I woke up this morning feeling uneasy, which is strange as I went to bed feeling peaceful. I’d had a good day and been able to resolve a couple of issues that had been bugging me. But this morning that good feeling had evaporated . . . as a deeper sense of uncertainty began to surface. In today’s world, it seems, there’s always something to unsettle us.
The ancient wisdom of the Tao Te Ching is much respected and is as valuable today as it was in the days of Confucius. But what does in mean in practice? How relevant is it in today’s world? And how can we grasp its essence and apply it in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives? Gary & Keith share their insights and experiences based on many years of study and parallel journeys on their life’s evolving and unfolding path.parallel journeys on their life’s evolving and unfolding path.
In most human societies and cultures, the predominant belief is that the more facts, theories and ideas we can pack into our heads the better. Data, knowledge, information: whatever label you want to use, ‘the more the better’. Or so the theory goes.
Is this an expression you were brought up on? Do you believe it? In this blog I’ll be unpacking it a bit and helping you to better understand your real rest needs . . . and shed some light on some conditioning that might be getting in the way.
An increasing number who have been pioneering ethical businesses, Fair Trade and other such initiatives over recent decades would probably not want to be associated with many conventional business practices. Thanks to them it’s comparatively common now to eat out on locally sourced ingredients.
It’s all to do with side-stepping the rational mind with its theories and beliefs, and rising above our emotional mind, which all too often reacts through fear. Tuning into our bodies requires connecting into a deep part of us: that bit that really knows what we need . . . at all levels!
Does your mind keep wandering? Do you find it hard to concentrate? Do you get easily stressed or confused? In all of these cases, you would benefit from becoming more mindful, more present in the moment. Combining the essence of spiritual practice with ideas from neuroscience and practical experience gained in the workplace serves to highlight the benefits of mindfulness.
Do you feel part of the world around you? Do you feel that you are a human being like everybody else? Or do you feel isolated, separate? There are certainly times when I feel very much on my own, that no-one understands me. But then, eventually, it will dawn on me that I’m probably just as guilty of not understanding . . . and that I could, actually, make a bit more of an effort to understand.
“Be Alert . .. Britain needs lerts!” I was reminded of this the other day whilst seeking the advice of my local computer shop: faced with a new PC I was re-installing all my favourite programs and, in downloading the Firefox browser had inadvertently also downloaded some ad-ware: persistent pop-up ads.
When life throws all sorts of traumas and challenges at you (which it seems to have been doing a lot over the last few years), do you often think, as I do, that “I know nothing” . . . or struggle to make sense of, well, anything and everything?