Tag Archive for 'Buddha'

Motivation, Mindfulness, Setting Goals

Looking for a Destiny Everything you experience and achieve in life is based on your intention, expectation, and vision.

Do you believe that? If it were true, what does it say about choices you may have made? We always get what we want and expect, whether we think so or not!

Of course, that doesn’t mean that outside influences don’t play out in our lives. They do, all the time. But how we negotiate and transform those influences is determined by us. It’s not a question of whether or not obstacles, challenges, and disappointment exit. They exist in abundance. The question is how you address them, and how your attitude and predisposition may be influencing their perceived impact.

This is something that every mature teaching system agrees on, from Buddhism to New Thought. More importantly, simple honest observation bears it out every day.

Without an intention, nothing is actually ‘accomplished’

This does not mean that your life must be dominated by your goals. Learning to be present, to be mindful, to have awareness in everyday life is essential. It is not a question of one being more important than the other. It’s not either or. In fact, it has been demonstrated that people who are on track with their goals and vision, and who are taking action to achieve them in a deliberate and conscious way, are more able to release anxiety and fully live in the present moment, which translates to fully enjoying life – this is something else that simple observation bears witness to every day. Just think of the people you know who are getting things accomplished in a steady measured way with deliberation and joy, clear intention and a clear plan.

There are two keys to sustaining intention and vision. The first is CONGRUITY —  being in agreement with yourself, embodying your ‘bliss’, and living with the integrity that allows you to live from the inside out. That means NOT fighting against yourself, living your truth, knowing your values and priorities, and trusting them.

The second key is MOTIVATION. Motivation is based on emotion, and emotions do not last. So the question is how you live into the marvelous unknown, with trust, enjoying the journey of your life so that it’s unfolding becomes a source of pleasure and joy. How do you become naturally self-motivated. How do you generate motivation within yourself every day. There are ways to learn to do exactly this. This is the not-so-secret secret known to almost everyone you have ever admired, emulated, or been inspired by — from the Buddha to Oprah Winfrey, from Nelson Mandela to the the Rolling Stones

To learn more please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N88FS76 to complete a short survey and request a complimentary Strategy-Focus phone call.

Podcast at: http://www.hownotwhy.com/?p=432

Law of Distraction

lamborghini_murcielagoThe Secret triggered new interest in Law of Attraction teachings and perspectives. “Think the right thoughts and become a star,” is the way it goes. The trouble is that this misses several important steps. Which is one reason why I turned to Buddhism – years ago – when my father explained positive thinking to me as a way to get good grades at school. Somehow I had the idea that study was important too. Silly me!

Well, silly everybody if we think we can get a Lamborghini just by wishing, wanting, praying, or chanting for it. Well, actually the truth is, we can! AND we have to pay for it, learn to drive it, take care ot it. Like you have to study to get good grades, AND having a positive attitude will help. More than help, it’s essential!

So, law of attraction, and positive thinking is “essential but not sufficient” as they say in the language of statistics. You get what you expect, AND what you expect is very much based on what you do, how you prepare,how you act.

This is actually very much aligned with Buddhist teaching. Thought leads to action. And by the way, the Buddha never said that there was anything wrong with Lamborghinis either. But he did mention that is was worth checking the consequences of your actions. He never said that there was anything wrong with desire either. But he did suggest that it was worth choosing where you put your attention, and that if you don’t desire leads to distraction, confusion, regret, and a whole series of altogether useless internal activities.

.. “would you like to test-drive it?” asked the monk, handing me the keys with a smile..

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