who are enduring hardships far worse. With this perspective shift there's an opportunity to discover a lightness in our hearts. A chance to untie that nought in our forehead and laugh it all. Instead of been bounced around by life we bounce with it. Approaching life with a sense of light heartedness is like wearing an armour. When we don't take ourselves too seriously the snag and glitches of life simply don't drag us down. The words of Ram Dass "cosmic humor especially about your own predicament is an important part of your journey" so the next time your send a text to your boss you meant to send to your partner full of lovy dovy emojis see if you can step back and see the humor in it all. #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou https://www.instagram.com/p/B-bc65gJ1uR/?igshid=y3d1pmg39kph

[michaeltheexceptional]

Today I'll like to talk about seeing beyond our limited perspective and I'll start with a story. One day a group of blind men came upon an elephant. The men where curious as none has ever encountered one before. In order to learn what an elephant was the each put out their hands to touch it. The man who's hand landed at the trunk said an elephant is like a thick snake, the next man reached out place his hands on the animal's ear and said no! it's like a fan, the last man placed his hands upon the side and said an elephant is like a wall. As each man insisted that his perspective was the correct one their differences descended into arguments. Ofcourse each was correct in one way but incorrect at the same time and we all fall into this experience as human beings we tend to project our partial perspective as the whole truth relying on our own sliver of experience the result is we make assumptions about the whole based on just one of its parts. Sometimes we do this with people making judgement based solely on their age, appearance or career. But our perspective has limits, in order to discover anything close to the whole truth we must try to consider as many different perspectives as we can. So the next time you find yourself in a disagreement consider the possibility that both sides tell a part of the truth. Try to open yourself to ideas and perspectives that are outside your direct experience. Stepping back from a single brushstroke to see the whole painting. As Neale Donald Walsch said "I am telling you that your perception of ultimate reality is more limited than you thought and that truth is more unlimited than you can imagine." #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou #naturalproducts #livinghealthyandfit #goals #weightloss #networkmarketting #workingfromhome #achievements #nurturing #selflove #meditation #growth #aversion #myinnervoice #selfcare #caregiving #caregivers #covid19 #bepresent #presentmoment #perspective #perceptions https://www.instagram.com/p/B-YrurQJhsb/?igshid=10ob7u1dr1glx

[michaeltheexceptional]

Today I'll like to talk about the difficulty of acceptance and to explore this theme I'll share a question I was recently asked which is "there is one mindfulness principle I really struggle with I know we're supposed to live in the present but what if the present is horrible? What do you do then?" So this is a very important question and I want to offer my empathy and support to anyone whose enduring difficulty or suffering of any kind. It's a monumental challenge to stay present when what's in our experience is painful and there is never a reason to accept the present if there is something we can do to change it but the fact is sometimes change isn't possible. Often whatever is taking place is happening wether we like it or not. So we have three choices of how to respond, we can either choose to accept the situation, we can change it or we can leave. Sometimes we can find opportunities to change the situation. When destitute we can seek help, when in pain we can seek a remedy. We always want to make skillful decisions to improve our circumstances or to make the wise decision to leave our situation when appropriate. But sometimes there is simply nothing we can do about our circumstances and when we can't leave and the situation won't change all we can do is to accept because if we don't accept we are resisting and resistance simply amplifies our suffering. If we're experiencing pain or bearing a hardship the kindest most compassionate we can do for ourselves is to get present and to gently move into acceptance. And this doesn't mean we should sit down and surrender, it means facing our circumstances with honesty and compassion. It means saying okay; this is what's happening right now rather than adding to my suffering by resisting what is, I'll embrace the present with the understanding that all things will eventually change. As Wayne Dyer poetically stated enlightenment is the quiet acceptance of what is. #beenmoreproductive #homebusiness #selfpower #goat #highperformancehabits #livingyourdream #dreamaudaciously #dailycalm #anewversionofyou #naturalproducts #livinghealthyandfit #goals #weightloss #networkmarketting #workingfromhome #achievements #nurt https://www.instagram.com/p/B-WGxPvpo_a/?igshid=oitbwd1ku61x