I will be better Tomorrow!!

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Rod's World

When you read the title of this blog does it make you think you are having a bad day or having a great day and tomorrow will even be greater? Danielle writes that conscious optimism is the soul of service. On page 123 of her magnificent book, White Hot Truth there is an awesome poem titled Nothing Changes Without Me:

Sometimes, my heart is so open

I can’t tell if it is a gaping wound

or a portal for everything that ever was and ever will be.

I’ve learned to Love the beautiful terror of eternity,

and scenario planning for how shattered I could be

if the dark things got tall

and if I fell backwards in my forgetting of the Light.

But you can’t fall backwards in Space,

You can only only only ever unfurl.

More than anything,

I’ve wed the certainty that nothing changes without me –

not coal becoming diamonds

not fertilizing eggs

or migration patterns

or medicine dreams.

And what I had thought was a net cast to me from a higher God

is actually strands of Truth and filaments of desire

that I have tied together with my own two hands.

And in precious encounters, I tie what I know and want to you,

so we can ride the winds of wonder.

Here is the link to obtain the book: White Hot Truth.

So let’s have a look at how optimism lessens the suffering of others:

1. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.

2. Cute take on words: Everybody.

3. A great quote from the 33rd POTUS. Scholars, starting in 1962, ranked Truman’s presidency as “near great”; since then he has been ranked between 5th and 9th in historical rankings of U.S. Presidents.

4. My neighbours upstairs gt their lemons from a tree up the road that overhangs someone’s fence. Hey, free lemons: Mrs Robinson.

5. The perfect 10 gymnast from the L.A. Olympics

Mary Lou has kept providing the soul of service for her now 49 years.

6. When you fall down, you can do the former or the latter. The optimist is a latter type of person, also there are other to help you get up: One More Time.

7. An optimum list that will get you through your day when it feels tough.

8. Born deaf and blind Helen Keller certainly lived a faithful life. The first deaf-blind person to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in the United States, very little stopped this amazingly optimistic soul.: Stronger.

9. From the worlds favourite philosopher, Ms Unknown comes an analogy between pessimism and optimism.

10. His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, The Dalai Lama, whatever you want to call him, without his optimism the world would be a much sadder place: Be Optimistic.

11. Robert Michael Hensel was born with the birth defect known as Spina bifida. He is also a Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, covering a total distance of 6.178 miles. Now that’s optimism multiplied tenfold.

12. If you haven’t taken it on because of….., begin it now but don’t do it the way that has stopped you before: Solving Problems.

13. Helen Keller again, she was an inspiration to the world in the way she gave from her fullness, even though we would consider some of them disabilities.

14. Because everyone loves cat and dog drawings: We love Cats.

15. Definitely, time to delete that file.

I love Danielle’s definition of “Waking Up” –

We all need to wake up

so we can do the work

that needs to be done

to live in a world

that we espouse to want to live in.

The music this time comes from Ingrid Michaelson, The Lemonheads, Daft Punk, Kelly Clarkson, The Dalai Lama, Brent Cobb and Bemular. Different styles, but all enjoyable.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

There’s a blessing in the Storm!!

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Rod's World

Picked up Danielle LaPortesexcellent White Hot Truth for a read last night: Here’s the link. Flipped open on the chapter about discernment. As I am also reading Gabrielle Bernstein’s Judgement Detox I like her definition that Being discerning is not the same as being judgemental. Discernment is big-minded and awake. Judgement is narrow-minded and in the dark. Discernment is our wisdom coming to life.

The main area I use my discernment is in my quest to have Interculturalism – Love and Respect for All: Everyone included spread across the planet. If people make a xenophobic statement about another culture I immediately ask them, have you ever met a member of that race. You would be surprised how often the answer is no. Mainstream media has a lot to answer for in this area.

So where do you use discernment and where has the world commented on it:

1. Don’t base you reality on what is pushed at us from media empires whose purpose is to make a profit not necessarily report the facts.

2. This must be a famous quote because there were so many versions of it. Charles Spurgeon was known as the Prince of Preachers in the 19th century. A bit in your face: Your Soul.

3. Love the power of Maya’s words. Now there is someone who had the ability to discern instead of judging.

4. Gold weighs more, so will your relationships: Gold.

5. I have 50+ Invitations on my Facebook Page today, I will have to be very discerning with my choices.

6. It also takes courage, that’s because it is much easier to judge and not do anything about said judgement: Brave.

7. I’m Jealous. Mel Lawrence (May 17, 1935 – November 5, 2016) was a film director and producer and former concert and festival promoter. He is best known for his role as the Director of Operations at the Woodstock Festival, his work on the Qatsi Trilogy, and for directing and producing the Emmy-nominated documentary Paha Sapa: The Struggle for the Black Hills.

8. It’s interesting how discernment seems to be tied up with Christain values. One would think that form of belief would take it out of the picture: We Believe.

9. A great list as to what values your discernment could be made up of.

10. In 2000, she was named one of the “100 most influential Black Americans” by Ebony magazine, which said that “Her books, lectures and television appearances have made her a multimedia high priestess of healthy relationships.: Human.

11. That’s why self-love is so important, it empowers you to the people you will have around you.

12. You know when it’s happening, bunker up: Killing In The Name Of.

13. Discernment knows when to act and to intercede.

14. But if the truth is an aspiration, then discernment is a heroine: Discernment.

15. The place that will tell you many things, 24 hours a day sometimes, the mind. A lot of them are untrue. let’s practice listening to the spirit contained in our heart.

Discernment looks at several details and then balances these facts against what we believe. Not easily moved but can still be flexible. Without discernment, any snake oil salesman would love you as a target.

Not much pop in the music this week, just Sara Bareilles. An old classic from Spandau Ballet and my favourite rock anthem, guess which one.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

What’s Left Unsaid, Says It All!!

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Rod's World

Do you make judgements about people and withhold what you truly believe? Remember that not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. Bruce Lee once said that “Always be yourself and have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and try to duplicate it.”

One way that is common these days of saying this is to speak your truth, how many New Years Resolutions will be I will speak my truth this year. What has the world said about this quirky term, to speak your truth, let’s have a look:

1. People have often be scared out of doing this by people they see as braggarts thinking that you have to be over the top when sharing your truth, this is not the case for everybody, each of us is unique in our own way.

2. Author of the iconic book “Women who run with the Wolves”, Clarissa points out what you become in touch with by speaking your truth: Speak Life.

3. If there were not people who took this on, not much would change on the planet as people are addicted to being comfortable with what’s so.

4. My proofreading background seems to think they left a word out of this quote, where do you think it is and which word is it, still a powerful request: Halo.

5. Feel the tremors, time to speak up!!

6. What would the great plays sound like if you left out half the lines, your truth is your great play: Not Afraid.

7. Unnecessary things like worrying about judgements by others, make 2018 the best season of your life.

8. Your truth does not have to taste bitter, in fact, it can taste like your favourite food: Falling Slowly

9. The man who had three conversations with God states that your truth can ooze peace.

10. A few other practices that may come in handy as you change your world and for others: Live your Life.

11. Speaking your truth does not mean you have to become arrogant towards others, in fact, it means that listening to others is the best way to recruit them to your cause.

12. Go where your heart leads you, says it all really: Your Heart will lead you Home.

13. What I love about Caroline Myss is that she definitely speaks her truth, especially to participants in her seminars who are clearly not. I have had the honour of experiencing this twice.

14.Rachel Naomi Ramen answered the question – How does curing differ from healing?

Basically curing is about repair and healing is about growth. So curing is something we do to others and healing something we evoke in others. Curing happens at the level of the body and leads to a re-normalization of physiology. Healing happens at the level of the person and involves an evolution and refinement of the individual, a deepening of the capacity for emotional life, mental life and spiritual life¾the furthering of personal wholeness and not physical health. Healing promotes the quality of life and the capacity to engage with life: Who You Really Are.

15. I call it my tribe, they could be anywhere. I found a new one at the NYE chanting event I attended a few days ago.

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” –E.E. Cummings

Music comes from the magnificent movie Once, Beyonce, Eminem, The Tigger Movie and several lesser known luminaries.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

You don’t meet people by Accident!!

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Rod's World

As long as you’re stuck in a cynical worldview that dismisses magic and miracles as nonsense, you’ll limit your access to real-life miracles. In her chapter The Road Back in her awesome book The Anatomy of a Calling Lissa Rankin: Read about it here. there is what is called a hero’s practice on how to become one with synchronicity, here it is:

Hero’s Practice:

Become One with Synchronicity

When synchronicities happen they feel like miracles, and this helps us feel connected to All That Is. But most of us tend to see the synchronicity as “other,” as if it’s happening outside of us, a miraculous gift from beyond. Such synchronicities feel haphazard. We can’t predict when they’ll come, and yet we crave more of them once we’ve tasted a few. But what if, rather than waiting for synchronicity to visit us, we can become synchronicity? Rather than simply hoping for more synchronicities, transpersonal psychologist Ted Esser PhD invites us to emerge with synchronicity itself and allow ourselves to be synchronicity, not only for ourselves but also for others. The first day I practised this, I was just walking around, living my everyday life without doing anything special, and three people told me that I was a ‘sign from the Universe,’ delivering much-needed messages that guided their paths. it felt like the Universe was winking at me.

So try this. Instead of waiting for synchronicity to find you, let yourself become synchronicity for someone else. When you let the Universe use you, you just might become someone else’s miracle without even lifting a finger.

Each morning, take a moment to close your eyes and quiet your mind.
Set the intention to merge with synchronicity.
Feel yourself becoming one with synchronicity.
Invite synchronicity to guide you in your daily life, and if it resonates with you, ask that synchronicity use you to be someone else’s miracle.
Heighten your awareness as you navigate your daily life. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss synchronicities that arrive to guide your path. Notice whether other people comment that your presence is a synchronicity for them. The more you practise this, the more you’re likely to become aware of the synchronicities that are all around you.

That a lot of synchronicities, so what has the world said about this, and where did the concept come from:

1. The clinical meaning to explain the unexplainable.

2. If you walk around with your eyes open the rewards are great: Eyes Open.

3. Raven is a shaman and has some wild accusations against him, check them out on his website at http://www.ravenkaldera.org/rumors.

4. When we get in contact with our soul, all that stuff we just knew was best for us and we didn’t do begin to make so much sense: Break Free.

5. One of my Faves, Danielle trains you to say Yes, Yes, yes.

6. There’s a starman watching in the sky, his name is synchronicity: Starman.

7. And I definitely didn’t know this before I started writing this blog, Jungian theory.

8. Or that his Holiness, the Dalai Lama was a student of it as well: No Expectations.

9. Remember to pay attention to your awareness.

10. How do you choreograph yours: Synchronicity

11. Makes sense to me.

12. More often related to

“once you stop learning you start dying”

― Albert Einstein: Start Again.

13. I personally call her Gaia, God has far too many male autocracy connotations for me, use whatever works for you.

14. Sometimes it just doesn’t feel that way when it is happening at

the moment, we need to journey further down the path to get it: Go with the Flow.

15. And then there is always Magic to believe in.

On the spiritual path, synchronicity is explained by the Sanskrit term of siddhis, cautionary tales are told about these on the yogic, meditators and retreat paths, that if not related to with integrity they can become a hook to the ego, a spiritual cul-de-sac distracting you from the true path. If you are willing to be humble and stay open to miracles you are in for an adventurous life.

Music this time, A few pop divas, two old 60’s classics, some Deepak wisdom and an indie classic.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

I am not afraid of Storms!!

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Rod's World

Storms could be another way of relating to our weaknesses, why do we spend so much time thinking about what we cannot do aka our percieved weaknesses versus what are our strengths. The effect that weaknesses have on us are one of the takeaways in Timothy Ferriss’s great book Tools of Titans: His website. Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company‘s “Most Innovative Business People,” one of Forbes‘s “Names You Need to Know,” and one of Fortune‘s “40 under 40.” He is an early-stage technology investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ others) and the author of four #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, including The 4-Hour Workweek and his latest, Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers. The Observer and other media have called Tim “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, which has exceeded 100 million downloads and has been selected for “Best of iTunes” three years running.

What influence can dealing with our weaknesses have on our day to day life, lets see what society says:

1.Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC – AD 65), fully Lucius Annaeus Seneca and also known simply as Seneca , was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and—in one work—humorist of the Silver Age of Latin literature.

Seneca was born in Cordoba in Hispania, and raised in Rome, where he was trained in rhetoric and philosophy. He was a tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero. He was forced to take his own life for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero, in which he was likely to have been innocent.

2. That feeling when you wake up and go but I didn’t do that, I have no idea how I will survive…, you know what I mean, Its in these moments you must get back to self love and relate to what you have done that are your moments of greatness: The Greatest.

3. Susan Gale is an author who has this one quote on Goodreads, All I Ever Needed Was The One is the heartfelt love life story of a late bloom baby boom cougar in search of genuine cupid chemistry and not a beta male mate. It’s about a rare old fashioned lady who finally settles down for the chemical pheromone reaction of true love and not a politically correct laundry list of economically desirable shortcomings. A tale spanning innocent bliss, adult discovery and sentimental mid life, this romantic comedy is the ultimate storybook of waiting for Mr. Right or finding at long last love.

4. This makes me think of the quote I left out, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. Albert Einstein”: Starman.

5. With the light comes the dark, learn about both or the one you forget will snak up on you and slam you to the ground.

6. Abundance does not just relate to how much money you have, It’s also in those moments when you get fully in touch with your emotions , both types, positive and so called negative: He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

7. Love is not a Mills and Boon script, it includes the above as well.

8. When did not showing your emotions become a so called show of strength: Crying.

9. How often do we need to do reality checks versus how we hope it will be?

10. Emerson wrote on a number of subjects, never espousing fixed philosophical tenets, but developing certain ideas such as individuality, freedom, the ability for mankind to realize almost anything, and the relationship between the soul and the surrounding world. Emerson’s “nature” was more philosophical than naturalistic: “Philosophically considered, the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul”. Emerson is one of several figures who “took a more pantheist or pandeist approach by rejecting views of God as separate from the world: Feels

11. Keep putting your feet in front of each other, your soul is listening.

12. Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?”Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”: Don’t Give Up.

13. Go out and find some bumpy roads so you know what it takes.

14. The remainder of this quote is “True power is within and is available to you now, certainly changes the outcome doesn’t it: The Show must Go On.

15. To finish, this great quote from Leonardo. Your weaknesses have the ability to become your strengths.

Managing Procrastination, Predicting the Future, and Finding Happiness – Tim Urban can be found on Tom’s podcast, here is the link Wordly advice on the path to Happiness. It’s quite long, but then again great conversations are those ones you have where time is irrelevant.

Music is from the current time with Sia to the 60’s with the Hollies witha great duet by K. D. Laing and Roy Orbison thrown in.

Namaste until next time my dear friends.

The most Precious Treasure of Mine!!

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Rod's World

In terms of your stuff (material possessions) and your lifestyle (adventure, education, time, interests) what do you hold most precious?

Scan your home, all that you own etc.. Then, review your schedule, your hobbies, your career, your favourite activities and the perks of your life and identify your most precious things. (i.e. your phone, car, heirlooms, favourite shoes, most expensive jumper, artwork, your house, your vacations, all of your Air Mile points, your stellar reputation, your free time, your network of amazing professionals, your summer, your money in your rainy day account, your highly curated music collection, your make-up, your purse or wallet, your best winter coat, your bed or couch, your website…)

What would give you acute panic to part with? What are you loath to let go of? What do you think you could not live without?

This is Step 1 in part 2 of Danielle LaPorte’s awesome review of the year called Free and Clear, It’s called your most precious things: All Danielle’s good stuff.

Her final question in this part of the review is – Without all the stuff, and the perks, and the things you’ve worked for…What’s your most precious thing? (Hint: You and what only you can give to the world.)

So what does the world say about preciousness, is it dark like Gollum’s precious in Lord of the Rings or light like the sound of your children laughing with each other, let’s have a look.

1. What would life be like if every day was exactly the same, they made a movie about it called Groundhog Day, I like it a lot.

2. Now here is a person I didn’t dream of that I would be using in regard to preciousness, but it points to the power of the love of our children: When I’m Gone.

3. And also remember to include yourself in this.

4. A beautiful quote from Robert Ludlum an American author of 27 thriller novels, best known as the creator of Jason Bourne from the original The Bourne Trilogy series. The number of copies of his books in print is estimated between 290 million and 500 million. They have been published in 33 languages and 40 countries: Human.

5. You can always make more money, but you can never get the time and attention back, it is infinitely precious, do not stop giving it if you can.

6. Family, friends, life experiences, this is what you remember, and what do they all have in common? Yes. that’s right, time: If today was the last day in my life!!

7. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. This is a beautiful piece of his preciousness.

8. We often forget this and give in to the judgments our mind throws at us, precious love doesn’t work that way: A Woman’s Heart.

9. What a great picture of those times in our lives when preciousness of friendship is about how much we can play together.

10 Pick your favourite, beautiful list: Love Song.

11. My mother has not eaten for three months, she has decided to leave us. At the final session of the course, I was doing last night we were asked to share what was the most remarkable thing of essence that had occurred in the six week period. I got up and shared it was the fact my three siblings and I had communicated for every single day of that period, love you guys.

12. Please don’t wait for the above situation before you realise the importance of the people who chose to live this time in with you: Family Times.

13. I think this has happened to me, I must remember to inhale when I am in her presence.

14. There are only 24 hours in a day, remember to use it wisely. It’s the same amount as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Malala had and have: Whiskey Lullaby.

15. And this is the most precious moment of our lives.

So step 2 asks you Imagine giving away hundred’s of your most precious things. They would have it and you wouldn’t. Imagine giving it away freely. With a smile to anyone and everyone.

How does that feel? Terrifying? heavy with Guilt? Panicky? Pissed right off? Energising? Releived. My answer to the most Precious Thing is having Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included becoming the world paradigm.

Music includes the partnership of Hitler and Enimem, a Steve Jobs vignette, Celtic Women and Allison Krause with Brad Paisley

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

Before Alice got to Wonderland!!

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Rod's World

I’m reading Tools of Titans , an amazing resource book by Tim Ferriss. He suggests you read only the bits that hit home to you. It’s broken up in three parts: Healthy , Wealthy and Wise. I had to stop reading the healthy bit because it became way too confronting for the physical state I am in at the moment.

So I flipped to the wealthy section and the page opened on big Tony, Tony Robbins, he of the just say YES and finish my sentences for me. Each person is asked Is there a quote that guides your Life? Tony’s answer was “It’s a belief: Life is happening for us, not to us. It’s our job to find out where the benefit is. If we do, Life is magnificent.

After my experiences with NLP I have a dislike for some of Tony’s methods so this may explain why I misread it as Life is Happening to Us, so this is what we will discuss roday:

1. I went dancing to Sweat Your Prayers on Sunday for the first time in a long time. I ran into my friend Jane. There was this incredibly sensual young woman with her, I kept thinking I know you, turns out it was Jane’s daughter Caitlin who I had spent a weekend sharing our souls together at a retreat late last year. We chatted like we had been apart 5 minutes.

2. Denis Kimbro deals with the question as to why black Americans, who are considered wealthy by 90% of the worlds population, struggle on a day to day basis, his premise is that their reaction to life dis-empowers them: Not Afraid.

3. From one of the world’s great philosophers, Ms. Unknown comes this classic that point to where we must first work on our life, Within.

4. In this I want it right now world we often forget this and manage to stuff quite a few things up: Hakuna Matata.

5. Things happens, they become events in our lives. Then stressors enter the Universe, they are called our reactions, choose wisely.

6. The meat and potatoes way of saying it: It’s my Life.

7. Supposed to be versus how it actually is , gives us access to Life is happening for us.

8. You have a roof over your head, money in your purse and food to eat, for a huge percentage of the planet that is equivalent to joy: Brene on Joy.

9. My take at it: It’s up to us, because we can, It’s our time.

10. Are they still there, the one’s who are: they are the keepers: True Colours.

11. Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included.

12. What if everything that happens for us is to teach us a lesson, and our job is to get them as soon as we can: What about Us.

13. Just to make sure you get the hint!!

14. And remember the mirror practice so you know who needs to hear this message: Change Your Life.

15. And from the creator of http://www.thework.com, Byron Katie, a final reminder that life happens for us. It’s up to us how that occurs.

Tony also mentions that a way to improve your life is to ask great questions that empower you because then your life is happening for you because you are the driving force.

Music this week comes from Eminem, Bon Jovi, Pink, Casey Chambers, Hakuna Matata and some wisdom from Brene Brown. I think its time for Youtube Red, can’t stomach the Macca and Coke ads, apologies in advance.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

We would astound Ourselves!!

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Rod's World

Are you doing what you are uniquely capable of, What you Feel you were placed Here on Earth to Do? Can you be replaced?

People often think its about the money, If I do that I will answer my abundance prayer. But a great place to look is, are you interchangeable, are you using your unique abilities that make you the special one. Tim Ferriss uses a philosophy of ,Am I saying Hell Yeah about something: If not he says no. In the Konmari decluttering method the only things that survive are those that bring you joy, so what is your unique gift to the world:

1. So, So, So, So, So, So…..Got the message?

2. Across the world, each culture has its own definition of beautiful, you fir in somewhere: Perfect.

3. In an interview with comedian Paul Mecurio, Tyson offered his definition of spirituality: “For me, when I say spiritual, I’m referring to a feeling you would have that connects you to the universe in a way that it may defy simple vocabulary. We think about the universe as an intellectual playground, which it surely is, but the moment you learn something that touches an emotion rather than just something intellectual, I would call that a spiritual encounter with the universe.” Tyson has argued that many great historical scientists’ belief in intelligent design limited their scientific inquiries, to the detriment of the advance of scientific knowledge.

4. I was watching the TV doco series the 1990’s about technology when browsers where first developed for the internet, before that it has been the playground of scientific nerds, that is less that 30 years ago. People did not usedto wake up and check their Iphones, amazing: Never Be Like You.

5. All their fantasies, talk to them like they are real, why can’t they be Ed Sheeran or Adele.

6. Remember, they chose you because they knew you were the right ones to prepare them for their unique bright future: Everyone is Different!!

7. To learn what you’re best at, or what you’re most passionate about, you have to throw a lot against the wall.

8. That which is not, can you imagine that?,or what they are singing about in this song: Being Kind.

9. The more we walk towards community, the more powerful our uniqueness becomes as we play our unique role in creatig it, without the I.

10. One of the more stranger things I have read of HHDL: Problem.

11. What is the definition of Unique, anyway:

u·nique

/yo͞oˈnēk/

noun

1. a unique person or thing.

adjective

1. being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else: “the situation was unique in modern politics” synonyms: distinctive, distinct, individual, special, idiosyncratic, single, sole, lone, unrepeated, unrepeatable, solitary, exclusive, rare, uncommon, unusual, sui generis, one-off, one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime, one-shot

12. This would make a great mantra to repeat everyday: Whole Lotta Love.

13. Turn the tap off!!

14. This is why I have such respect for true teachers, their ability to send each student home with their sense of uniqueness intact is amazing: Believing In Me.

15. I came across that quote the other day about having the same 24 hours as HHDL, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Malala. It lies on the other side of fear.

So in seeking your uniqueness what blessings have becomes excesses. In excess, most thingstake on the characteristic of their opposite. Pacifists become miltants, freedom fighters become tyrants, Blessings become curses, Help becomes hndrances. More becomes Less. In the midst of overwhelm, is life not showing me exactly what I should subtact, Am I having a breakdown or a breakthrough. Being unique takes work and it is easy to become complacent.

The music today is two kids songs, a 70’s classic from Led Zep and a tribute to my dad and sister Ruth.

Namste until next time my dear friends.

It will reflect in your Face!!

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Rod's World

Was going to do another of the 15 things you should give up to be happy today, but picked up the Anatomy of a Calling by another of my faves, Lissa Rankin MD : Check it out here. I opened it to page 120, which had the new questions Lissa was asking her patients after she had realised medicine wasn’t about 15 minute interviews and doling out medications. Here is the list:

Do you feel lonely, isolated, misunderstood, or disconnected?
If you could break any rule without consequences, what rule would you break?
Are you in a romantic relationship, and if so, are you happy? If not, do you wish you were?
Do you feel like you are in touch with your life’s purpose, fulfilling your divine assignment here on this planet?
Do you feel stressed about money?
Do you feel spiritually connected?
Do you feel free to be your authentic self?

At the moment the one that is a bit out of place for me is question six, do you feel spiritually connected, so that is our subject for today:

1. See that is says We are Love, not they are Love. Hard to remember at times.

2. I feel I met one of these people recently. I forget to inhale when I am near her: Soul Kind of Feeling.

3. We are magnificent and broken all at the same time, we need to journey through both to contact our soul, it is made up of everything.

4. It’s not often you look across a room and go, wow, what a great mind, yet it is that and their heart that will keep the relationship going: Just the Two of Us.

5. Contentious statement, but where else can you be?

6. I brought a book of poetry written by a man who spent a year living in Wild Dog Valley. It is compared to David Whyte, Mary Oliver and John O’Donoghue. Each poem is a powerful vignette, the name: Lucid Nature by Sean O’Carroll: Human Behaviour.

7. Time for a biography as I have no clue who Elizabeth Lesser is, let’s have a look: ELIZABETH LESSER is a bestselling author and the cofounder of Omega Institute, the renowned conference and retreat center located in Rhinebeck, New York. Elizabeth’s first book, The Seeker’s Guide, chronicles her years at Omega and distills lessons learned into a potent guide for growth and healing.

8. Two of my dear friends, Denise and Ed have many of their ex students as Facebook friends. I think thats because they did this , not told them what to learn: That’s what I like.

9. We all want to be love, but have to remember our picture of love is different to every other individual on the planet.

10. What music is on your favourite Spotify playlist: Flash Mob, Ode to Joy.

11. Buddha lived in a time of overt sexism, I sure he meant women as well.

12. I have doubts about people who go away for a week, a month even a year who come back and pass themselves off as spiritual guru’s, it’s for at least a lifetime: Lord Shiva.

13. That thought that keeps returning, It does it for a purpose, when we learn what we have to it will disappear.

14, Amanda Palmer, The Art of Asking, TED talk, what else could this bring to mind: Here it is.

15. I would call this two souls meeting and creating a very spiritual moment.

Lissa’s new patient intake form was 12 pages long, she says the two most illuminating questions she asked were:

What is your body saying no to?
What does your body need in order to heal?

I think we need to heal our spiritual connection as a priority, writing this has helped me do that.

The music is great, one of the great Australian tracks Soul Kind of Feelings, Lord Shiva anthem, an amazing flash mob version of Ode to Joy, Bjork and the amazing the Art of Asking TED talk by Amanda Palmer.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

When basic becomes complicated, Simplify!!

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Rod's World

Einstein said many things, but one of his most profound quotes was “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it to yourself”.

In this crazy tech driven society of ours people seem to have forgotten that life is meant to be about simplicity. Sunsets and Sunrises, rainbows, walking the dog, the simple tasks of life. In the excellent book about human nature; Selfish, Scared and Stupid by Dan Gregory & Kieran Flanagan: SSS article. they wrote a cheat sheet to keep it simple, here it is:

Make it Simple Shortcuts

We are already ridiculously busy and overloaded with information, so make things easy to digest and simple to action.
If you make our lives more complicated, we will simply ignore you.
We have more options than we need, so make yours simpler to understand.
If you can’t fit it onto a post-it or explain it to a six year old, it needs simplifying.
Identify the most basic need or value you need to satisfy and start there.
Information curators are the new power brokers.

Bruce Lee hits the nail squarely on the head: If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done. So what has society thought about simplicity over the generations, let’s have a look:

1. How many of these don’t you do because of the complications you have made them mean, change to the simplicity of this list.

2. Two and a half thousand years ago Confucius gave the world this piece of advice, do you think we listened. Get out your Iphone and ask a friend: Simple Life.

3. And from the great series Mad Men, Don Draper offers an advertising executive’s cut at simplicity.

4. My friends daughter Natalie is a minimalist. Here’s some information about it if you don’t know what it is:Minimalism.

5. Never thought I would see the day I would quote Adolf Hitler, but unfortunately he has a point that politicians have been using for centuries.

6. I have to admit that there are complicated things on the planet. Those formulas we see written on those board in films need mathematicians to make them, simply, understandable: Welcome to my Complicated Life.

7. More wisdom from the curly haired one, an example: Steve Jobs and the IPhone, remember the original bricks that were the mobile phone.

8. The process of existing on this planet between sunrise and sunset , what happened?: Sunrise, Sunset.

9. When I was leaving my unit this morning, I noticed the many things I had lying around I have not used in months, time for a clean out.

10. Like this a lot. I must admit when I think of simple that less comes to mind: Clarity.

11. I was surprised Google Images brought up this reference to Bali under make it simple quotes, but then again I have not been there, all my friends who have would probably say it makes perfect sense.

12. It’s in the making of it that the simplicity gets in: Cheap Thrills.

13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Where does all that other shit come from.

14. And when your life is simplified here is one of the greatest and simplest gifts you can give another: Come up and see me, make me Smile.

15. Yes I am of that age where I recognise pictures that are no longer used but where a lot simpler.

A typical supermarket in the modern world holds more than 47,000 products on its shelves. Only 30 years ago , that number was closer to 9,000. Some toothpaste companies produce over 50 products, more than the number of teeth we have in our mouth.

A great definition of simplicity is given by Jonathan Ive, Apples head of design: “True simplicity is derived from so much more than the absence of clutter and ornamentation. It’s about bringing order to complexity”.

The music today is a 70’s classic, a mini doco, some pop divas, a musical classic and an alternative anthem to a simple life, Enjoy.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.