Never Underestimate a Summit

Posted in General |  Email This Post | by James Rick

Careful what you start. It’s easy to underestimate a journey before you start but not so easy to go back. Imagine if you were about to hike up a mountain, you underestimate the distance to the summit. After a grueling climb that takes you three times longer than you expected you run out of food and water. What would you do?

You …

A: Keep climbing and hope you find food and water along the way.
B: Jump and hope the fall doesn’t kill you (there’s a good chance it will)
C: Stay in one place and hope its all a bad dream.

The point is – there’s no easy way to stop once you’ve already started a journey.

I have / had what my partner refers to as “Entrepreneurial Attention Deficit Disorder” I began businesses I didn’t care that much about because I thought I’d make a quick buck or two and get out in a year. I learned that any kind of good results in a business you aren’t that passionate about is a bad thing because it lures you into doing something you don’t care that much about. In one business it took six years before I felt married to the business and divorce was not an option. For various reasons (from legal cases that needed resolution to people and projects that needed to be cut to return the company to profitability in ready for a sale to investors) I felt I had started climbing a mountain I didn’t care that much about because I thought it would be an easy summit. Six years later realizing the summit would take more time than I wanted to commit and simultaneously realizing there was no easy way to get down I found myself wondering how many people make the same mistake (doing something they aren’t passionate about because it seems like an easy way to make money in the beginning and then getting “stuck” in some way).

The Lesson: Never underestimate a summit – mountains usually look small on the horizon until you actually begin climbing them. You can only climb one mountain at a time. Pick a mountain you truly care about – ones that are worth your life if that’s what it would take. Not only will that give you the motivation you need to summit, but you’ll find greater fulfillment on your climb to the top.

Your Body..

Posted in General |  Email This Post | by James Rick

Your body is not yours anymore than the air is. But like a single breath – you control it for a moment and then its gone.

How Do We Have Empowering Thoughts in Spite of Circumstances?

Posted in Perspective · Self Improvement |  Email This Post | by James Rick

IF THOUGHTS DETERMINE HOW WE FEEL, WHAT ROLE DO CIRCUMSTANCES PLAY?

Circumstances challenge our thinking. Our thinking is an attempt to know circumstance better – in fact, thinking is an attempt to predict future circumstance. And the illusory nature of thinking is that most of what we know about real physical laws such as gravity or motion tend to occur as we predict them to occur. For example we expect an object to fall because of gravity and it does. We predict a fast moving car will be in a certain place a few seconds later and it is. This strategy of predictive thought then enter a complex realm when we try to predict the behaviors of others. We are not only limited by our own knowledge of previous circumstances in predicting, but we are going off of limited information (limited to the extent that we know a person and can reliably predict their behavior.)

What we know as trust is faith in certain behaviors based on limited information. Essentially what we are saying is that we have limited data to make a 100% prediction over what you’ll do, and so where there is a gap in your predictable behavior we have to trust that you’ll do the right thing. To trust someone we just met is a great leap of faith. To trust someone that we have known for a long time is easier to do because there is less of a gap to overcome. Reputation becomes so important because it provides a foundation for predicting behavior. The better the reputation from trusted sources, the easier it is to trust someone we just met. For example a book written by someone with a PH.D in front of their name or a degree from Harvard or mentions from the international media or an endorsement from other trusted authors is easier to trust as a source than someone who simply wrote a book -even if the latter has much more useful information than the former.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE LET OUR THINKING RUN ON A TRACK TO PREDICT BEHAVIOR?

Many times our emotions react to our fantasies – good or bad we become victims of the outcomes in our minds that never happened. This impact doesn’t just effect ourselves – it can affect everyone around us. If we are suspicious (future projection) or disgruntled (interpretation of earlier event), these emotions are quite easily detected (both consciously and subconsciously) in our body language, our tone and words.

HOW THEN SHALL WE USE THOUGHT?

We can direct it through the use of well guided questions. We can trust our own mind to supply us with the right answers when we use the right questions. After all – we’ve been with our mind the longest. The time the mind launches off on destructive inquiries is when we let it. That means – when we are not in control of the questions being asked, we very often receive answers we don’t need or feel emotions that are unwanted.

SHOULD I BE FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING QUESTIONS ALL DAY LONG? – THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WORK

Yes – thought filtering requires a lot of effort – but it’s a job that only you can do. And the alternatives are less appealing. The good news is however that through consciously asking empowering questions on a regular basis you will form a habit of asking empowering questions, making it a little easier to focus your mind in the right areas. However don’t let up – the moment you let your mind wander on its own it can go right over a cliff. In other words – disempowering questions and destructive emotions are just a thought away.

A great way to know if you’ve gone off track is through listening to your body. Emotions are an important signal to how you’ve been thinking. You can trace every emotion you are feeling now or will feel in the future to your thinking. In the words of Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence – “Emotion follows thought just as surely as ducks follow their mother.”

Of course other factors play an important role in how you’re feeling – or rather, they make it easier to feel good. Factors such as getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of water, eating salads, exercising, etc. See if you can come up with a list of “Feel Good Factors” that are simple ways to change your mood for the better. The reason? It’s simply easier to think empowering thoughts if you feel good. Having strategies for changing your state other than through remembering to ask empowering questions will offer a double assault on negative thinking and destructive emotions.

FULL POTENTIAL ACTION STEPS:
1) Come up with at least 1 or 2 questions you could ask yourself that would help you focus your brain on empowering thoughts. For example one question I ask myself, “How do I know I’m not dreaming right now?” This moves my attention to the present and helps me get out of thinking about my circumstances to instead, questioning my reality!
2) Come up with a list of at least 5 Feel Good Factors that you could easily do to change your state and make yourself feel better.

Living a Good Life

Posted in Perspective · Self Improvement |  Email This Post | by James Rick

What is the Key to Living a Good Life?

It’s not in achievement – which means honor and praise or self congratulations. A good life is measured in terms of how well aligned you are with aiding the universe in its evolution (value). Change is essential and you are essential part of that change. Where you position yourself greatly determines your “happiness” in the process. Happiness is universal feedback for doing what you are meant to do. The origin of that meaning is from the source of the universe – the same source from which you have come.

When you go to sleep at night – what urges you to sleep? Surely not yourself. No – its the body returning home. It yearns for it. Never is the pull towards the source as great as it is when you are tired. This is your evidence that such a force exists. You will feel this force once more when you have transitioned through the body to another plane – a restoration after a journey through the Earthly plane. Whether this description is from your fantasies or an actual description of events is no matter. The point is this: there is a force that draws you towards the source in both your sleeping and waking. In sleep it is the inevitable tiredness that draws you to the source. And in waking it is the fulfillment you feel in doing work that you were destined to do. Anything less than that is resistance and struggle. This is already know.

So the first characteristic of a good life is character – a personal constitution of:

• Values &
• Virtues

The definition of values are the things which you prioritize above all others as worthy of preservation of pursuit. The definition of virtue is principles of behavior (deeds) that bring about greater goodness and happiness in your life and the lives of others. Not for any other purpose but as an obligation for being – in being part of the whole you are obligated towards the whole. This is your service towards all life that in the grandest view is service to your self.

Examples of Values:

• Time
• Energy
• Knowledge
• Connection
• Wealth

Example of Virtues:

• Confidence / Boldness
• Self-control / Discipline
• Peace
• Loving
• Happiness
• Patience
• Positivity
• Zest
• Passion
• Playful

FULL POTENTIAL ACTION STEPS:
#1 Determine what your highest values are – these can easily be determined based on where you’re willing to invest the majority of your time, energy and other life resources without feeling guilty.
#2 Set goals based on your highest values. For example when I discovered that Time is one of my highest values I immediately began making sure I invested it in the best manner possible. For me this meant to be as present as possible, to avoid arguments or conflict and create as many enjoyable moments as possible. The point: through identifying your highest values you can then set up goals around them. Contrary to popular belief, goals don’t have to be for “things” but rather – for experiences in alignment with your values.
#3 Determine what virtues you want to cultivate as part of your character. These can easily be determined based on the behaviors you feel will bring the greatest goodness to you and to others.
#4: Determine at least one behavior for each virtue.
Align your daily behaviors with your virtues. For example when I discovered that self-control is high on my list of virtues I began to notice the times I lost control and took steps to strengthen my self control so I lived true to this virtue. There’s two points here – (1) You must have a track. (2) Noticing when you’ve gone off track so you can make corrections. (Don’t get frustrated with yourself during this process, the act of “aligning” means you’re off track most of the time.)

Own Your Life Philosophy

Posted in Perspective |  Email This Post | by James Rick

The trials and tribulations of life are testing grounds for your philosophy. Your behaviors are testaments to its value. If you do not find the principles of your life philosophy valuable enough to apply – how is it that someone else will find value in watering a seed you cast aside? Simple enough – you must practice what you teach and you must be a master at it. Nothing is more important than this – owning your philosophy.

Elevating Goodness

Posted in Perspective |  Email This Post | by James Rick

Elevating goodness and value is the primary driver of all great humans.
Refinement of character, self mastery, self discipline – these are the foundations upon which great souls become great lives.

A Worthy Cause

Posted in Perspective |  Email This Post | by James Rick

I found myself watching the movie Avatar yesterday rooting for the natives of the planet Pandora – against the humans. I wondered how this rooting against humanity could be possible and discovered that the cause of the natives (in this movie) were more noble than the humans: the natives wanted to protect their mother and the humans wanted to destroy the planet in order to harvest an ore that would bring a lot of money back on Earth.

We are drawn to a noble cause – a noble purpose that makes everything else in life seem insignificant. This perspective allows us to easily give our life for something – whether that be all at once in a form of martyrdom or gradually through the daily investment of time until our death. The hardest kind of work has little or no meaning to you; in this trade you give your life for something you don’t believe in.

Passion, Letting Go and Choosing Your Vehicle of Self Expression

Posted in Perspective |  Email This Post | by James Rick

All people share a common value. The value for freedom of expressing who they truly are. This is what a passion is: a vehicle for full a complete self expression. Anything less than this is unacceptable to the Soul.

We all have a book to write, a picture to paint, a dance to perform or a song to sing. We all have a music inside us that only we know how to express whether it be in art, business or only to ourselves. We have limitless creativity with limited time for creation. That is the challenge.

We must choose our moments wisely and especially those decisions that can tie us up for time to come. Those decisions now that become chains that bind us in the future. There is only one thing to be attached to and that is the eternal energy residing in us all. Any attachments that remain now must be let go one by one as soon as they are identified. Only when we have let go of everything can we consciously choose what we wish to retain for the better enjoyment of the life experience.

LET GO

Consider the exercise of letting go. Sit back, close your eyes and breathe deeply. When you tell yourself to let go – what are the things you think of first? You might consider financial matters, or family matters, or relationship matters. Let these go and see what remains as a concern. It may help to write these things down and then go back to letting go -this shows your brain that you are acknowledging its worries or concerns so you can resume your practice at more peace.

As you begin to let go – you might notice yourself to finally beginning to relax. It’s amazing what happens when you simply give your self the permission to let go. This can be difficult because there is a deeper belief that says letting go is irresponsible and unless you feel an emotional reaction of tension or worry you will not deal with the situation at hand. To let go of the emotional suffering of worry you make a pact with your brain / EGO that you will still deal with the situation – you just choose to do it in a more resourceful state. This negotiation between happens between Soul (the Awareness) and the Ego (the Brain and Body). When you let go – you tell your brain and body it’s okay to relax while still taking situations in life seriously. If you we’re conscious of this need to reassure the Ego, the body exists in this state of stress, worry or concern to ensure that the situation at hand is taken seriously. Think about it – if the body or brain didn’t feel signals of stress why would it deal with a circumstance? It wouldn’t. It responds to the stress in the form of behaviors that attempt to create better circumstances, in an effort to relieve the tension. If the hand wasn’t burning on the stove, it might not move.

This ancient mechanism of stress was more useful in earlier times when the body did have immediate threats that could be dealt with -immediately. But in modern times threats like debt can persist for a long time- and the old mechanisms for dealing with threats that cause stress can be very harmful to the body.

So the exercise of letting go is indeed one that will take practice. And if you find your mind wandering back to concerns that cause tension – remember the phrase: reality is what you are aware of. If you simply redirect your focus to become aware of something else the tension subsides. Anytime you feel yourself growing tense – become aware of what you are being aware of. This practice of mindfulness never fails to lead you to peace or happiness. Your reality is whatever you are aware of.

CHOOSING YOUR VEHICLE OF SELF EXPRESSION

We still live in an age where “paying the bills” is a reality of every day life for most people. If you still haven’t found the magic formula for doing what you love and making money at it – you’re not alone.

Personally I have found it difficult to transition from my current business to doing something I love full time. But on a daily basis I make it a point to clear out my obligations as efficiently as possible so I can focus more of my time on what I consider “high value”. It helps to know what my vehicle for self expression is; that is that is the thing that brings me the greatest fulfillment while doing it.

FULL POTENTIAL ACTION STEPS:
Step 1: Do something NOW. Schedule some time today identifying the vehicle for your highest self expression. Even if you’re not sure – ask yourself what it might be. I have found that when you separate your passion from making money you’ll find greater clarity. Sometimes its not possible to profit from doing what you love, sometimes it is.
Step 2: Come up with a strategy for investing more time every day in doing that thing, even just 20 minutes a day paves the way for greater emotional satisfaction.
Step 3: Share your experiences here or in your own blog, to help inspire others.

Financial Unrest Makes for a Worthy Voyage

Posted in Perspective |  Email This Post | by James Rick

To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea… cruising, it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about. “I’ve always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can’t afford it.” What these men can’t afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine – and before we know it our lives are gone. What does a man need – really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in – and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That’s all – in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade. The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?

~ From the Autobiography of Sterling Hayden who you probably remember as General Ripper in “Dr. Strangeglove” or Captain McCluskey (The cop on the take that Michael shot in the Godfather).

Helen Keller – A Glimpse into Nothingness

Posted in Favorite Quotes · Perspective |  Email This Post | by James Rick

“Before my teacher came to me, I did not know that I am. I lived in a world that was a no-world. I cannot hope to describe adequately that unconscious, yet conscious time of nothingness… Since I had no power of thought, I did not compare one mental state with another.” -Helen Keller