How about a honeymoon with 78 others?

A quick one before I run off to my honeymoon. If you haven’t caught up, I got married, and in spectacular form with a spectacular gathering of family and friends to help celebrate.

It was awesome.

And now to the Greek island of Patmos for a little relaxation with she who is no longer the fiancee but the wife.

We’re sharing our honeymoon with 78 others.

It’s a European Ascension teacher’s meditation retreat you see, and I can’t wait.

My meditation teacher once told me that this is the path of joy, and he was right.

78 very happy, very peaceful people is just the thing to surround yourself with.

Of course, we’ll make plenty of her and me time…

… but immersing myself in some quality meditation teaching with my meditation teacher with 78 like minded folks is my idea of heaven.

Just got to get some last minute packing and organising done.

I thought after the wedding there would be nothing to do.

But actually it’s been just as busy - with all the stuff I’ve put off till “after”.

The top tip I’ve discovered when life gets supremely busy?

Do one thing at a time.

No matter how big your to do list is, you can only do one thing at a time.

Giving your attention to all the other things that need to be done later is the recipe for stress.

Prioritise, make yourself a list if need be, and then do the very first thing, and that thing only.

Don’t let your attention stray to what may be next.

Don't think about it, consider it, plan it.

Leave it all alone.

Just do what is in front of you.

And not only will you do that one thing faster and with more enjoyment, the other things will come with the same straight forward ease as well.

There is no need to be stressed.

It doesn’t HAVE to happen.

The more you meditate, the more you will realise this.

The more you do your Ascension meditation, the simpler and easier being stress free AND incredibly efficient is.

Find out how by emailing me, or going here:

www.thebrightpath.com

Go well!

- Arjuna

How do you cope with fear?

A question from Mandy who emailed me the other day: “Could you tell me more about fear? You talked about it this weekend, and what you said really resonated with me. I want a way out”.

Fear?

It's a habit of the mind in response to the unknown.

It's a jumping forward into a "what if?” - and your mind can come up with an array of gloriously fearful future scenarios:

All imagined, none of them real. They are all maybes.

But all of them with the ability to ruin your clarity and peace, and your hair mojo - if you let it.

What is real?

What is right in front of you, right now.

And cake. Cake is real.

For your peace - and sanity - it's important to attend to what is right in front of you, to the facts that you have right now.

This is real, right here, nothing else.

Base yourself here.

The mind only comes up with what might happen. That’s not real. It is a possibility.

You need to know the difference. And be present to now.

The future will always be uncertain, but the fact is - despite years and years of fear and possibilities and maybes and what if’s - despite all of it, you are still alive! You made it this far!

As Mark Twain was supposed to have said:

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”

Very wise.

You'll see your mind jumping into the future more and more, so just bring it back, keep bringing it back.

It’ll get clearer and clearer, simpler and simpler.

Of course, if you want a way of not only being present but removing the roots of those fearful habits - because your fears are individual to you, and have their source in your mind - Ascension meditation is an excellent way of doing that.

It resets the limiting patterns and habits so simply, and so effortlessly.

This weekend is the course - only a couple of seats are left.

If you want one:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/ascensionmeditation/

Have a great day! - Arjuna

Stay right where you are!

With the nieces and nephews about the house over the weekend there was much talk of super heroes. And then there’s the new Batman versus Superman film.

We love super powers. If you had a super power, what would it be?

In my study of humanity, the super power that just about everyone ALREADY possesses is time travel.

We are addicted to it, actually.

Backwards and forwards, so much so the average person hardly spends any time actually in the same place as their body.

Now every time I talk about this someone always says, “but you have to look back to learn from your mistakes and look forward because planning is so important”.

And they would be right, except that is ALL humanity does.

Learning from the past is simple. If it didn’t work, do it differently. If it did work, do it again.

Planning for the future is also. What do you want? How are you going to get there?

But we don’t keep it simple. The amount of time spent trying to learn and plan is awesome.

And it’s reflected in the amount of regret and worry and trying to predict and control that is done. Over the top reminiscing, constant hoping.

Not a great way to live, simply because you miss out on the beauty of this moment.

All of your greatest moments have been cos you were right here, totally immersed in them.

It may have been doing the dishes, it may have been your wedding, it may have been the birth of your kids - the event didn’t matter, your attention to it mattered.

Want a better life?

Be more present. Get out of your head, use your senses more. Be alive to what is happening in your body. Breathe - deep.

Then you’ll really be a super hero.

A super hero’s secret weapon?

Has to be Ascension meditation. The best way to bring you out of your head into a state of presence. Easy and fun to practice, means you want to practice more.

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/ascensionmeditation/

The more you practice, the more you come alive, the more present you are to your life as it happens in front of you.

Not how you wish it did happen.

Not how you think it should happen.

But how it is actually happening.

So if you want to learn to show up for your own life, to not miss another moment, this weekend course is just for you:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/ascensionmeditation/

I give you everything you need, you go away and you practice. If at any stage you have a question, I’m here to help.

Want to come back and resit? Absolutely for free, for the rest of your life, anywhere you find a course in the world.

Awesome I say.

Sign up here: https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/ascensionmeditation/

Stay right where you are! - Arjuna

Headless chicken versus Usain Bolt

Headless chicken mode? Is when you are running around like a headless chicken - all over the place, but without direction.

I’ve worked in many different workplaces, and met many different people, actually in a few different countries, and the curious thing is how fast some people can get.

Some people are faster than Usain Bolt when it comes to getting stuff done.

Except without the accuracy of the man. They try and do everything, at the same time.

He does ONE thing, and is completely focussed on it.

It takes a certain vision to sprint, stay in your lane, AND make it to the finish line.

Nothing more embarrassing than finishing a race in someone else’s lane.

Or entering the stadium and running in the opposite direction from where you need to be.

Done both of those things, in both swimming and running. I just got confused along the way.

But you don’t need to!

Having, and maintaining, a clear vision is essential no matter what you do and where you are.

Trouble is when things get busy, humans tend to get busier.

It’s counter intuitive to stop.

But you need to know that it’s counter productive to get stressed.

You just get tunnel vision, and lose sight, and start going in smaller and smaller circles.

All productivity and enjoyment and clarity decreases the more stressed you get.

In times when there is lots to do, it becomes even more important that you stop and take time to see what is most important.

Less haste, more speed, as my gran would say.

You need to have balance, baby.

Then you can really fire on all cylinders AND head in the direction you need to go AND enjoy yourself ALL at the same time.

The only way you’ll know is by trying it.

Best way in the world of resting the body and increasing clarity is meditation.

You will be more productive, stress less, and enjoy yourself way more.

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/ascensionmeditation/

Imagine if life could be so much simpler…

Have a great day - Arjuna

Time for some honesty

The best thing you can do for yourself is to take an honest evaluation of where you are at. Everyone has at least one area where they’re not fully firing. Where they’re not very good at.

There are places (to be brutal) in your life where you down right suck at.

Take some time and see where this is for you.

Be honest with yourself, there is no point hiding.

There is no point in covering it up, or ignoring it in the hope that it will go away or get better by itself.

It won’t get better by itself.

I thought that ^^^

And so I lived half-arsed for a long time.

What areas of your life can you improve in?

For me, it’s business. I am a complete novice in all matters of business.

The other big area of growth for me is relationships. Learning “what women want”, and how to give that to my fiancee.

In both those areas I have been guilty of hiding, head in the sand approach.

But my strength now is that I know where I suck.

I’m honest and upfront with myself about that, and therefore I can get the help I need to get better.

So it’s straightforward.

In business for example, I’ve put a plan in place, signed up to two great programmes, paid people to help me.

And for the first time in my life I’m getting better.

I’m learning and growing and moving forward. I’m getting clearer and clearer.

It’s not a coincidence.

It took some courage to take an honest look to begin with, and the determination to do something about it.

But it's worth it. The temporary pain of seeing where you lie to yourself means you can move forward.

A weakness isn’t something to be shy about. If you know it, you can overcome it.

So take a moment, what do you suck at?

If you can’t find a place, ask your loved ones. They know!

And then … Who can help you get better?

If it’s to be a better human that you want, with more calm and clarity, less stress, more happiness, purpose and fulfilment, then you might be interested in my Ascension meditation course.

It’ll give you a precise plan to follow so you can get better. And all the support you should need as well.

Take a look:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/ascensionmeditation/

I coach one on one too, with a much higher degree of access and accountability for you so you can meet your goals faster and simply. It’s expensive, but people tell me it’s worth it.

If you’re interested or just have a question, just ask. I really am so happy to help. This is what I do, and I love to do.

Whatever you end up doing today, remember to enjoy each and every moment. - Arjuna

What IS real, Neo?

Just come from the gym where, I must admit, I was a bit of a wuss.

I gave it my best shot, but it wasn’t my best. But at least I turned up and did what I could.

Ever have those days where 20kg just isn’t that any more? Or 10km seems like 15? Or indeed an 8 hour working day seems like 12?

What happens here?

Does reality change? Does that kettle bell eat a few pies at night and gain a coupla pounds?

Does the clock just decide to slow down to a crawl?

Nope - it’s all because of your mind.

Sure, physically my body wasn’t firing on all cylinders.

But your mind has a huge part to play. It has the ability to change reality.

If this is the case (and it is cos I’ve been studying this for many years now) if you change your mind, you will change reality.

Oooooh!

One obvious place this happens is in your body. Neuro-physiologically speaking, your cells are affected by your thoughts.

Happy grateful thoughts: happy, efficient, energised body. Negative thoughts: not so super body.

Ever fallen in love? Of course you have. How’d that feel? How was the world? A shiny, pretty, happy place, no doubt.

Fallen out of love? Aye. Same conditions, but a crappy, grey, miserable place indeed.

You get the idea?

In other words, your mind filters reality so much you can’t tell what is real and what is your mind’s idea of what is real.

We’re getting into “The Matrix” territory here. You’ve seen that film, right?

But what limits to this do you suppose there are?

I don’t know, but I’d give my last penny to find out. Wouldn’t you?

How you going to do that?

I would become a student of your own mind.

Study it closely, become aware of how it may be shaping what you believe is true, and in that find a way to choose what you want to pay attention to.

Set yourself free from your own mind.

Find a way to experience reality clearly, without any filters.

Me? Ascension meditation does it.

A course where you can learn? Glad you asked. 15-17 April, begin 7pm on the Friday. £200. Awesome, or your money back (true - if you complete the course, practice and don’t like it, I’ll refund you. Nice huh?)

Send me an email if you want in.

Have a great day, let me know if I can help with anything.

- Arjuna

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FREE ebook on meditation and mindset for ending stress and self-sabotage, and living an exceptional life:

http://www.arjunaishaya.com/discovermeditationandmindset

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Being “mindful” is only a small part of the picture

Sometimes when I talk to someone who knows how to meditate they seem the same as the last time I talked to them. In other words, there is no change.

Which surprises me.

Most people who meditate change, at least the ones who use Ascension meditation - who I see the most of - do.

They don’t become different, just more of themselves. It’s like a light has been lit within them. There is an excitement about life and a calmness as well. It’s nice to see.

But sometimes I don’t see that, and I just worked out why that is.

When I quiz them they will say to me something like:

“oh, I practice being present all the time with my eyes open” or “I’m being mindful during my day”.

You see being “mindful” doesn’t mean change comes rapidly.

It’s a great start, but eyes closed is your meat and potatoes of change.

If you want to drop the limitations and the habitual patterns of behaving and reacting in ways that you rather you didn’t, then you need to close your eyes.

Closing your eyes is such a nice thing, it’s no ordeal - especially if you make yourself comfortable.

It actually is super restful and rejuvenating. You’ll start to look forward to closing your eyes.

It’s just that the busiest people, the ones who are most stressed, the ones that try and do everything, the ones that never stop, are the ones that have the hardest time with eyes closed.

Simply because it is so uncompromising in the stop factor.

There’s something in the “staying busy” habit that keeps the mind as the boss.

And it’s just a habit.

You actually need to stop to help others. It’s the “put your own oxygen mask on first” effect.

So don’t be a “Busy and Dizzy Lizzy” - if you value peace and clarity, if you want to be more effective and more helpful, the fastest way to get it is by closing your eyes, consistently.

Just do it, every day

- Arjuna

ps. I’ve been slowly putting together more of a page which tells you what happens in an Ascension meditation weekend. It’s coming along, but won’t be together for a few days. But I have recorded a video that explains something more about it.

If you’re interested, go here:

https://youtu.be/LJhv9T-TAEk

The course is 15-17 April, (start at 7pm on the Friday) super simple, super powerful techniques so you can be free of your stressful head. £200 and you can resit as many times as you like for free.

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FREE ebook on meditation and mindset for ending stress and self-sabotage, and living an exceptional life:

http://www.arjunaishaya.com/discovermeditationandmindset

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Hero conquers own mind - gets the princess, the treasure, and the glory

A while back a guy called Tim Galway talked about the inner game of tennis. It’s still a great book and worth a read, you should be able to pick it up on on Amazon for pennies.

Basically the inner game is the most overlooked and important game there is.

The inner game is the “real You” versus all your bad habits, negative thinking, worrying, not being present, overthinking stuff - you know, your monkey mind.

Many people think the outer game is the important one - the game where we practically go get what we want.

The truth is you can’t do anything about the outer game without the inner game. The inner game changes all.

This is certainly true. It’s why I’m here writing to you about meditation and mind games, not kayaking.

I was an outdoor instructor for many years back in New Zealand. I found the whole key to giving someone an exceptional experience was to get them to a point where they could win the inner game.

If I could arrange things so they could see the doubts of their mind and then make another choice - (to use an overused phrase) to see the fear and do it anyway - then they were a leap ahead in facing whatever challenge would come up next in life.

This life is all a mind game.

If you play the inner game to win, if you practice, you will find that the outer game shifts with it.

I’m not saying just sit at home, do nothing, just meditate, no way.

I did try that for a spell, and I can affirm that as a continued life choice it certainly has its drawbacks.

What I’m saying is the inner game is your foundation.

Having a solid foundation where your thoughts are not real, just an option, means everything gets simple, and clear, and fun.

From that foundation of very real choice you can live your life however you wish, do anything, go anywhere. There is nothing from within stopping you.

Getting your head screwed on right takes a bit of practice, but that is all.

With the right tools and the right understanding this practice can become really enjoyable.

My good friend Thomas, who is an all-round amazing and super inspiring guy told me about learning Ascension meditation:

________

“I’d always been a Star Wars fan and it felt like I’d finally gotten the tools to access the Force. My motivation to practice wasn’t because it affected my life, which it did, my life was changing a lot, but I felt so great when I closed my eyes and practiced I didn’t really care about anything else.”

________

Sounds a bit different from your average meditation, huh? That's cos it is.

If you want the right tools and the right understanding come and join me at my Ascension meditation course, 15-17 April.

We begin 7pm on the Friday so you can still get to it from work. We’re in Richmond, North Yorkshire cos the venue is superb, and the grounds are beautiful. Taking a walk in the woods by the river after a meditation session is one of life’s great simple pleasures.

The price is a very reasonable £200 which includes the ability to resit as many times as you like for free, and all the support you need. It’s ridiculous how cheap that is.

If you want a seat, email me. Pronto! Don’t miss out.

Till next time, keep your peace. It’s the most important thing you possess.

- Arjuna

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FREE ebook on meditation and mindset for living an exceptional life:

http://www.arjunaishaya.com/discovermeditationandmindset

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“I just can’t do it - it’s too hard …”

Yesterday morning was a tough morning. For no reason except my mind was reacting to the mere fact of being alive.

For the little kid in my head it was too tough to simply be out of bed, walking around, making coffee and small talk with the fiancee. A mind tantrum, you might call it.

You ever been in the supermarket and see some kid sprawled on the floor screaming, with their mother dragging them to the checkout?

Do you ever have those days?

I used to get this a lot. I wouldn’t say often, just more frequently that I would like. It used to hurt too, I would be swallowed up by this sense of “I just can’t do it - it’s too tough”.

The more I dwelled on that thought, the more deeper into a pit of despair and darkness I got. Errk. Not a nice place to be in.

The good thing about yesterday is that I know my own mind so much better than before.

In awareness there is choice.

In choice I can do something different, or in the case of yesterday know that the tantrum is just a sign of doing too much for too long.

I’ve been on the road teaching and travelling for three weeks. I saw the fiancée for a single night in a dodgy hotel near an airport. No wonder my mind’s kicking off - I should really schedule things a bit better.

So I put the plans on hold and give myself some space to do nothing. Nothing at all.

And even though the thoughts don’t change - they’re still telling me being alive is too hard - it’s simple to ignore. The thoughts have no influence to my mood.

I actually laughed out loud at one point. Being alive is simple. It’s just a fact. You can’t help but be alive. It’s the mind and thoughts that makes it harder or easier.

If you want a way out of your own mind - not to force it to change, but to be able to see it clearly and laugh, then join me for the ultimate answer.

There is a weekend course of Ascension meditation on the 15-17 April and it’s going to be fine. I’ll give you a treasure map, complete with compass and shovel - in other words, all the tools you need to find and live as the ruler of your own mind. And in that, happy and alive:

• An end to stress, struggle and self-sabotage.
• The ability to focus when you need to, let go when you want to.
• To be happy and content, no matter.
• To be the best version of yourself, always.

If you want in, email me for a (comfy) seat.

Any questions just email me too.

Have a great day,

- Arjuna

_______________________

FREE ebook on meditation and mindset for ending stress, struggle and self-sabotage:

http://www.arjunaishaya.com/discovermeditationandmindset

How being happy means less time in the office

Study I just saw - on amount of happiness in relationship to the total time spent on a task (minus normal distractions such as phone calls, colleagues etc)

The unhappiest people measured spent 53% of their time on task, while the happiest people spent 78% time on task.

That means if you're unhappy, for every hour working you only give it 30 minutes of attention. You are only present half the time. Everything then takes twice as long as it could.

More drudgery, more unhappiness. An endless circle.

It would seem that if you want to spend less time in the office, get your work done quicker, have more breaks, more (perceived) time and headspace, you need to find a way of being happy (or at least content).

OR is it if more like if you are more present you are happier?

Which way is it? We have a chicken or the egg situation here ladies and gentlemen.

They actually probably go hand in hand.

If you are happier, you aren’t thinking how you want things to be different, so you can let go of the mind (no problems that need thinking about) and focus and be present here.

If you’re present and focussed here, that means you aren’t thinking about some other problem, you are perfectly content with what is, which means you are happy with this moment, as it is.

Simples!

I know when you are unhappy that someone telling you to “be happy” is about as helpful as a kick in the belly and a poke in the eye.

I get that.

That’s why if you can’t be happy, then be present.

That will mean you detach from (not push away) the loops of thought that are creating the unhappiness.

In being present you’ll have more perceived time and headspace, you’ll find less pressure on top of you, and all in all have a lighter way forward. And you can get your way back to happiness from there.

And also get things done quicker, and get out and do the stuff you really want to do.

But if you can be happy and/or content, then also be present as possible as well. What would happen then?

Because 78% is a reasonable figure, but not approaching total efficiency is it?

Imagine how much simpler your life would be if you spent say 95% or 99% of your time on the task in front of you?

That would be pretty cool.

If, not including questions from others and phones and what not, you could be 100% focussed.

Boom, you would fly through your to do list.

Present first - tick

Happy, or content second - tick

Conquer the world - tick

Yes! Home in time for Antiques Roadshow.

It all points back to being alive and present right here, right now.

Simple, effortless, all instructions given "treasure map" tool for conquering your world, being present and alive, a better partner, a better parent, in fact the best version of you?

Join me! 15-17 April - Richmond, North Yorkshire

Email me to book a place and for more details.

Have a great day

- Arjuna

What do you notice about yourself most of all?

I saw a statistic the other day, and it referred to an estimate by someone who is a big boss in the mind-field (just a little pun) of brains and thinking and “consciousness”.

Consciousness is a big word that I don’t really get, I prefer to use the word “awareness”.

Awareness is what you notice.

You can notice anything. These words. The background around these words. The space around the background. Sound. The feel of your body as it presses into whatever is pressing into the earth.

Noticing. What you notice grows in significance.

Most of the time all people notice is their thoughts. Every now and then there is a widening of that, a broadening of attention, but humans spend a lot of time in their heads.

There was a famous philosopher, Descartes. He has a famous phrase: “I think, therefore I am”.

Although that’s about all I know about the man, I never met him, and maybe he was mistranslated, but I would say he’s wrong.

You are aware, therefore you are, you exist. Thoughts are neither here nor there to the fact of your existence.

If you can be aware of your thoughts, perhaps you aren’t them? Perhaps you are that which is aware, which notices?

Hmmmm… muy interesante, no?

Anyway, the statistic said that people are generally only aware of 10% of their thoughts. The rest are at a subconscious or unconscious level.

That means if you are a normal human, 90% of what you think sneaks through, under the radar. You are not aware of it.

If you aren’t aware of it, you have no choice.

Do you see?

If you have no choice, it becomes the truth. It changes your reality.

This is important - the mind isn’t as logical and friendly as you would like to think it is.

It says some random stuff, depending on your mood, and in unawareness it affects you. If you’ve ever struggled with say, depression, like I have, you’ll know that black dog your mind turns into.

But if you are aware of it - it doesn’t need to be the “truth”.

Your thoughts can be optional. If you notice them they can be like a conversation you hear on a train, or in an elevator - perhaps interesting, but ultimately separate from you.

The moral of the story is become aware. Notice what your thoughts are saying to you.

Spend time every day closing your eyes and coming to a greater state of awareness.

You can just count your thoughts if you like - what a wonderful little tool to create a little bit of space between you and it.

If you know Ascension meditation, introduce your techniques from there and reap the benefits of greater awareness.

In awareness you have choice. In awareness you can be free from the negativity of your own mind.

Well worth being.

Go well.

- Arjuna

PS. Ascension meditation course is go - 15-17 April (Richmond, North Yorkshire - begins 7pm on the Friday). £200 for the whole superb, repeatable for free forever, weekend.

Let me know if you want in. Be quick about it though, you don’t want to miss out.

Where are you racing off to next?

I was in the store yesterday, and as often times happens, a rather large queue formed. The three tills were down to one, the lady on the till was new, you know the story.

It had been a while since I’ve experienced this, but I could feel the people in the queue almost shaking with impatience, with that “hurry up, right now, get out of my way” kind of deal.

You know that I’m sure…

I live in a smallish country town, in the more relaxed north of England so the people aren’t that stressed. But yet there was a definite need for speed about them. A definite push to be somewhere else.

If you read yesterday’s email - you might say a definite non-acceptance of that fact that they aren't in control of the queue.

It was even worse when I lived in the south and would host meditation courses. People would come direct from London, it was a simple 1.5 hour drive.

Most of them would show up literally at a million miles an hour, a real sense of “go, go, go!!” They would come in like little spinning tops, seemingly unable to take anything in, just looking for the next thing, the next goal, the next appointment, the next thing to race towards, even when that was dinner.

That there is a big problem for just about all of humanity.

That race to do and achieve, to tick things off the list, to move to the next thing. It’s there in the sense of making sure you do all the things you want to do in the day. But more importantly, it’s there in the sense of striving to become, to be different, to get somewhere within yourself.

That this moment, and who you are in this moment, is not enough.

Achieving goals is a wonderful, fulfilling thing, but it needs to be equally balanced with a deep sense of living now.

A sense of being present and fully alive to this moment despite your to do list and where you need to be in 10 minutes time.

A taking back control of your own happiness and not putting it in achieving and getting somewhere, but making it an internal choice, an internal decision to simply be content no matter what.

An exercising of the choice to stop and smell the roses alongside the highway of life.

So where ever you may be when you read this, stop the race to become and achieve, stop struggling and striving, just for a few moments. Give yourself to now, bring yourself back to your body.

If you have them, use an Ascension Attitude. Pay attention and allow your awareness to fill up, and just be here for a moment. Slow down.

Make that your base, your foundation and go from there.

Good job! Have the best of days.

Keep the Peace,

- Arjuna

PS. Finally I have dates for the Bright Path Ishayas’ Ascension meditation course. Hurrah!

You are formally invited to the weekend course here in Richmond, North Yorkshire (a very relaxed and pretty town - just don’t join a queue)

Dates are the 16 and 17 April. We begin on the Friday (15th at 7pm).

There are some beds available if you want to stay and make it into a “mini-retreat” and are okay with cats.

Anyhow - more details are coming, just set aside the date.

I make the mistakes so you don’t have to.

Wouldn’t it be nice if that were true? Well hopefully you can learn something from this so you don’t repeat it.

If you read yesterday’s blog it was all about knowing the time when you can push through and knowing when you need to pull back and let go.

I’ve been so excited of late as to the whole new year resoluteness, I had some fine things I wanted to achieve over the next few months, and a plan to get them.

I am really quite excited about it all, but then found myself having zero motivation to do it.

No matter what I did, there was just no juice for it.

The harder I pushed, the more frustrated and tense I got.

I was so focussed on achieving that I forgot things take time. Sometimes I’m in charge of that time, sometimes not.

I was so focussed on the future I completely forgot to be content now.

I forgot to enjoy the ride.

The goal is great, but the journey - that’s so important.

Enjoy the journey.

Forgetting that meant life got quite hard for a day or two. It was quite a contrast.

But one thing I love about Ascension meditation is the community. If you need help, you only have to ask and you have it heaped upon you from teachers and other practitioners. I really love that.

So I asked fellow teachers for some help, and low and behold they brought the clarity.

Bingo.

Nice to reset and remember what I’m doing all this stuff, what the most important thing to me is.

That isn’t stress and struggle. It’s complete and absolute enjoyment of each and every moment.

And you know what? As soon as I stopped pushing I got inspired.

Put that one down to learning.

I really do feel like there is something out there, something greater, just constantly laughing at me “crash test dummy” my way through life.

Here’s a toast to “more” - more awareness is always better.

Have a great day, okay?

Feel like doing nothing at all? I know...

Does anyone else feel like doing absolutely nothing?

I feel like I’m still in hibernation mode - I don’t really care for anything beyond a bit of sofa time with my buddy Harry Potter (back for a re-read).

I have talked with so many people who feel the same way, just low motivation.

I like being in touch with people because it reminds me that a lot of what goes on, goes on for many of us at the same time.

When I was teaching yoga a lot I realised this was happening.

People would get the same malady at the same time. I used to joke that it was back week, or elbow week, or bad digestion week, or “whatever was going around” week.

But it was true - I knew what to expect in other people’s bodies. I knew what would be troubling others based on the previous classes.

I say all this simply because somehow whatever you are experiencing is easier if it’s shared.

Then it’s not “your fault” - it’s just something that’s going around.

If it’s not “your fault” then you can work with it, and not try and force through it.

There is a time for productivity and energy, and there is a time for doing the bare minimum, for being patient and nurturing and restoring.

Does that make sense?

There is a time to push, and then there is a time to take it easy.

The more aware you become, the more you will notice that “flow” within you.

Then the choice is yours - you can push and try and force your way through something you think “should” be happening…

…or you can take the easy - and what I have found (honestly) to ultimately be the more productive - way.

It involves being aware, of tuning in, of being sensitive to what is.

The best way I’ve found to do that is… as you know… meditating. The practice of non-judgemental awareness.

The best way of meditating? The Bright Path Ishayas’ Ascension.

Simple, easy, it does it for you.

And it gives you a great sense of humour, the ability to cook like a champion chef, and makes you a better lover. Perhaps.

Whatever you do, just close your eyes and start, today. You can’t do it wrong.

Take it easy now

It's not true when you believe you can't do anything

It’s easy to think that you can do nothing. Or that the things you do don’t make a difference.

But your being and presence speaks louder than any noble words or great deeds coming from someone who, say, is distracted.

In this way the small things that you do count for so much.

When you have your heart in what you do, that is, when you are completely present and alive, everything has a depth to it, it has real substance.

Just a simple “thank you” and a smile to the shop keeper carries so much when you are fully behind it.

Every small action becomes alive, it touches and changes others in ways that you will never know.

In a world where so many are not present to their words and actions, being fully and completely with someone can be a little bit of a shock to them.

But it shows you want to relate to them on a different level, they’re not just another person, that they too make a difference to you.

Fully show up for life - be fully behind each and everything you do and say.

There was a great German monk called Meister Eckhart back in the day, who once said,

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”

Just that alone makes a difference.

Change your heart, change your being, it changes more than you could ever know.

- Arjuna

ps. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the small things, all the small endeavours, the kindnesses, the smiles, the jokes that you bring. Thank you for the calm, the space to be accepted, for the love that you are.

Take a deep breath - when you get excited

Take a deep breath… It is the simplest of things, and yet chances are you don’t notice it - until it’s gone.

You never know how much you appreciate a deep breath until you aren’t able to have one for a while.

Largely un-noticed, your breath comes in and out, all day long. Never stopping, always there, keeping you alive.

But it can be a great tool as well.

If you ever like to put yourself into times and places where there is a possibility for extreme excitement and the beginnings of anxiety,

or perhaps you are a little prone to panic attacks,

having a solid practice of deep breathing behind you can be a real anchor - to keep you present, to keep you in a steady state.

Public performers like musicians and actors or sports people know that shift from practice to game on…

You’re doing the same thing, but now everyone is watching, now it really matters.

You want to do it, you want to do a good job, and your body knows it.

So you do your best to stay present, stay out of the future in terms of not dwelling on the outcome, simply involving yourself in what you can do right now that will take you where you want to end up.

But still your heart is banging in your chest.

Deep breathing can really help - as does the Ascension techniques used eyes open - as long as you are aware it might not help the physical, the hand tremors, the heart rate, the yawning.

Don’t fight those - expect them, and make sure the inner experience is as steady as it can be.

Breathing does help you stay anchored to the present, to this moment, to not allow the excitement become over the top anxiety.

It keeps the emotion at a steady, manageable point.

And then you can fall back on what you have practiced, you can allow your body to take over.

That is the other key - you need to practice in times of excitement/anxiety.

There is no point in only practicing when it doesn’t matter. To really master anxiety in that you can feel it and perform exceptionally despite it, you just need to do it.

To step into those times, prepared as well as you can, and then just let it happen.

Expect the terror and do it anyway. Again and again and again. You’ll get better.

The reason you are excited is because it matters to you.

If it didn’t matter you probably wouldn’t be doing it - or it wouldn’t be a stretch for you.

You can stay in your safe zone all of your life, or you can step outside to where the magic is.

Make sure you have the tools so you can, simply.

You coming to the Bright Path Ishayas’ Ascension course?

So simple, no breathing is required.

If you haven’t learnt the Bright Path Ishayas’ Ascension, you should.

If you have, isn’t it time you repeated the weekend?

Retreat weekend - 20-22 November

Richmond, North Yorkshire

£200 - repeat as many times as you like for free, anywhere in the world, with all the support for the rest of your life, also completely for free.

Come stay with the family if you’re from out of town. 2 hours from Edinburgh by fast train, 2.5 from London. Simple.

I don’t know how I can make learning the tools to be free of struggle any easier.

Email me for more details, or click here for more.

You don't need to trust.

Funny thing trust.

Life is here, right in front of you. Life is what is here.

In this moment, now, all of your past can be just a story. All of your future, an idea, a hope and a dream. Impossible to tell or control.

When you embrace the experience of being present, everything gets simple. You realise what you are in control of and what you simply must accept as being beyond control.

Trust isn’t necessary here. Reality becomes so clear. Trust is only necessary when you are trying to control the future, when you are trying to control the uncontrollable.

And I hope you soon come to experience how stressful control is, because it is wicked.

Trying to force through what you want in life is tough. It means you are constantly referencing your plans for the future, trying to juggle balls you have no control over, attempting to manipulate others to your preferred way, and absolutely missing out on the simple joy of this moment.

The answer?

As always - simply return to now. Become present and alive to here.

The more you do that, the more you will see that any fear, any control comes from a thought about the future. That the thought is the terrifying thing - not the reality of right here.

If you can distinguish the difference between the reality of your situation, right now, and the fear of a future, life will be so much simpler for you. One you can control, one you cannot.

You must let go, because anything else is crazy. Worrying about what you can’t control is fruitless.

Become super present, become super alive to here and see that.

You only need trust when you aren’t present. When you are present you become trust itself.

And you can all be present.

Let any attempt to control or worry for a future be an alarm so you return.

The experience of fully being here is so much better than any idea of what might or should happen. Trust enough just to let go to now and find that for yourself.

Experience now and you will find you want to spend more and more time here. You’ll come to a place where you don’t need trust anymore.

Freedom of choice.

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could choose how you felt? Wouldn’t it be great if instead of reacting and firing off that you could choose to be all zen, and just flow through? Or if you did react to something, if you got angry or mad or sad, then you could just choose to drop it when you wanted to?

Actually it is cool to live like that.

It makes life so much easier. Instead of carrying anything, you are able to just let it go and get on with what is in front of you.

It’s much more fun. Being overwhelmed by your emotions or being pulled this way and that by what life brings you, holding grudges and maintaining arguments - that isn’t much fun. But living with complete choice is very very fun.

Living a life of constant free choice is possible for you, if you want it. It is also simple. All it takes is practice, the right kind of practice. That is all.

The right practice is one simply of being as present as you are able. Be alive to now. Absorb yourself in now.

When you fall into the habit of going into the past or future, choose to gently bring yourself back.

The only reason you carry anything is because of a habit. The only reason you react to anything is a habit.

Why not create a new habit?

Aristotle said something wise about this:

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

It doesn’t require hard work. It does require commitment, but then so does anything. Getting to the shops requires a certain maintenance of focus long enough to reach the store and purchase what you want.

Same here with this experience of being free of being yanked by the chain of the mind.

Life is your choice. Exercise your freedom of choice. Do it until it becomes second nature.

Well, actually its your first nature, as in it is the way you were meant to live so there is nothing second about it, but you know what I mean.

As I sit here eating cheesecake, I realise all of this is an easy thing to say. I get that.

Cheesecake is good, and easy, though not often plentiful, at least in my house. Life is different sometimes. I know.

But here’s the thing - start now. Practice when life is easy, when the going is good. Then when you need it most, you won’t need to work at it. It’ll be as simple as I say it is. You'll become like human teflon, laughing all the way to experiencing heaven on earth.

If you want it, and do what is necessary, you’ll become it.

Let me know how you get on.

Let me know too if you are interested in learning the Bright Path Ishayas' Ascension. This one guy I taught last week described it as "sneaky", in that it comes and gets you. He's right. Choice comes and gets you. Can't make it any easy that that.

Where are you?

The greatest way to live the best of lives is to spend as much time in the same place as your body as you can. That may sound funny, but humans are the best time travellers. We are anywhere but here in this moment, we are always in the past or future. We live everywhere but in our bodies, we spend an awesome amount of time in our heads.

That is the reason why you enjoy what you enjoy so much, whether it is golf or knitting, climbing rocks or making music, exercising or just sitting, watching.

When you do these things you become very present. You get out of your head, your senses broaden, you become aware.

You become absorbed in the task, and in this moment. It captivates you, invigorates you, you become alive.

But this experience isn’t task or situation specific. I always thought that kayaking brought me so much joy because it was being in nature, it was exciting and it was physically challenging.

It is all these things, but critically I enjoyed it was because it was an escape, and being an escape I let go of my life. My life was somewhere else, but now was now. This was ‘me’ time!

It wasn’t because I was up a river, it was because I let go and focussed on the here and now.

It is the same with everything - It isn’t about what you do, it is always about how you do it.

I realise now that I am better at being present I can have the same buzz from washing the dishes. Being in the outdoors may give me an extra sparkle, but the sense of being alive and absorbed, completely and utterly present to this moment is available no matter what I do.

Letting go of what has been and what will be is the key.

Just now - be awake. Be here. Notice. Be involved in now.

You may live the busiest of lives but you can only do one thing at a time - do that one thing. Be totally absorbed in it. Don’t half-arse do it whilst thinking about what you have to do next.

You will find you become much more efficient, and perhaps more importantly, enjoy yourself much more.

Be alive!

Know Thyself

Are you aware that you have voices in your head? If you thought “what voice?” that’s the voice I’m talking about. Talking to yourself is nothing to be ashamed of, the fact is people do it all the time. However: In terms of peace of mind, freedom from stress and living the best life possible, you need to be aware of what the voice in your head is telling you.

When you aren’t aware you have no choice. You follow and do and feel and react accordingly to the voice. We’ve lived with the voice in the head for so long we more or less follow what it says.

It’s one result when you go with the voice that says “I’m hungry”, completely another path when you believe the voice that states “I can’t”. Perhaps even more insidious is the voice that goes “I should”.

In awareness you have choice.

In knowing the voice you can create a space of freedom and exploration of what happens when you don’t automatically go with it. The next step stops being a reactive, “what you have always done” movement and starts becoming creative - the consciously living of your life. You can be aware of restrictive or limiting patterns and habits and make other choices.

Choice is the key word, always.

Even just for a couple of minutes, stop and observe your thoughts. In watching you can see what there is in your own head. Let them come, and let them go. If it helps, maybe count them. Assign each one a number as simply as if you were counting clouds in the sky as they pass by.

For each thought there doesn’t have to be a reaction. Every thought can just arise and then fall away to where ever it came from.

Equally, just because you think it, it doesn’t mean it is true. A thought can simply be an idea, a label, an interpretation or an option. Does that make sense?

For example, there doesn’t need to be a link between a “bad” thought and feeling bad - it can simply be an option to choose to feel bad that you don’t take, you just observe and let go.

Just because you have thoughts it doesn’t mean that you are the thoughts. Because you can be aware of the contents of your mind, it means you must be more than those contents. Your thoughts need not define or be the limit of you.

If this is so, if you aren’t your mind, if you aren’t your beliefs, if you have choice, then what are you? Be aware and find out. Know thyself.

It’s worth doing because the most important question to me is always “how do you want to live?”

However that is, don’t live blindly. There is always more beyond the voices. There is always choice. Always.