Motivation

Finding motivation from day to day can be very difficult. Recently I've been very unwell, my partner and I caught a nasty bug that's been going around. Illness quickly saps your energy and working-out (especially weight training) becomes impossible. When I started to feel better I really found it hard to get back into my routine, I didn't want to start working out again. I'm not sure why, I love the feeling, I just really struggled.

I'm back in the saddle now, and doing a split routine, 2 days on, 1 day off, upper body and abs one day and lower body and abs the second day. I just didn't think that it would take so much to start again. I really had to push to find that motivation. When you have a regular routine it just becomes something that you do, you don't really think about it, you just do it.

I remember when I first started, I was very unfit and fat, it took a lot to get me going. I just focused on how much I wanted it. How much I wanted to be able to run to the end of the street and not be worn out. To be able to play and mess around with my partner and not need to stop and have a breather. How I wanted to remove the fat from my body and be fit and healthy. How much I want to start my marriage feeling good about me, and my life.

I wouldn't give-up working-out, the energy that I have now is incredible. It seems strange that working-out would give you more energy but it does. It makes you feel fit and strong, your memory and concentration improve as well.

So even though the motivation can be hard to find at times it is very much worth the effort. I'm glad that I take 20 minutes to and hour out of my day to exercise. After a while it just becomes something that you crave, that you miss when you don't get to do it. That gives you so much more than you ever expected. Give it a go, find your motivation today.

Chasing Silence

My little brother sent me an email a few days ago, he asked a number of interesting questions, which I thought I would share with you all.

What Is Meditation?
Meditation is the art of silencing the mind. The art of living in the here and now.

Can I Benefit From Learning Meditation?
I think everyone can benefit from learning to meditate. It can enhance your life by;

• improving your concentration,
• reducing stress,
• alleviating anxiety,
• and helping you to gain a deeper understanding of your inner self.

Personally I love meditating, my inner turmoil floats away. The troubles of the world don't seem to drag me down as much.

Where do I start?
Learning to mediate takes practice, yet benefits can be seen early in the process.
I don't think learning to meditate has an ending, it's a journey, not a destination. Like most things in life you get out what your willing to put in. With meditation I find this to be doubly so.

Before you can mediate you first must learn to concentrate. Our minds are busy places, you need to learn to quiet the chatter. The first step is learning to focus on one thing.

Learning to Concentrate
Concentration Tip 1: Try placing a small dot on the wall, sit comfortably and focus on the dot. Don't get annoyed with yourself if you get distracted. Notice what distracted you, then place your focus back on the dot.

The same thing can be achieved with the flame of a candle or any other object. Practice this until you can easily concentrate on one thing.

Concentration Tip 2: Another method is repeating a word or phrase to yourself. Traditionally these words or phrases are known as mantras. Use of a mantra encourages the mind to focus on just one thought.
When you find your mind wandering, gently try to refocus your attention back to your mantra.
Practice this until you can easily concentrate on just your word or phrase.

Note: I know people who try to focus on their breathing. Personally I don't like this method, because I can control my breathing. Therefore instead of learning to concentrate, I learn to change my breathing patterns.

Conclusion
It may take a couple of weeks to be able to consistently think about one thing, but when you do you'll be amazed with the results.

Once you have learned to concentrate on one thing, you will find a natural progression into silencing your mind. This will take time, so first concentrate on learning concentration!

The following YouTube video has a good explanation on how to meditate.

I hope this helps you begin your journey into meditation. Have fun...

It's All About Perspective, really...

I don't know about you, but I hate "To Do" lists. When I write them, I rarely if ever, seem to get anything on them done. Even when I finish each task, I don't feel as though I've really achieved that much.

However, there are a couple of tricks that I find useful. They're designed to trick my mind into achieving my goals.
Essentially all they do is change my perspective on the situation at hand.

I thought I would share these little tricks with you. Who knows, maybe they'll help you too.

I no longer have "To Do" lists. Instead I have a Goals book.
I make everything that I want to achieve a goal. Not something to do, as such, instead something to achieve. I therefore look at everything that I complete as an achievement of these goals.

I know it may seem silly to put something simple like "cleaning the house" as a goal, but it works. Then when the task is complete, it becomes something that I've achieved, instead of just house work. Then I feel as thought I've achieved something that I've set out to do.

Now that I keep my goals in a book, I don't ever throw them away. If it's written on a whiteboard or a piece paper however, I'll eventually have to wipe it off. Then it's lost. So I can't actually see what I've achieved over time, but because it's written in my book, I can look back and see a list of goals that I've set for myself and then reached.

NEVER, and I mean never, do I cross out my goals once I've achieved them. Subconsciously crossing them out feels negative to me. So instead I've gotten into the habit of putting a big tick next to them, once they're complete. It makes me feel as though I've done the right thing.
I've achieved something that I've set out to do.

Try it for yourself, I was amazed with the results.
Maybe you will be too...