Mind Movie

by Greg Provance

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

How do I remember to pause and be present?

By Maurice Denis

Being present is a lifelong practice. Pausing and being present is a way to wipe the slate clean and restart your day. It’s a way to refresh and reboot. There are several ways to bring yourself back to the moment, focus on the ones that speak to you.  Here are a few…

First things first: you must realize that the majority of the time we are not present.  If you think you are, guess again.  Studies have shown that every seven seconds random thoughts pop in and out of our heads, which translates to 7 or 8 interruptions and loss of focus every minute of your day.  Imagine how much time is wasted, how much production is loss and how the quality of our work suffers.

What if we instead did everything with profound attention?  What would the results be?

So where are we, when we’re not present? You can only be in one of three places: in the present, in the past or in the future. The majority of us are usually thinking about things in the past we could have improved on, things we may have not cherished or even neglected.  If were not in the past we are in the future, we forecast and project what we wish our lives would be or how things in the future will be better than they are right now (and that is if your optimistic)!  Mostly we forecast tragic results for ourselves in the future. We see ourselves failing in our relationships, messing up presentations at work, not meeting financial obligations, or saying the wrong things. Rarely are we in the present, right here right now. Our thoughts are directed by our fears and insecurities.  The principal cause of distraction that steals our ability to be profoundly in the present, are our fears and insecurities. We are so intoxicated with ourselves that we miss the moment in front of us.  We listen to the voice in our heads constantly exaggerating our fears and creating anxiety robbing us of the gift of the present.

The second step: is to realize when you’re not in the moment. This as we just discussed is the majority of the time. Create cues and reminders that bring you back to the present.  For example, focus on your breathing.  Every time you bring your breath to mind you bring yourself right into the present.  You don’t breathe in the past or in the future… you can only breathe right now. Ask yourself one simple question when you catch yourself not being present.  Where did the thing that was occupying my mind live? Did it live in the present? Was it right in front of me?  Here are some things you can do that may help you remember to pause and be present:
•     Focus on your breathing
•     Ask yourself where does this thought or emotion live? In the past, future or present.
•    Create a positive affirmation
•    Focus on the other person, try to be less interesting and more interested in the other person
•    Make eye contact
•    Become a great listener
•    Surround yourself with a vibrant, aware and present community
•    Ask how you can be of service to your immediate community
•    Slow down, meditate daily AM and PM
•    Create order in your life, the proper systems and processes that make life easier
•    Bring to mind the things you are grateful for
•    Practice, Practice and more Practice!

And remember:

“The master is the one who knows he will always be a student”
Buddhist Monk

Please feel free to share your experiences with being present and LEAVE A COMMENT!

A Holiday “Alternative”

by Greg Provance

On our last visit to the shelter, run by friends of my wife and mine, the Sisters of the good Shepherd, we were reminded of an amazing opportunity for gift-giving. The Sisters partner with an organization which empowers women in developing countries who struggle with economic injustice and independence. It is called Handcrafting Justice and it is a fun, unique way to give which benefits everyone involved!

The organization allows these women to participate in free trade, and provides education, supplies and resources for them to create businesses, sell their products and create amazing arts and crafts. I have purchased several items ranging from nativity scenes made from volcanic ash to quilted handbags, made from 100% recycled silk.

There are also “alternative gifts” which include a month of education or a cow or loom that will position the women and their families for success! Imagine the feeling of giving a gift that is sure to change the lives of ALL involved, and to improve the world we live in…it is truly a blessing.

ALl you have to do is go to www.HandcraftingJustice.org and start clicking! You’ll be glad you did!

Happy Holidays,

Greg Provance

Cheryl Richardson’s “Uncovering Passion”

presented by Bryan Jones

For most people, the road to connecting with passion begins with
practicing good self care. This means slowing down, spending time with
yourself, taking good care of your body and mind, nurturing your spirit,
and engaging in activities that will move you out of your head and into
your heart so you are more open to your feelings. As you’re better able
to be more present and connected to your feelings, you’ll be ready to do a
little exploring to discover the specific, personal things that best
ignite your passions. Let me give you a few examples:

For some, passion is experienced while engaging in a hobby or personal
interest outside of work. For example, my friend Peter is passionate about
sailing. Long before the warm weather arrives, Peter prepares his boat and
plans for the sailing season. When I mention the word “sailing”, his eyes
light up, he speaks with more emotion, and his gestures become more
animated. That’s passion.

For others, their work becomes a passion. My friend Max combined her love
of interior design and interest in real estate to start a business doing
spectacular renovations of rundown properties. Her excitement and
enthusiasm are so strong that I can actually feel her passion when she
shows me different properties and describes the changes she intends to
make. It’s no surprise that her properties sell almost as soon as they
hit the market.

If you feel out of touch with what makes you feel passionate, take heart.
There are a number of ways to reconnect with this feeling. You need only
to pay attention to the clues that surround you each day. Consider these
examples:

Books – Take a moment and check out your bookcase. Whether you read
fiction or nonfiction, books will provide you with many clues about what
inspires you most. As you look over the books, do you notice any common
subjects or themes? Which books are your all-time favorites? Why?

News – There are times when stories in newspapers or magazines will
inspire the pursuit of a passion. For example, you may read the story of a
misfortune that pulls at your heartstrings or a triumph that gives you a
renewed sense of hope. Are there certain sections of the paper that you
turn to first, or certain magazines that you always read? Look for
patterns . . .

Movies - What movies have inspired you? Are there certain movies that
you watch over and over again? Why? Once again, look for common themes.

Passionate People – Who are the passionate people in your life?
Remember that passion can be contagious! When you’re in the company of
someone who is totally consumed by something they feel passionate about,
it’s easier to connect with your own passionate thoughts or visions. Is
there someone you can think of right now who inspires passion?

Service – Have you overcome a major challenge in your life? Do you
feel inspired and motivated to use this knowledge and experience to serve
others? Being there for those in need can be a powerful way to experience
passion.

Passion comes in many forms. Whether it’s a beautiful sunset, a magical
night at the theater, or an afternoon filled with the laughter of a child,
pay close attention to those things that strike a chord with your
emotional core. When you connect with your passion, doors open, energy
ignites, and the world reveals the next steps to using this information in
some life-changing way. Just watch …

Take Action Challenge

This week, grab a notebook, create a “passion page” in your journal, or
open a file on your computer right now, and get ready to go on a little
treasure hunt to identify things that move you in a powerful way. Take a
few moments to quickly answer some of the questions from above. Then,
during the week, start to notice stories that inspire you, people whom you
admire, or times when you feel touched in a deep way. Capture these
examples in writing. As you keep track of these clues, you’ll find they
lead you to *your* passionate pursuits.

Anyone have a passion they’d like to share? Go ahead….leave a comment!

Maurice Denis was a recent participant in the Desiderata Project, hosted by Bob Clubbs on his blog “Every, Every Minute.”

Each participant was given a section of Desiderata to focus on and share their own experience or thoughts…Here’s what Maurice was given and how he laid it out…

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.

The three Phrases that changed my relationship with money forever:

The person who said money can’t make you happy, never had any money. I heard a man say that to my father and I never forgot it. I grew up most of my life not having and mostly wanting. At young age my life became an endless stream of desiring the things I thought I would never have. As early as I can remember I searched for ways to make money, to better myself and live a different life. I went from lemonade stand to Amway before I was in middle school. By the time I was in high school I had already started paper trading stocks. I majored in finance in college and became a stockbroker trainee a month after graduation. The chase was on… all the things I never had I was determined to acquire. I bought a house and a new car, I thought I had arrived. Then one day I stopped long enough to stop letting my fears create my reality. I realized I had everything I had ever wanted and I felt incomplete, still wanting, and still desiring. I knew at that moment that I needed to stop wanting, to stop desiring and start living. I grew up thinking that once I made a certain amount of money, I would be happy.

John Lennon, said “life is what happens when your making other plans.” I spent so much of my life waiting until I had enough money and then I would… Once I had a thousand dollars, once I had ten thousand dollars. I would wait for the fifteenth and thirtieth to value my worth. I was in a constant state of wanting.

This brings me to the second phrase: It’s not how much you make it’s how much you spend…

Don’t let your possessions own you, own your possessions.

I was living my life accumulating things that were contributing to the anxiety and fear that I had around money. The more I made the more I spent. I was chasing my tail. The car I drove and the clothes I wore were all an attempt to become something I thought I couldn’t be without money. Be true to yourself, pursue your passions and the money will come. The more you do what you like the better you become at it. The better you become at it the more you do it… one day you will make a living doing what you love. I will leave you with this last phrase.

The best things in life are free… so go on a living spree! Live today as if were your last, turn someday into today and make each day a perfect day because you were fortunate enough to live it!

That phrase changed my relationship with money forever.

It’s interesting how we fall into patterns in our lives.

A Surfer’s Guide to Life

by Greg Provance
1977 World Champion surfer Shaun Tomson recently released his new book, Surfer’s Code: 12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life.

In it, he relates his experiences with surfing to 12 simple truths that anyone can apply to live a rich, full life…and if there is anyone qualified to talk about life as it relates to surfing, it’s Shaun. Shaun grew up surfing in South Africa, mastering one of the world’s most epic breaks, Jeffrey’s Bay. “A native of South Africa, he spent fourteen years on the Tour (1976-1989), nine of which in the top six. With twelve contest wins, including a record setting six year winning streak in the prestigious Gunston 500 in Durban, South Africa, he was considered one of the world’s finest surfers.” (Ref: www.SurfersCode.com).

A great friend of mine was lucky enough to meet Shaun recently at Zuma Beach in Malibu while at an event held to teach the art of surfing to U.S. veterans of war. When I heard that he had not only met Shaun and received an autographed copy of the book, but was invited to ride his board, (while I was a few miles away, unaware of the event altogether) I seriously questioned the status of our friendship. But later, as I flipped through the pages of Surfer’s Code, I realized the gift that I had been given. A surfer whom I had admired as a kid, a guy who was the subject of many of the pics that plastered my bedroom walls and who I tried to emulate while learning to perfect my tube-riding skills had once again impressed upon me something special. I found that I may always be a student of Shaun’s, in surfing and in life.

In his new book, Shaun uses his wealth of surfing experience to illustrate life lessons that anyone, surfers and land-lubbers alike can apply. Lessons like: “All surfers are joined by one ocean”, “I will take the drop with commitment” and “I will never fight a rip tide” seem on the surface to be typical surfing cliches, until they are applied to life’s situations as only a true champion can (and does) on the page and in his own life.

Beautifully written and colorfully illustrated with familiar and recent shots that have donned the surfing mags since the 70’s, Surfer’s Code takes center stage on my extensive collection of self-mastery and surfing lifestyle bookshelf!

Any thoughts from those surfing through life out there are welcome!

Last Lecture of Randy Pausch

One of our Challenge participants came across this amazing video of Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, diagnosed with a fatal form of cancer and faced with only a few short weeks left to live. This is what he has chosen to do with his final days. Enjoy the inspiration of this amazing life’s work!

And while you’re at it, imagine what we each can do with the time we have left.
Anyone who is making a difference with your life, please let us know how you spend your prescious time by commenting here.

Success Revealed

by Greg Provance
This week, I have been reminded that success is often disguised…I have often felt that in order for something to be considered a success, it must be something big, exciting, thunderous. I once asked a client what her biggest success was in the last year, and she replied, “I haven’t had any.” I was shocked, because she had just finished talking about her college graduation the month prior! When I pointed it out to her, she said…”Oh, yeah, I guess that counts, huh?” The fact is, we have “little” successes each day, whether we notice them or not. One thing I have used to focus more on my successes is to create a success journal. Each night before bed, I write 3-5 successes in a tiny notebook by the bed. It pushes me to find more success in my days, and makes me grateful for the ones I have, however “small” they may be. Remember…what you focus on grows, so focus on the wins, and you will get great results!
To your success,
Greg Provance

The Challenge Begins!

Welcome all participants to the Change Starts Today Life Fitness Challenge!
There has been an outstanding turnout this round and the first place prize is up to $1000!
Good luck to everyone…
We welcome you to use this blog to post comments, submit pictures and write about your successes, challenges and inspiration!
To your extraordinary life,
THe Change Starts Today Team

The Success Show

Check out “The Success Show”, hosted by Coach Erwin, this Thursday, September 6 at 8 am PST, 11 am EST.
This week’s guest will be Greg Provance, co-founder of Change Starts Today speaking on the topic of habits.
This promises to be a fun, interactive conversation, so please join us and leave comments here!