It should not be practiced with any other kinds of meditation, involves an initial 11 day vipassana silent meditation retreat. It is available to anyone, is non-sectarian, has been practiced for thousands of years and is free.

Yep, free.

If you want further information you can visit the Ontario Vipassana meditation retreat that I attended.

Recently, my journey included an 11 day Vipassana silent meditation retreat. It was definitely a life changing experience and worth every minute of silence and learning.

can anyone do it?

Yes, but you have to be ready for it.

Well, almost anyone. Those with serious mental disorders or life issues will want to consult with a doctor first. It is not a cure for anger, depression and various life events. It is a tool you can use to overcome aversion and craving.

And it’s a powerful tool.

You see it’s not the silence that is difficult. It’s the sitting, the isolation and working out your demons. Trying to isolate and eliminate your thoughts so you can focus on…well, nothing.

That is a challenge.

It is distracting.

It is uncomfortable at times.

The days are long.

Time passes slowly.

It takes dedication and commitment.

So, you have to be at a time in your life where you are ready for the challenge.

what is involved?

The steps are simple:

1. Find a centre near you and register (they will tell you if you are accepted)
2. Show up and register
3. You are not allowed to bring any books, radios, or devices – no reading, no other stimulation
4. The meals are vegan and after noon you are only allowed tea and fruit (new students only)
5. You can’t leave until the 11 days are over
6. Attend the meditation sessions throughout the day
7. You will practice noble silence, which involves no eye contact, gestures, or communication with any students – you may speak with the instructor or administrator

Amazing. You will meet and connect with people from all walks of life. All searching for something. A way to live in a peaceful manner with meaning and connection. You will only get out of it, what you put into it. But it works.

I recommend it for anyone that wants a more peaceful life with skills to help them cope with people and all life issues.

Your life will never quite be the same. It is one of the life challenges you will always be glad you took. It’s memorable, useful and a catalyst to a new journey.

Find the time and book your Vipassana meditation. It’s the start of a whole new way of thinking.

It’s okay. We all do it. We judge things we don’t understand. But…a simple life is not a burden, it’s a blessing.

Brett Wilson, mega millionaire from the show Dragon’s Den couldn’t have put it more eloquently in advice to his son:

If you want to have a happy and easy life, have simple needs

Those are not his exact words, but you get the sentiment. Creating a simple life is about creating a life you can enjoy without too many things getting in the way. When you complicate your life you have to spend time dealing with the complication.

Here’s an example:

Person A maintains 2 cars, a 3000 square foot house with a hefty mortgage and eats out every lunch and several times a week because they don’t have the energy to cook. To maintain that house and the job for it, they have to have a full wardrobe and various communication gadgets.

1. car costs – $25,000 each over 5 years or $500 monthly
2. car maintenance and insurance – $500 monthly
3. mortgage & insurance costs – $2500 monthly
4. eating out – $500
5. wardrobe & extras – $500
6. gadgets & communication – $500

Okay, that’s $5000 and it doesn’t even cover a full budget. It’s not an unreasonable estimate.

Person B doesn’t maintain a car, instead they go use Autoshare and work from home several days a week. They bring lunch and entertain guests at their 950 square foot house, which they rent. They maintain a minimum casual wardrobe with used items at about and control their gadgets to internet, skype and a cellphone.

1. transportation – $200
2. entertainment – $200
3. housing – $1500
4. wardrobe – $50
5. communication – $150

Okay, that’s about $2100 a month. A big difference. Person B has simplified their life and their needs. They are probably much less stressed and have a better chance of saving money and earning equity than person A. Person A is likely going into debt further each month!

Who would you say has a life that is a burden? Probably person A. Oh, and the carbon footprint of person B is substantially lower than Person B. They are making a difference in the world by the lifestyle they choose.

So, before you think simplifying your needs and cutting costs is a burden – think twice. Simplifying is very liberating. It buys you time and energy, something missing in society today!

Do you take time for friends and family?

There. I’ve asked.

Now why do I ask. Green, simple living is about taking the time to enjoy life in the here and now. It is all we have. Your future can’t be predetermined, no matter how much you plan or worry.

Spending time with the people you care about or pursuing the dreams and passions is something that we should all actively partake in. Time is fleeting. Before you know it, it will be gone. Unfortunately, the people you love will be gone at some point too. Make sure you build lasting memories with them.

This weekend is my annual event at a cottage in northern Ontario. I have attended almost every year for well over 2 decades. I look forward to the festivities, though each year becomes more and more tiring. I wouldn’t miss it for the world though. It’s what makes life special.

Take time for your friends and family. Create your memories. Don’t let life pass you by.

There. I’ve said it. Enjoy.

Today’s post is a short life lesson on the simplicity of perseverance and effort.

In the past few months I have had countless obstacles and barriers to make the changes in my life.

Each of them required effort to get the desired result that I wanted.

There is no easy button

Here’s a look at a few obstacles I had to overcome:

• limited internet connectivity
• selling my stuff to have a minimal and mobile life
• laptop repairs to get mobile computing
• getting a new car on the road
• learning linux “again” after a 5 year absence
• cultural and religious barriers

And dozen more time constraining, money limiting and personal beliefs or conflicts that needed to be reviewed.

Instead of running away from each of them, I had to make the effort to move forward.If I wanted it, I had to take the actions to make it happen. Nobody was going to do it for me.

My actions were the exact thing that kept me from or helped me to move forward. Without perseverance and dedication to the desired result, it would have been impossible to achieve any of it.

Everyone gets stucks sometimes. We all become stagnant.

But the choices we make and actions we take to move forward are what separate us from the pack and help us to move forward. Good things happen to those that help themselves.

I encourage all of you to take the next step and then continue on until you achieve the good things you want.

Take action!

It’s not as hard as you think. I promise

From now on…the simply stephen network will be a just that – a network of sites. All of them related to simply stephen.

Simplicity is sometimes staring you right in the face. I was struggling with maintaining a half dozen websites. It was a lot of content creation.

You know what – my sites are about life.

All of them.

So I have broken them down in that way. It will now be possible to write several good quality articles each week without overwhelming myself by writing several articles for each site.

Most days I will now be able to post an article. I will direct you to the appropriate site and will give a quick recap here.

They include:

1. the yurtopia project – exploring alternative lifestyles
2. cope with life – how to cope with life obstacles
3. have a niche day – a day in the life of a blogger (an introverted and ethical perspective)
4. living on a dime – how to save money (and still be green)
5. simply stephen – green simple living (philosophies and ideas on green simple living)

That’s a much more manageable workload that will increase the quality of posts and expose you to the various aspects of living. If you are interested in a single topic you can visit that site exclusively or get the whole gamut by checking out simply stephen.

Today, check out cope with life and go with the flow to experience life.

Warning! My blog will challenge you to be more, give more, live fearlessly, take more chances and show up in the world unstoppable, daring and bold.

Without further ado, visit Tess for my article i’m not hungry, i’m starving and make sure to follow her on Twitter and subscribe to the feed to help you live a bold life.

Before you recycle (or if you can’t find or don’t have another use for something) try looking for a new home. A recent article on bartering & trading gives you a great list as a starting point online.

One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure!

That’s how eBay got their start! Even if something is broken there is almost always someone that has a use for it. Check out the stacks of free stuff on craigslist, kijiji and ebay to name a few places and then go to all the online or newspaper classifieds. We buy used stuff all the time, so there is no need to be ashamed or inconvenienced by it. Garage sales also indicate that people purchase and get rid of things on a regular basis. Everybody loves a bargain.

why should you worry about it?

The number of items showing up in the garbage because someone can’t be bothered is astounding. Just take a walk down the street on garbage day and look at the computers, old chairs and various items. Many a time, I’ve salvaged something in perfect working order that was going to end up in landfill, toxins and all. That kind of waste is a sign that we take things for granted.

Here are some quick steps I take. I never throw anything out.

1. if it is broken see if I can repair it
2. if I don’t want to repair it, post it on freecycle, craigslist or kijiji
3. if I still don’t have a home…wait and try again (could just be timing)
4. put it outside with a note “free to a good home”
5. ask friends, neighbours or family
6. if it is working fine (no excuse to throw it out) consider a garage sale
7. if you don’t want to hold a garage sale see if you can swap it or sell it
8. if you still haven’t sold it, consider all the local charities and donate it

Even things like toilet rolls & old paint can be used as art supplies at a local school or community center! Earth911 has a few suggestions and there are companies that take paint and recycle (creating a good quality paint too). Here are a few more items that you could always find a new home for.

1. cell phones – Don’t just throw out your Cell Phones
2. shoes – yep, shoes can and should be recycled
3. eyeglasses – many programs exist, here are some eyeglass programs and also cds, discs, packing material, phones, video tapes and various other common items.
4. printer cartridge programs exist too. Don’t just buy them, donate the old ones too.
5. glass jars – people always want these for canning & they make great containers

Computers, batteries, oil – the list goes on and on. I guess what I’m trying to say is before you throw something in the garbage ask if it really needs to be in there. My garbage is limited to a 1/4 of a bag every two weeks in a household of 3 and I’m ashamed of that. I’m always looking for creative programs or methods to find a new home for all the items that get used or are no longer wanted.

Suggestions welcome!

On Friday I’ll take the time to remind us about the other thing that has been forgotten – repair.

Why Reduce?

I won’t teach you to suck eggs but here’s a quick recap:

1. the global supply of raw materials is finite / limited (we need to get creative and smart, not just with what we use but also how much of it we use)
2. toxins and pollutants are destroying the air, water and land, including farming and forests – let’s face it we all need air, water and land to sustain a healthy, happy lifestyle for generations to come.
3. Reducing what we consume saves valuable time and money

Why is it hard to make changes?

Changes in general are hard to make but with green changes there is a sense of the unknown. The flip side is an excessive amount of new information has overwhelmed us. We are still in the digestion stage.

Oh, and we typically move forward when a few more people take the plunge. Lead by example to keep the momentum.  I’m here to break this down into little chunks to help you with the changes. Ultimately these adjustments will help you save money, the planet and your health.

Once we understand what actions are the best ones we can move forward!

What are the areas we need to reduce?

Reduction is not just about garbage anymore, the scope has become much larger. There is a constant state of flux – we need to continually review and improve our efforts.

30 Questions to Ask:

Energy:

1. Will this product cut down my energy consumption (water, electricity, heating/cooling)?
2. What is the Carbon Imprint (CO2 emissions) to make, deliver & use this product?

Product & Packaging:

3. Is it certified? (i.e. Energy Star, EcoLogo, EcoCert, Rainforest Alliance, FSC, USDA Organic, and Fair Trade)
4. Is it organic, natural, biodegradable, hypo-allergenic & non toxic?
5. Is there an alternative to plastic? (i.e. stainless steel, glass)
6. Is the company committed to the environment?
7. Is it made with recycled material?
8. Is the material reusable or recyclable?
9. Is it sustainable? (will the resources “die out” – think of overfishing)
10. Can I avoid making garbage with it?
11. Can I buy in bulk?
12. Is the packaging excessive?
13. Can I avoid a bag, container or wrapping? (bring your own – mug, bag, lunch, container)

Paper:

14. Can I replace disposable paper with cloth product or rag?
15. Is this made from recycled material?
16. Is there an renewable alternative (such as bamboo or hemp)?
17. Is this bleach free?
18. How can I reuse this paper product?
19. Can I eliminate my mail?

Location:

20. Can this be found locally?
21. Is there a lot of transportation or travel involved to get this?

Philosophical:

22. Do I  REALLY need this?
23. Can I reduce my activities to a few that I really enjoy? (and do more of them)
24. If I simplify and reduce what I own how much money can I save?
25. Can I get money from the things I don’t use?
26. Is there an area of my life I can simplify?
27. Can I wait 30 days to see if I really want this?
28. Will this save money?
29. Will it make a difference – globally?

Water:

30. Will this product save water consumption or protect it from pollutants?

There certainly are many more questions you can ask but just start to review this list and ask these questions and you will start to rapidly educate yourself and get in a habit of green change.
In our next article we will help you disseminate all this info with some cool resources and a short list for the simplest things you can do, the things that have the biggest impact and the things that will save you the most money.

The whole green change movement is confusing and overwhelming for many but it can be solved by implementing three simple rules:

1. make a pact to consume less
2. educate yourself on products & sustainable lifestyle
3. repeat rules 1 & 2

That’s right. It’s a circle. Keep educating yourself and challenging yourself to consume less and buy smarter. Every week try to reduce consumption in various areas of your life. Start making conscious, deliberate choices. Celebrate and share them with your friends, family, coworkers, neighbours and peers.

Next weeks will revisit an old concept Reduce, the first of the 3Rs where we will discuss ways we can all reduce, why it is so important and the quickest things we can do to make an impact.

That’s it. I’m leaving you to ponder what choices you can make. Share them with me on twitter or make a comment on the blog.

Holiday season has arrived and I want to share a simple message.

A life with abundance is not a world filled with things, it is the things you fill it with that make it worthwhile.

Spend time reflecting and cherish the people and things in your life. Be grateful, not just over the holiday season but for the year to come. Be conscious and dare to make the changes that create a world you want to see. Live on your own terms and inspire others. Strive to be the best and let your unique gifts contribute to a better world.

Here’s a reminder from last year of some Simple Christmas Pleasures that can make the holiday extra special. I know each of you took the time to make some green changes this year and am thrilled to have connected and shared on our journey. Your footprint counts, the little things matter, each of you inspires me to go on.

Be safe, be warm, be happy and enjoy your time with loved ones. Enjoy your holiday! This is the last post until the New Year. Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year…to the possibilities ahead. I look forward to hearing your stories in the year to come.

Peace & love to each of you.

P.S. With the beta almost finished, expect a few changes and more frequent posts in the new year. In fact simply stephen may have a 5 day posting regiment with a very simple and effective formula designed to help you make green changes with ease. Stay tuned…

Christmas is a time of sharing, celebrating and giving form many.  The commercial aspects of Christmas have turned in to a frenzy of purchasing that defeats the purpose. Think of all the things you have and consider pay it forward Christmas gifts this year.

For the person that has everything, perhaps it time to look at gifts that help others. Consider purchasing a donation or an item that gives to a charity for your family members or friends. This is a green a gift as you can give. During no time of the year should anyone be homeless, hungry or alone – especially children. Therefore the gift of food and warmth is extra special and sharing your joy with a family or individual in need of those things is precious.

gifts from a charity

Charity village has an excellent list of non profit organizations that offer a gift and raise money for various causes. They have broken it down into multiple categories.

gifts that sponsor or donate a charity

Another list of credible charities that are related or designed for Christmas giving and poverty can be found at All Things Christmas and of course Santa has various programs that he sponsors and has made a list for you.

donation to charity

In every city there are countless local charities that help your neighbours – the people that live in your town. You know the local groups. The foodbanks, the homeless shelters,  give a gift to a child programs, the clothes for poor and so many more. Why not pick one? Food, money, clothes and various items you no longer need could make someone very happy at Christmas. Forget about spring cleaning or the garage sale next summer. Now is the time to go and do it.

Okay, this post ended up being a little more preachy than I wanted it to but the sentiments are meant to inspire you to rethink even just a portion of your Christmas frenzy and share the wealth just a little bit. What better way to be happy than to spread a little joy to someone else.

So, why am I writing about the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009? Clearly, I must think it’s a waste of time right? Wrong. I think Copenhagen is a big eye opener for the world. BUT… smog alerts, lost habitat, dirty water, oil spills, dried up resources, barren fishing grounds, increased sickness due to pollutants, drought, famine, floods, melting ice caps, strange weather (this list goes on and on)…these should all be eye openers too – think about Katrina. I would have thought that these things would be enough to create change.

Awareness and Change

So, Copenhagen is a wonderful “event” that clearly does two things – it creates acknowledgment by the whole world that there is an issue. Most people follow leaders – until someone else does something the average individual will simply try to look after himself and his family. But the acknowledgment of climate change by key leaders promotes awareness and starts to educate us. It is one catalyst for change. Swift and drastic changes.

There is a second thing and there is a big IF on this one. The climate change conference coupled with recent global collapse potentially creates a global economy centered on the environment. There will be commitments by countries with funding created to resolve these problems. The world will be able to make a shift IF the focus is put on carbon reduction and other environmental issues.

Want to know a secret?

A car is a car. A fossil fuel is a fossil fuel. Consumption is consumption. If you replace a car with an environmentally friendly car or you change your house to be energy efficient it is still not solving the problems. Consumption is the problem. The car still needs to be made with raw materials and is still something that you will eventually throw out.

A key way to change the situation dramatically is to change how you consume products – this change means a change in values. Our values need to be based on important activities with a lower impact on the world – not on things. Using less, not replacing them with something else is paramount.

No amount of awareness or government interaction is going to make these changes. It is not up to your neighbor or the country next door. It’s up to you. If all the YOU’s make simple changes in habits it adds up. We’ve had 50 years of gorging ourselves. Now it’s time to pay the piper.

Want to know another secret?

Green, simple living is pretty cool and very fulfilling. I saw the need 20 years ago and have love nature and the environment for my whole life. The changes to simplicity where easy for me I did them over time, each one prompting me to want more. I knew the changes were coming and there will be more of them, some even harsher than the global disasters and economic fall out that we have witnessed. I felt none of it on a personal level – but was sad to see how the planet and everyone else was affected.

simple siment - so now, I would encourage each of you to make simple changes every day. Small changes that you won’t feel. Add a new change each and every day. Reduce your consumption. Refuse to use. Refuse to buy products that harm. Educate yourself. Become aware. Share your knowledge. Protect your children and the life forms on this planet.

I think we are all worth it. That’s why I do it.

Take the Time

I make sure that every day involves a bit of time for myself. And every week I try to connect with friends and family, especially my daughter. I share my trials and tribulations. I play my guitar, read, enjoy nature, good food and make sure that I am looking after the things that count.

Every August long weekend, I attend an annual event with a group of friends at a beautiful cottage in Ontario’s Muskoka region. It is one of the highlights of the year for me. Not because of the beauty and not because of the time away from everyday life but because of the company of friends (that I may not get a chance to see very often because of proximity and schedules). This connection and reconnection to people that are important to me is something I look forward too. It makes me realize how special our time is.

This summer was so much more. Just after my special weekend, my daughter arrived from England to spend some of her summer vacation with me. Though I talk with her every week, I had not seen her for 26 months, an eternity. When she arrived it was a dream come true. I knew why I was here and enjoyed every moment spent. We visited more friends and family, all the time wishing it would never end. The memories and time spent can’t be taken away from me but things that I own can disappear in a flash (and in the past they have). You can take them away but can’t take away the love and memory.

After a wonderful highlight of time spent with my daughter, I had a surprise last minute visit from my brother, whom I hadn’t seen for several years. Again, distance and other circumstances keep us apart. That instant connection, the same one I had with my daughter, quickly melted away the time that we had missed. I also attended a wedding celebration of my oldest friend, who has lived in Korea for almost 10 years and out of province for most of 2 decades. It was great to meet his bride and spend time with his family (and he has a little one on the way). To top the summer off, my sister will be getting married in a few weeks. What a summer.

It’s Fleeting

Now if that doesn’t top the cake, to hit home just how important the things in life are – a close friend has a relative that needs to undergo heart surgery. Sounds important doesn’t it. The perspective should make you think about what you can replace and what you really need. People and events can not be replaced.

In true synchronicity, Tess over at The Bold Life, submitted a video posting on being grateful. Take the time to view it and realize that all we have is today. The people around us and the beauty in the world is enough to be thankful for. It’s not the things, it’s the things in life that are important.

What’s important in your life? Do yourself a favour. Take the time!

During this season the birds and animals forage, they raise young and teach them how to survive. These young explore their surroundings, frolic, play and rest. The plants grow, flower, seed and provide nutrients for the soil. It is all part of the process.

Learn and Connect

We could all take a lesson from this. We can connect with our children too – teach and play. We can also learn from them, it should not be one directional. We can share time and play with our partners.  We can learn to relax and enjoy life and our surroundings, take time to smell the roses, something we should practice all year round. We can explore and visit – friends new and old. We can rest. It’s time to release your inner tortoise.

This simple process of slowing down and taking time off allows us to continue for the long winter ahead. It connects us with the earth and with people. Every summer, I have specific events and times that I go to. It is precious to spend time with friends to enjoy the outdoors. Connection. It gives me time to reflect and realize what is really important and why I exist. It helps us get strong.

Make a Pledge to Slow Down and Take Time Off

So, I hope each of you will, if you haven’t already, set some time aside and do something (or perhaps don’t do anything). Here’s a simple suggestion list:

1. Spend quality time with a friend or family member
2. Learn something new
3. Go out and explore
4. Watch your children, grandchildren or friends children play (and go play with them)
5. Read a good book
6. Get off the computer and be active
7. Volunteer or help a neighbour
8. Sit out in the backyard or at the cottage and watch the world go by
9. Cook and share a good meal, hopefully fresh and local
10. Release your inner tortoise

I’m Slowing Down

For the next couple weeks, until the middle of August, I will be visiting with family and friends. My daughter is visiting, to share time and enjoy life. I generally go at a slow pace anyway, life is too short, not to enjoy it. I have however, scheduled a couple regular posts to keep you informed and share with you, but it is unlikely that I will communicate with social media and email on a regular basis, if at all. You may also have noticed less activity on the site, on Twitter and via email.

Why? Because I’ve already slowed down – my inner tortoise is in full force. I’m enjoying the garden, my guitar, good food, fruit picking, time with friends and the process of summer. I hope that all of you will slow down and take some time off too!

Please share with me what your tortoise is doing.

In general, I try to create quality over quantity. Time gets the better of me, but rather than follow the hoards, I prefer to take my time and create something worth sharing. There are lots of things that I want to get done, but my philosophy is to get it done right!

Post Something You Can Be Proud Of

There are many blogs and websites, large and small, where the postings are consistent and provide an accurate and strong measure of what they are trying to say. This is not by chance. Chris Guillebeau from The Art of Nonconformity (AONC) uses the term “Be Remarkable”. If you are not than it is not worth doing. The strong majority are simply mediocre. The same is true of products – if you buy quality, it lasts and you don’t need to keep replacing it. In the long run it saves you more (and most of those quality green products save the planet too).

This doesn’t mean that every article is going to be a viral post that everyone loves. People have different needs, they could be reading when they are tired, the topic could be something they are not interested in.

If you stick with the premise of quality, you will build loyal followers that trust your content and advice. That’s why I create all my own content. It’s my blog. I verify. I gather my info from trusted sources, including a large portion from books and the library. I also formulate my own thoughts and ideas. Independent thought can take you to the next level in your mind and creative place.

Don’t Rush It

I was recently working on a post and was hoping to put it up this month. But I stopped myself. It wasn’t ready. My message had not been formulated to a standard that I could accept. There was more to say and ideas needed to be verified and tested. It wasn’t remarkable. So I set it aside. Just like food, if you rush preparing it, it will not taste as good. I am waiting to change the message and improve the quality. Rushing will not help me and I don’t want to leave a sour taste in your mouth. It’s like the fine bottles of wine aging in the picture above.

Quality and Standards mean you care

You may have noticed that I sometimes only put up one post a week. I have not yet put an email optin, free report or eBook. There are limited forms of monetization. That is because I am concerned with the quality. I want you to benefit from it. I want to provide solutions and evoke thought. I do not want to sell to you like an internet marketer (or any marketer for that matter). I care and will do those things when I am certain they will meet your needs.

They will be different than the norm. They will be as green as possible. They may be local. They will be affordable (very affordable) in a world where everything is overpriced. They will inspire others to try the same. They will be informative, they will not carry pushy sales messages. They will be helpful. They will respect you and they will assist your goals and aspirations. I encourage each of you to do the same.

Quality of Life and Time with Loved Ones

My daughter will be visiting me at the beginning of August. I will dedicated the 2 weeks to my time with her. I will share the 90 Day Free Hugs Challenge with her. My regular Friday postings will still go up, but I will spend limited time on the computer during the first half of August. Why am I telling you this? Because it’s about quality. She lives far away, and I don’t get to spend a large quantity of time with her. But when I do, I spend quality.

I won’t be going to amusement parks and entertaining her. I’ll be sharing with her. I’ll be connecting and learning from her. I’ll be visiting friends and family. I speak with her almost every week consistently, sometimes for hours at a time – we talk, play games, sing, write, read, dream and learn. That quality beats out everything.

So before you worry about how much of something you have. Think about what standard it is. That quality matters more in the long run than anything else. Without it you have nothing.

Shift your perspective

The Dalai Lama states that shifting your perspective is not only a way to achieve happiness (perhaps the true goal of life) but is a way to overcome all of life’s obstacles. For instance, looking at things from a wider view will make an apparent problem seem much smaller than it is. In reverse, focusing on an issue or feeling can help discover solutions that you didn’t know existed. So, if you have trouble accepting something, try shifting your perspective. The world looks substantially different from a 1000 feet above the ground.

Why do you feel that way?

Put simply, it’s about belief and emotion. Is the world gentle or hostile, flood or drought, hot or cold, happy or sad, filled with misery or joy? It’s all of those things. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

You may have heard of the expression “put yourself in the other persons shoes” time and time again but have you ever actually practiced it. Imagine this scenario – everyone in the world is right handed (or so it seems) except you. You are left handed and you want to tell everyone that you are left handed. Wow! How would you feel? Scared, embarrassed, ashamed and confused. You would be devastated. Especially, if you were unable to tell anyone for fear that you would be estranged from the world (after all we all need to connect).

What if you told your friends and family and they rejected you? Seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? Maybe they don’t like left handed people but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t like you. I don’t like it when people get angry but I still love the people that get angry at me. I don’t like trees being clear cut and forests destroyed, but I still have wooden furniture. Okay, you get the point, it is important to change your perspective.

How do you change your point of view?

No straightforward solution will get you there. There are however, techniques and things you can do to help get there. Remaining an observer, instead of making judgment is a good start and helps you refrain from analysis. You have an option in life to be optimistic and to change your perception. You can expand your horizons by:

• turning a disadvantage into an advantage
• being grateful for what you have
• looking for hope
• ask a different question – more narrow or broad
• look at prevention versus cure

What solution would someone else put in place?

Albert Einstein said “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”. Ahhhhh! So change is the key. Try this instead. If you are coming up with the same views or problems, look a little further (step back). See what solution someone else has put in place and figure out how you can emulate the result. Perspective is key. If you are too narrow to look at a different one than the change will never come. You may have heard of Tim Ferriss and the 4 Hour Work week it is all about perspective. The doubters resist, but the true changers in society embrace change and shift their perspective. Which one are you?

Are You Ready?

We often hear about a company downsizing but a more recent phenomenon is downsizing your personal life. With the recent Garbage Strike in Toronto, global recession and substantial talk about climate change it is clearly time to think about simplifying. Downsizing your possessions will help bring about a clarity in your life.

We All Have Choices

When a company is downsizing, the reasons are often motivated by lack of sales or a change in  markets. The downsizing often comes fast and hard. It hurts. Many people are devastated when cutbacks happen and there is a negative ripple effect on the people that depend on them. But when an individual decides to downsize it is clearly because change is happening. And change is good. Right! When you make a choice to downsize it is a choice to save money, simplify your stuff (and hence your time), create a lighter footprint and learn to grow as a person.

Enjoy the Process

Downsizing is a difficult thing. It takes time to build up the courage. It is something that I would encourage everyone to do. It is much easier if you do it in baby steps. And it is much easier to do this voluntarily then to be forced to downsize because your situation has changed. If you learn to make it an active part of your life it is actually something that you can enjoy.

When I first started downsizing almost 15 years ago, it was because I was moving out of country. Initially, I got rid of some stuff, maybe 10% and stored the rest in my parents basement or with friends. When I returned, I discovered that most of the stuff was not missed. I had not been using it and it served no purpose. Packing and shipping it was costly, items could get damaged and the space needed to maintain all the stuff was also a factor (not to mention a burden on finance).

Light Bulb!

If only I had the stuff I used, loved and needed; life would be so much easier. And it is. One can make a little bit of money selling the things. Costs are cut dramatically. Moving is a much less involved process. One can enjoy the things they have more. Cupboards have space. Life has less clutter and it takes less time to maintain everything. It also changes  personal spending habits – stuff doesn’t make you happy. An abundant life can be spent doing things instead of acquiring things. Reduced income to maintain a lifestyle is a catalyst for freedom.

Some Lessons and Habits

I learned how to set up a new place quickly with all the things I needed. Furniture is the easiest thing to part with and replace. I have some basic items but I know how to find quality or purpose filled furniture, wherever I go and often for free. I can feel good about donating it when I move on. Just like spring cleaning, I make a regular habit of getting rid of stuff. It’s easier now so I can do it ruthlessly. I don’t suggest a beginner take this approach unless drastic measures are called for. Take your transition slowly over time.

I also learned the true value of my time and the things that I wanted (or should I say wanted to be doing). I kept my guitar, it offers me hours of pleasure and serenity. I kept a few memories, including photos and childhood mementos. I removed old equipment, stopped buying gadgets, simplified to a laptop (though I’m back to a desktop & laptop for other reasons). I reduced massive amounts of paper, magazine and books (hint these are bulky, hard to move, get damaged easily and can always be replaced). I changed my wardrobe to the bare essentials.

Where do I start?

The hardest items are the sentimental ones which often include books or music. For real pack rats things that they perceive as having value are also hard to let go. These things represent us. Instead of removing them, perhaps rethink it’s cost and usage.

Are you ready to just have one big MP3 portable jukebox for all of your music? If you could sell your 5 stereos and only use MP3′s would the sale buy you a single, perhaps portable player that you could use anywhere and meets your needs. Think of the space, the money and the payback.

Books can actually be a little harder. Start with the books that you know you won’t read again and treat yourself to a new book purchase by trading them in at a used bookstore for credit. You get something for nothing. Text books are often hard for some people…you are finished school now, they can go. In a previous post How to Simplify your Bookshelf I concentrated on this because it is challenging to reduce your bookshelf but is a prime example of how you can downsize in steps.

Clothes can be slowly eliminated and gives those that love clothing a chance to get a new wardrobe every once in a while by getting rid of the old and in with the new. Photos can be scanned and saved, duplicates thrown away and those fuzzy pictures…guess what, you don’t need them. There are so many ways to downsize. Start now and take it in little chunks at a time. You would be amazed at the free space, time and abundance of living you create and will find that you can save costs by not having to maintain certain things.

So give your items a rethink. Talk it out with friends. Hire an organizer. Donate. Free up the money and space. Downsizing your personal life will offer you a giant reward, unlike the punishment of being downsized.

Do you take time to smell the roses?

Seriously?

Stop and think about it for a moment, that is if you aren’t too busy. The world has become a demanding place. Perhaps it always was and those demands have just changed over the years. Now days, long work hours with even longer commute times, financial demands,  technology changes, instant news, cellphones, emails, social media, fast food, fast this and fast that…how does everyone keep up?

Time to Recharge

Well, contrary to what you may think, most of us don’t stop very often! That stress builds up. Something or someone is getting neglected. Could be your health or even a precious loved one? But usually that something is ourselves. If you stop to smell the roses, it offers you a chance to recharge.

I don’t have time.

Excuses are usually the barriers in life that stop us from enjoying it. Isn’t that one of the reasons we are here? To enjoy life. Time is not a barrier, it is an excuse.

Did you have time for your coffee? To read the morning paper? To watch a TV Show? To check your eMail?

Okay, you get the point. There are many more things to add to the above list that are actually just something you are doing to pass the time. Remember that recharge I mentioned above. Yeah, that one. That is what will give you the energy to get things done.

But I like my pace! Okay, so keep it, but realize just like sleep that your body needs to be rewarded with positive experiences too. Instead of racing down the highway at 30 over the limit. Try going the speed limit and taking in the scenery. Note the things you never saw before. Take a walk and start to look at the houses, the flowers, the people, the children in the park. I mean – really, really look a them. The choices are endless and the rewards are only there if you try it.

I actually stop and smell the roses. If they are wild ones, I may even eat a few petals, very sweet and nutritious. But the point is your roses could be anything. Stop and take the time to admire your loved ones. Look at the birds from your kitchen window. You decide, just make sure that it involves observation and deliberate actions. You will thank yourself later.

Sometimes it is time to get back to basics and review where you are in life. It is far too simple to let things slide. Easier then practicing art of simplifying.  Simplicity is a challenge that many of us neglect. Allowing a journey down different roads and distracting ourselves is sometimes the only way to discover this. Reviewing it is the only way to change.

Who Moved My Cheese

A recent re-read of the book Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson enticed me to review the handwriting on the wall. Change happens because the world is very dynamic, so it is important to anticipate, monitor and adapt to the change. Once you’ve done that, sit back and enjoy it – and expect to enjoy it again soon. The review makes you aware of the change and willing to accept a new direction. This direction will lead you to where you want instead of where you were going (or in many cases weren’t).

Maslow’s Hierarchy

Let’s take a quick look at Maslow’s Hierarchy, were he talks about the fundamental physiological needs that we all have. The basics – air, water, food, shelter, clothing. These are followed by safety & love. Only once these are achieved can we focus on the more intense and fulfilling goals of esteem and growth. So if each of us takes time to reveiw and ensure that the basic needs are met, then we can be better prepared to make changes and grow in all aspects of our life.

Stopping the Weeds

A review stops the weeds from taking over and let’s the plant grow healthy and strong. Take a minute and reflect. Write down the direction you want. Not the one you had – where you want to go now. Break it down to the fundamentals to make sure they are on track and then look down the road and see where it is you are going. If that is not where you wanted to be then eliminate the weeds and head down the new road. Putting it in writing will affirm the new direction and gives you permission to drop all the projects and activities that are not offering you fulfillment.

So, when life is moving along, remember to move along with it and step back to basics. There is always time to review where your life is going and there is no time like the present. Please share your changes and methods in the comments below, so we can learn and grow. Your input will help other’s achieve the success and happiness we all desire.

Since I’m on the topic of gardening this spring, I’ve decided to continue the theme with the up and coming season of fruit picking. Community fruit picking is an old idea that has been revisited in recent years. In Toronto, a new not-for-profit group, Not Far From the Tree has emerged. With so many fruit bearing plants in Toronto, in 2008 the first full season of picking was completed with 3003 pounds of fruit picked.

I’ve decided to volunteer this year and have spoken with Laura Reinsborough the project coordinator. So popular is the program that they have successfully received more volunteers then they have fruit to pick. If you are interested in volunteering – they need Gleaners, a fancy way to say Lead Pickers that help other volunteers get involved. You can contact Laura at laura@notfarfromthetree.org for further information. They are also looking for homes that would like assistance with picking.

So what is the program and why did it capture my attention? If you didn’t visit the link above, here’s a quick recap. The program started in order to capture the abundance of fruit in Toronto gardens and keep it from going to waste. Volunteers help pick the fruit and it gets divided 3 ways between the home owner, volunteers and community organizations. They also pick flowers and fruit from Spadina House. This prevents the fruit from being wasted, assists homeowners that have a difficult time picking and gives back to the community and volunteers working with the program.

A very special act of green, sharing and bringing a community together while reducing waste and increasing awareness. Does your city have a similar program? Are they interested in starting one up? Post a comment on the website and let me know about the programs that exist in your neck of the woods. After all word of mouth is a wonderful thing.

Garden after Planting

My initial thoughts when deciding on vegetables was to pick items that I love to eat and then I moved into the healthy choice vegatables to maximize my return. But as I sat and thought about it (and humbled myself to my 83 year old landlord, who has been planting his whole life), I realized that it was about planting a vegetable garden that will grow with the biggest bounty. It is also important to figure out how to utilize the space effectively. I can buy vegetables fresh at the markets that are plentiful and inexpensive.

I decided to pick a few of my favorites. For me, I love zuchinni and tomotoes, so I had to have lots of them in place. I have 12 beefsteak, 8 cherry and 4 plum tomoto plants. Zuchinni is hearty so I should get plenty out of my 7 plants. Since the garden is next to a fence, I planted snow peas, so they can weave up the fence.

Herbs for Cooking

I then planted 5 rows about 4 feet wide of lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, beets and similar items. I threw in some experiments with strawberries, gladiolas (flowers are delicious and edible) and then added some herbs including cillantro, basil, parsley, fennel, dill and mint. Chives and onions also exist around the parameter of the garden. These ward off slugs and insects.

Reduce Waste with Compost

We also used a mulch from the compost we make. This compost is rich and we know it is good from the quality of food we eat that goes into it. Almost everything in our house gets recycled and composting is one fo the best ways to reduce garbage to almost nothing, about one small bag every two weeks. Reducing consumption is another way…buy less, buy with less packaging, bring your own bags, buy fresh produce (and forget about putting them in a plastic bag or bring your own). Some simple steps.

So what are the benefits of planting a vegetable garden?

Well, apart from the obvious of getting fresh vegetables here’s the true value of a veggie garden:

1. The food is fresh and you know the source is chemical free
2. The quality of the food – straight from the garden to your mouth
3. The distance the food travels – distance to travel is almost nil, except for travel to get plants
4. Investment offers good return – $50 worth of plants should save 4 to 10 times the cost ($2-500)
5. Constant care is not necessary, some weeding and watering every few days if the weather is dry will only take a few hours of time.
6. Time spent per week is less than a couple hours and the fresh air and exercise is good for you
7. Veggies can be jarred, frozen and made into sauces, preserves and various goodies to last the winter and act as gifts
8. Gardening is about growth and the personal growth from the success is very rewarding

Those are just some of the many benefits. I’m sure with a bit of effort we can find a lot more. I encourage you to comment with some of the benefits of planting a vegetable garden can offer and let me know about your success. I will post some pictures as the garden grows and at season end discuss the harvest and successes of this years project. It may be June but it’s not too late to start a garden….go, go, before it’s too late. You will thank me later.

In our previous issue I talked about decluttering your office. Today I will talk about communication and media. For some of you these media are the tool for your livelihood (I am a perfect example) but the rules of simplifying can be applied – eliminate, group and organize. Rinse and repeat. The world is quite busy now and we fill our lives with email, RSS subscriptions, social media (like Facebook), cellphones, iPhones, text messaging, forums, Skype, land phones, video conferencing, chat…this list goes on and on. Each of these tools can simplify our lives, but also add a great deal of time to our schedule thus offsetting their value. The world was simple before these inventions and certainly quieter. These tools can be costly too, so if you can reduce a few gadgets you can save a lot of money. Choose which conveniences are important or that you deem necessary.

Phones - the first step here is determining how many phones and communication devices you really need. Take a look at how much you are paying and this may give you the little push to eliminate a device or two. I finally eliminated my landline and use a cellphone for messages (I try to rarely talk on it unless it is the weekend or after 7pm). Set a schedule for when you make your calls therefore keeping it simple. I use Skype Out for all phone calls and can reach 48 countries to landlines and computers for just $9.95 a month. All that’s needed is an internet connection, which I deem as mandatory for obvious reasons. My grand total for phones is $40 a month. Don’t text from your phone, use the computer for free. If you need a Blackberry or special device, see if you can improve your package and monitor the usage. Roll all of your devices into one and don’t go for all the extra packages. In the end you won’t use them all and someone else will get rich off of you.

Email - There are three simple ways to eliminate email frustration. Use an open source email management client like Zoho and forward all of your emails to one account. That way when you check your emails they are all in one place. Once set up it becomes an easy solution, is free and a huge timesaver. The next thing to do is determine the times of day that you will pick up your email, usually 2-3 times is appropriate. Delete all the junk files and quickly scan the ones that interest you. If you can reduce this to once a day, you will save hours every month. The final trick is to respond immediately to any emails that require action. This means you only touch the email once and have eliminated the time it takes to read it again. Try to eliminate or unsubscribe from all unecessary lists.

Snail Mail – Apply the same rules as email. Touch the mail once and deal with it. Respond or pay bills immediately if possible. The next trick for mail is to eliminate your junk mail.

Media - The true purpose of social media is to make connections. If it is an activity that is simply fun for you, consider using it during your personal or fun time and avoid it during work. If it is a work tool, treat it like email and schedule a time and time limit for use. This will maintain a routine that you can build productivity into.

Don’t forget to follow my twitter profile and follow my feed to get my postings in your reader or email.

In an earlier post, I touched upon spring cleaning and living a simple life with less. Here’s one way to start your process of simplifying. Books are hard for many people to let go of. They have a memory and many people define themselves with the books and library that they keep. Some, don’t even read the book, they just keep it unused in the bookshelf, perhaps as a sign of prestige or to keep up an appearance. Simplifying a bookshelf is a challenge for many people.

I used to have thousands of books. Some of them barely used reference books. A large collection of WWII and escape stories, various philosophical and self help and a wide range of others. I had read them all and only a handful of them were ever touched again. The rest….they got touched when I moved and otherwise the dust was building up on them.

Over a decade ago I started to move from location to location. I noticed the boxes of unopened things and realized all the storage and time they were costing me. Dozens of boxes, back breaking to lift and the cost of gas just to get them from door to door was substantial. They took up space in a closet, basement or storage area. No one was getting the opportunity to enjoy the benefit of reading them – the true purpose of a book. Someone should be enjoying them, I thought.

I wanted to reduce the loads and trips and storage space. The books were the place to start. Eventually, it became one of the key catalyst that helped me to simplify other aspects of my life….but today, let’s start with the bookshelf.

Books, music, files, gadgets and sentimental things seem to be the hardest to let go. But let’s look at the reality of it. If you move a lot and have a large book collection there are a number of downsides.

1. They are heavy (quick moving tip use a wine box, it is about the right size and weight)
2. They take up a lot of space
3. The cost to move and ship them is expensive – pound for pound only heavy furniture costs more
4. They often remain in storage (hint – this means you don’t need or use them)
5. They will get damaged over time with many moves
6. You keep buying books (which are expensive now) and that annual total can really add up

Here’s a few ways to reduce your book collection easily and painlessly (or at least with less stress). Don’t decide to get your 2000 books down to 50 overnight. Do it in stages and ask yourself the following:

1. Are these books getting worn? Time to say goodbye.
2. Could someone else be enjoying and using this?
3. Do I refer to this book anymore?
4. Can I use the Internet as a source for info instead?
5. Do I really need to keep my University text books that you last looked at in 1987
6. Is there a charity sale that would benefit a good cause?

Now start small and get rid of a few at a time. Perhaps the old worn out books first. Then target text books and reference books. Pick the ones you know you will never read again or the ones you didn’t like. When you have your next garage sale, post them as “must go” items. You can even put them in a box outside your house with a note “free to a good home” to encourage people to take them. If you want to make a little money on it, then sell them on eBay or have a garage sale.

If you have a large quantity of books in your first attempt to cull, separate them and donate all the texts to a University Bookstore – they may even pay you for them if they are still on the book list. You will also find several bookstores buy used books or will give you a trade in value.This is a good way to start as you can trade 4 books that you have read for one book that you haven’t. Take the remaining books to a charity store.

So, what can you do to ensure that those books don’t start piling up again.

1. When you read a book, start a pile of “trade-ins” – get replacements only when you get rid of the pile
2. Learn to use the library – they have books there, lots of books, you can return them
3. Do you really need the book or can it wait (how many books do you have unread in your house)
4. Tell your friends and family that you are reducing your clutter and don’t need any more books or would prefer a “gift certificate” or consumable item (perhaps your favourite wine) instead

This is just a start. Each time I move or go for an adventure somewhere I go through my books and reduce them. It is down to about 50 books. Some of these are yearbooks & some are green, writing or web reference books that I use but otherwise I only keep a few of my memorable books. A few will be something different for different people, some a couple hundred and some a handful. I know that I can always buy them again. As for reference…I can always find what information I need on the internet.

It’s time to rethink your bookshelf. You can apply this rule to so many other items of your life. Over time it will become second nature. This will eventually lead to a more simple, peaceful and decluttered world. The end result, an abundant and peaceful life can be achieved with the essence of simplicity. Try it – you just might like it.

Fortunately, most people have a conscience and do something that isn’t selfish, whether it be looking after their children, volunteering, donating to charity or helping out in the community. But some of the most basic things are too much trouble in this speedy world that we live in.

To prove my point, which really comes down to most people resenting green change (or change in general) take a look at some issues which are contributing to global warming and the destruction of our planet. They are simple things we can do but unless we are legislated, most people won’t make the change.

Example #1 – Recycling. In the city of Toronto, the Mayor, David Miller, had to implement a more efficient recycling program to divert the excess waste that our city has created. A large portion of this waste is sent to the USA to landfill. Most of this waste, approximately 70% is commercial, yet the target is the residential consumer to fix the problem. Without a recycling program the average consumer will just throw their stuff in the garbage. It is not their concern. The attitude “I pay taxes, that service should be provided”.

I recently addressed my roommate about putting organics in the metal compost bucket, which I readily provide and empty. About 90% of our garbage is created by my roommate – usually full of thrown out waste, styrofoam pagaging, plastic wrap and fast food containers. The answer I got “I can’t be bothered”. So I’ve provided a simple container, it takes no more time, but they can’t be bothered. So the changes and ultimately the caring in the world comes down to a few people.

Example #2 – there has recently been a plastic bag tax that will take effect before year end. Some of the big corporations are using this as a money grab and a way to make them seem like they are green.

It would seem that most of these changes will not take effect until they are legislated, yet as a society, we could easily implement changes that effected us in a positive way. They would save money. They would protect our planet and our children. Why then, do we need “Big Brother” to make rules for everything we do? I’d tell you why, but I can’t be bothered!

1. Clear all of your distractions and make a list of 50 things you would like to do…aim high. Maybe you want a University Degree -pu it on the list. If you want to climb Mount Everest – put it on the list.  If you want to learn how to play the zanfir – put it on the list. If you want to re-enact the Civil War – put it on the list. Okay, you get the point. The idea of creating this list is not to be silly, but rather to give yourself an idea of all the things you want to do. Then you can worry about how. Dream a little and then live a lot!
2. Have a focus…and see your goal. Plan backwards to reach it. If you just pick one thing on the list and aim to do it, you will have a better chance of success. Many people take aim and run around chasing 50 pigs in a pen. Pick on that one pig and zone in on it. What you will find is that eventually you will catch that pig and not a random one. This achievement should not be overlooked. The shortest distance is a straight line, so picking one pig and aiming for it is a straight line – a more simple approach.
3. Believing in that focus and that list is half the battle. If you believe you can do something, then you probably will. Looking for the solutions will remove the belief that you can’t do it and keep you on target.
4. The 60 second plan – decide what you want to change and from where to where! This is the crash course in change. It’s where you reach high and say I’m doing this but I want to do this! Step back right now and think of one thing you want to change. Then change it. When this has become a habit or you are on the road to success start another 60 second plan.
5. Don’t spend time thinking about it…just do it. Most of us have tendencies to analyze everything. We come up with obstacles, reasons for not being able to do something. We want to make sure it is the right choice. The problem is, we could spend years thinking like this. What is the obstacle – obviously it’s the time spent thinking and analyzing. So, stop analyzing and just do it – change your life.
6. Do it slowly, one step at a time (decide to focus on just one thing). You may have heard of the phrase baby steps, doing one little thing to get to the next thing. If you want to learn how to be an artist, you don’t start by painting the Cistine Chapel. You start by learning how to draw basic shapes and you expand it from there. As you get better at each step you progress. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
7. Get up 1 minute earlier every day! This is an addition to the point I mentioned above. If you want to buy yourself more time, by doing it gradually you will increase the chance to change your life. In 2 months you have an extra hour to get all those little things done. But you won’t have to feel the impact of setting the alarm an hour early. The minute will go un-noticed.
8. Change how you look at things. If you close your eyes, change will seem impossible. Opening them to the possibilities will bring you to a realization that there are different ways to achieve and you may have been putting an obstacle on the road. Be thankful for what you have. Adding a little bit of gratitude can make these changes more simple and put you in a frame of mind that is open and calm.
9. Start asking the right questions and ask them in the right places. If you want to learn about something it is important to know what you want to learn. To do this you need to ask questions that are relevant to the topic. The same is true in change. Asking what is relevant can be very enlightening. Make sure you ask the right person though. You wouldn’t ask an accountant questions about music, would you? What can I learn from this?  People that prosper are often ones that have failed many times but kept trying. Usually, as part of the process, they have reviewed their actions and learned from mistakes. So asking how will this help me has taken them to the next level and the change has happened, usually not overnight.
10. Book time out…just for you. That’s it, nothing more to say here. Taking time for yourself is a big step in making changes. It offers you a time to reflect, time to enjoy life and a moment to realize what you want in life and what changes you need to make. So take a minute or two every day to change your perspective on life and enjoy it.
11. Find your pillars of strength. In the previous post, I mentioned Soar with Your Strengths. Find out what your strengths are is something many of us have done, yet we still do all the things we are not good at in hopes of getting better. A more efficient choice would be to find pillars of strength elsewhere, a support group of key people. In social circles this could be family or friends. In business the key components of success might be an accountant or a sales person that can support your overall vision for your business. Take the pressure off and stop stretching yourself – find your pillars.

There are dozens of other ways to change your life. Keep your eyes peeled and you will discover them. Look for those precious gems and the changes will no longer be a mystery. If you want to change your life, there is only one person in the driver seat – you.

People don’t change – what a false statement! Most people really don’t change – but we have a habit of scrutinizing every detail and when we look at other people we only look at yesterday. You need to look at each day and thousands of days at that to see the real change. It’s not easy to do. Sometimes it happens so slowly we just don’t notice. So what do you want, the life you live or the life within.

Another overlooked view on change is what many refer to as the brick wall theory. You know, how do stop yourself from hitting a brick wall – stop doing it! Sounds obvious, but day after day, we hit brick walls, over and over. We are all guilty. We do the same thing. We make excuses and blame it on the circumstances – “oh, if that brick wall wasn’t there I wouldn’t keep hitting it!”. Reality check – it is not the circumstances that need changing, it’s your actions. Learn what the correct actions are and you will get the correct results.

A few years ago, I read a book called Soar with Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton (Often thought of as the father of “strengths psychology”) & Paula Nelson (well known commentator on CNN & Today). This book was a gem and I still preach it to this day. One of the main premises “if you develop your strengths to the maximum, it becomes so great it overwhelms the weakness”. In other words, if you want to change your life, work on the things that you are good at, the ones you enjoy. You will find that you become so good at those things that the other skills are “overwhelmed” and of no consequence. It really does work.

One example in the book is a fable of 6 animals going to school – a duck, fish, eagle, owl, squirrel and a rabbit. The first day they go running….the rabbit is the stars and loves school. Next day they go swimming…and the rabbit sinks like a stone and almost drowns. So they double up on his swimming courses and take him out of running (imagine if they put him in flying class). He begins to resent school and is not doing the one thing he loves – running and jumping. The moral, to concentrate on what we do best – that is how we can change our lives and optimize the results.

Often, we are scared of the results, maybe even the success and joy we might achieve. Sometimes the things we desire, don’t fit into our partner’s lives. But not all changes have to be dramatic, however, if you don”t like the world you exist in, then a change is a good thing. And, it’s up to you to change it.

So remember not to sit there thinking change is impossible, but rather endless with ample chances if we remove the obstacles and focus. Learning how to focus and make those changes is a whole other step. But that’s another story…Change Your Life – Part II.