In the 1930's, a famous study was done into contributory factors to efficiency in the workplace. A team of social scientists led by a Dr. Hawthorne went in to factories to assess, among other things, the effect of increased lighting on efficiency in assembly lines. As was the typical procedure of the day, three groups were observed.

The first were given increased lighting as they went about their repetitive assembly tasks; the second were given decreased lighting; the third, or "control" group, were simply observed going about their work in the usual manner. What happened next confounded the observers....

As expected, the group with increased lighting experienced a measurable increase in efficiency and well-being on the job. However, the increase in efficiency and well-being was almost identically matched in both of the other groups being observed.

After further experimentation, the conclusion reached by Dr. Hawthorne and his colleagues was that the single most important factor in positively affecting the efficiency and well-being of employees was the feeling that attention was being paid to their efforts.

Today's Experiment: 
Here's a way to put the "Hawthorne Effect" to good use in your own life. 
(Note: Many personal change programs begin with the suggestion of keeping a journal of what you are currently doing as a starting point to creating change. For the purpose of this exercise, the journaling itself is the change process!)

1. Choose to focus on time, money, or diet, whichever is of most interest to you at the moment.

2. For the rest of this week, keep written track of either everything you put into your body, everything you spend, or everything you spend time on. If you are already used to tracking these things either daily or weekly, up the stakes by writing things down as you spend (or eat!) them.

3. Enjoy allowing the Hawthorne effect to positively impact your eating, spending, or time management habits....

There is nothing else you need to do!

There is no clear formula for finding your passion. Some people seem to know it from the time they are born. Others seem to search for it until they die.

One thing is clear: we all would love to spend our days doing what we love. But if you don’t quite know what direction you should head, what do you do?

In many cases, the reason you haven’t found your true calling yet is because you’re focusing on the wrong things. With that in mind, here are 7 reasons that you haven’t found your passion yet — and what to do about it.

1. All you think about is finding your passion.

Once you start looking for what you were meant to do, it’s easy to get caught up in the search. Unfortunately, continually asking yourself “What am I passionate about?” usually has very little benefit.

You can’t find your passion by searching the depths of your mind. Passions come from actions and experiences — not idle contemplation.

2. You’re searching for feeling before experience.

Passions evolve out of experiences. If you’re looking to feel passionate about something before doing it, then you’re going to be looking for a long time.

Would you expect yourself to fall in love with an artist before ever hearing their music? Of course not. How can you be passionate about woodcarving if you’ve never done it? Or at the very least seen someone do it.

The feeling of passion will come after you’ve had an experience, not before.

3. You’re staying the course.

There is nothing wrong with pursuing a long-term goal or walking the same path for awhile. But don’t let your ultimate goal blind you from the opportunities that arise along the way. Some of the most compelling options might start out as side jobs, hobbies, or a random meeting.

Instead of becoming obsessively focused on one area, take advantage of the new opportunities that arise from time to time.

4. You’re looking for direction and clarity.

We often think that if we find our passion, then we will have clarity and know what to do with our lives.

If only it were that simple. Life is a series of confusing situations and you’ll never have all of the answers. Regardless of the situation, we have to make the best choice at the time and continue to move forward.

Finding your passion isn’t about know the right direction from the outset. It’s about choosing a direction, paying attention to what interests you along the way, and pursuing those interesting areas further.

5. You’re not creating something.

A common difference between those who are living their passion and those who are still searching for it, is that the former group has created something. Maybe that’s art for someone else. Maybe that’s a job for themselves. Maybe that a program for the community. Maybe that’s an opportunity for their career.

The act of creating is important because it allows us to discover things about ourselves.

It is only through the act of pushing ourselves and creating something new that we discover what is important to us, what we’re good at, and what we are willing to sacrifice for.

No, it’s not easy to create something, but it is important to do so.

6. You’re looking to live your life all at once instead of moment-by-moment.

Searching for our passion is part of a larger goal — we want to know what to do with our lives. We want to know how to spend our time on this planet.

The problem, of course, is that examining our lives from such a high level often prevents us from focusing on this moment.

Discovering your passion happens in a series of small steps. You first hear about it in a book or from a friend. Then you go to a class or an event. Then you try it out yourself. Then you try it again. Then it becomes a hobby. Then you’re telling your friends about it. And before you know it, you’ve found your calling in life.

But it didn’t happen overnight.

Instead of worrying about what you’re going to do with the rest of your life, spend some time thinking about what you should do with the rest of today. How can you do something enjoyable in this moment?

String enough enjoyable moments together and you’re bound to be passionate about one of them.

7. You haven’t dedicated yourself to a goal.

We all have interests, but we usually keep them as passing interests that we come back to from time to time. Rarely do we take an interest and decide to pursue a specific goal related to it.

Reaching for a goal is important because it starts a process that brings about opportunities that we cannot predict. If you endeavor to reach a meaningful goal, then there will undoubtedly be opportunities that arise along the way that you would never have imagined when you started.

Whether or not you reach your original goal isn’t nearly as important as the journey it takes you on and the opportunities that journey offers.

Pursue your interests with purpose and you’ll find that your passion has a funny way of showing up.

Outside the Comfort Zone
Things We Don’t Want to Do

Putting off doing what scares us and brings up fear only creates more obstacles in our lives.

Most of us have had the experience of tackling some dreaded task only to come out the other side feeling invigorated, filled with a new sense of confidence and strength. The funny thing is, most of the time when we do them, we come out on the other side changed and often wondering what we were so worried about or why it took us so long. We may even begin to look for other tasks we’ve been avoiding so that we can feel that same heady mix of excitement and completion.

Whether we avoid something because it scares us or bores us, or because we think it will force a change we’re not ready for, putting it off only creates obstacles for us. On the other hand, facing the task at hand, no matter how onerous, creates flow in our lives and allows us to grow. The relief is palpable when we stand on the other side knowing that we did something even though it was hard or we didn't want to do it. On the other hand, when we cling to our comfort zone, never addressing the things we don't want to face, we cut ourselves off from flow and growth.

We all have at least one thing in our life that never seems to get done. Bringing that task to the top of the list and promising ourselves that we will do it as soon as possible is an act that could liberate a tremendous amount of energy in our lives. Whatever it is, we can allow ourselves to be fueled by the promise of the feelings of exhilaration and confidence that will be the natural result of doing it.

Repeating Patterns of Meaning
Numbers

Many people are seeing 11:11 right now, which can be interpreted as an energetic gateway that has opened for you.

Glancing at the clock may cause us to look again sometimes, especially when we notice that we've caught it at the same time over and over again. Maybe we see the same number pattern echoed everywhere we look—whether on license plates or appliances—over a period of hours or even days. When we accept that there are no coincidences, we know there is a message in the numbers for us, and we know to pay attention to the repeating patterns and search for their true meaning.

Numerology has its basis in the ancient world and tells us that each number carries its own vibration and symbolic significance. It can mark the stages of our soul's evolution as we move from one frequency to the next. Repeating number patterns in our lives may call us to focus on certain aspects of our lives and rise to approach them from the best within us. Once we've recognized that there is something we must look more deeply into, we also must trust that we will be guided to the people and places that hold the right answers for us.

Numbers, as symbols, can carry personal meanings as well. We may have our own lucky number that has served us well throughout our lives and another that reminds us of certain events of significance. If these are the numbers that are appearing, it may be the right time to delve into the past for clues about how to handle a present situation. Many people are seeing 11:11 right now, which can be interpreted as an energetic gateway that has opened for you and is ready to manifest your thoughts into reality. Whatever explanations you receive about the numbers that are appearing everywhere you look, the important thing is to trust your own guidance as to what they are telling you. Each culture attaches different meaning to the numbers, so a Chinese interpretation may be different than an interpretation from Kabalah. It is up to us to use our intuition to see which is the best fit for us. If someone has an explanation that doesn't feel right, then this is not the answer for you but! may be just a clue to keep you moving on the path. By paying attention to the numbers around us, we use them as tools to improve our connection to the universe and our awareness of our choices in life.

Making Time for Reflection
Going on Events

Putting our trust in the  process will make space and dedication for the necessary work we have to do.

Giving ourselves time to reflect and heal can be a powerful way to process the things that are happening in our lives, and one of the best approaches to do this is by going on a retreat. Going on a training means that we have set the intention to heal and learn more about our spirit, and doing this is a decision that we make for ourselves.

Since everyone sees and experiences the world differently, it is important to choose a type of event that works best for us. Even though a friend or loved one may recommend something, we have to trust our intuition and select a path that really connects with what our soul needs most at the time. The most essential thing is to be willing to respect our unique stage of development and to be patient with ourselves since any thoughts or issues that arise are simply part of the process of healing. Just remembering that an event is an intense period of time where serious soul searching takes place can help us allow whatever may happen to us to fully unfold. Going on an event may sound like a vacation, but most events experiences ask you to look deep inside of yourself, and sometimes this can be uncomfortable or stir the pot of our soul.

Putting our trust in the event process will make space for the necessary work we have to do, making it easier for our hearts and minds to explore wholly the innermost reaches of our soul. By paying attention to these messages, we pave the way for greater healing and transformation, since spending time in contemplation at a event will give us the gift of insight and understanding that we can use in all aspects of our daily lives.

To have a look at the photographs of Saturday and reflect back All they need to do is log on to http://www.worldvisionphotos.co.uk/recent_photos.html  password is Fire2.

Also, I would love for you to take 5 minutes to reflect back and look at how much you have achieved, then would you consider writing me a testimonial?

What did you learn?

How will you use it?

What impact will this have on your future?

Also massive thanks to Jon and Sue for helping out last Saturday- We couldn’t have done it without you guys! Also the Next meeting we have an amazing guest speaker Please be on time as soon as he is finished and then he will be off to Madrid! Also due to the lunch issue, would anyone like to go for lunch on the day to so I can get organised?

Many thanks,

Lots of love Deepak

Interconnected Experiences
Noticing Synchronicity

Synchronicity may appear random, but at closer look you will see that the universe is giving what you asked for.

When events appear to fit together perfectly in our lives it may seem at first that they are random occurrences, things that are the result of coincidence. These synchronous happenings, though, are much more than that, for, if we look at them more closely they can show us that the universe is listening to us and gently communicating with us. Learning to pay attention to and link the things that occur on a daily basis can be a way for us to become more attuned to the fact that most everything happens in our lives for a reason – even when that reason is not clear right away.

When we realize that things often go more smoothly than we can ever imagine, it allows us to take the time to reflect on the patterns in our lives. Even events that might not at first seem to be related to each other are indicators that the universe is working with, not against, us. This idea of synchronicity, then, means that we have to trust there is more to our lives than what we experience on a physical level. We need to be willing to look more closely at the bigger picture, accepting and having confidence in the fact that there is more to our experiences than immediately meets the eye. Being open to synchronicity also means that we have to understand that our lives are filled with both positive and negative events. Once we can recognize that one event is neither more desirable nor better than the other – they all have an overall purpose in our lives - then we are truly ready to listen to the messages the universe gives us.

While we may not be able to see everything in our lives as being synchronous, we can certainly use hindsight to be more aware of how the universe guides us. This sense of wonder at the mysteries of the universe and the interconnectedness present in our lives will help us see our overall ways of being and will in turn make it easier to work more consciously towards our spiritual evolution.

Tearing Down to Rebuild
Rethinking Complaining

When we complain we are tearing down an undesirable structure in order to make room for something new.

We all know someone who has elevated the process of complaining to a high art. Sometimes funny, sometimes exhausting, these people have the ability to find a problem just about anywhere. In its more evolved form, complaining is simply the ability to see what’s not working, in one’s own life or in the external world, and it can be quite useful if followed to its natural conclusion—finding a solution and applying it. However, many of us don’t get that far, and we find that complaining has become an end in itself. In small doses, this is not a big problem, but if complaining has become a huge part of our identities, it may be time to take a good look at how we are spending our energy.

Complaining is a person’s way of acknowledging that they are not happy with the way things are. In a metaphorical way, when we complain or criticize, we are tearing down an undesirable structure in order to make room for something new. But if all we do is tear down, never bothering to summon the creative energy required to create something new, we are not fulfilling the process. In fact, we are at risk for becoming a stagnant and destructive force in our own lives and in the lives of the people we love. Another issue with complaining is that we sometimes tend to focus on other people, whom we can’t change, as a way of deflecting attention from the one person we can change—ourselves. So transforming complaining into something useful is a twofold process that begins with turning our critical eye to look at things we can actually do something about, and then taking positive action.

When we find ourselves complaining, the last thing we need to do is get down on ourselves. Instead, we can begin by noticing that we are in the mode of wanting to make some changes. But rather than lashing out at somebody or an organization, we can look for an appropriate place to channel this energy—not our neighbor’s house, but possibly parts of our own. Finally, we can ask ourselves the positive question of what we would like to create in the place of whatever it is we want to tear down. When we do this, we channel a negative habit into a creative process, thus using our energy to change the world around us in a positive way.

Dear Friends

Hope this invitation finds you well and abundant, I can’t believe its September already, time seems to be flying past.

So my invitation to you is for an amazing event- on the 30^th of October. How would you like to remove your fears and find a path way to inner peace? Well that’s exactly what we are going to offer you.

Imagine being able to move forward in this economy making decisions and choices without fear know that every decision you make would lead you to inner peace, and by the way i’m not talking about sitting in a yogic position for the rest of your life. I mean really moving forward with your goals and dreams with an experience of emotional intelligence that will attract results and opportunities.

So, from my last look at the page there was only 68 places left- I have had to also change the ticket system. (I have had a few people trying to book places as if they were on the retreat).

So when you are booking please use the discount code- “AVATAR”

This will allow you to book your place at the discounted rate of just £50 covering your fee for the venue and a contribution to the Jason Vale Foundation.

I wonder what it would be like if you were put in touch with a part of you that would empower you to do something  beyond what you thought was capable with ease, would that be worth £50?

Anyway, you have priority for bookings for the next 7 days before the tickets go on general release, so I hope to see you there. I know this is going to be a sell out event, so it would be nice to have you as my guest!

Take care

Deepak

http://warriorsfirewalk.eventbrite.com

Click above to book your place!

Also the links below are links to a live seminar about my new book "Heart Consciousness" the way to fulfilment and results!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBh90KFyiDQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej6YeTRqHhM&feature=related

Enjoy- By the way any questions you have, please do email me,I will personally answer them for you (your patience is appreciated)

Lots of Love

Deepak

PS there is a free gift coming in the next few days that will blow you away, especially if you are into manifesting and use the law of attraction- can't say too much right now so just watch out for the coming email!

Nothing in this world is given as a present: everything has to be learned with a great deal of effort. A man who seeks knowledge must have the same behavior as a soldier going to war: absolutely attentive, afraid, respectful and utterly confident. If he follows these recommendations, he may lose the odd battle but he will never cry over his fate.

The present is unique: a warrior knows how to wait, because he knows what he is waiting for. And while he waits, he wants nothing, and in this way anything he receives – however small – is a blessing. The common man worries too much about loving others, or being loved by them. A warrior knows what he wants – that is all in his life and that is where he concentrates all his energy. The common man spends the present acting as winner or loser, and depending on the results he becomes persecutor or victim. The warrior, on the other hand, worries only about his acts, which will lead him to the objective he has traced for himself.
Intention is transparent: intention (intento) is not a thought, nor an object, nor a desire. It is what makes a man triumph in his objectives and lifts him up from the ground even when he has delivered himself up to defeat. Intention is stronger than man.
It is always the last battle: the warrior’s spirit does not complain about anything, because he was not born to win or lose. He was born to fight, and each battle is the last that he is waging on the face of the Earth. That is why the warrior always leaves his spirit free, and when he gives himself to combat, knowing that his intention is transparent, he laughs and enjoys himself.

Carlos Castaneda (25 December 1925 – 27 April 1998) was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author. The books and Castaneda, who rarely spoke in public about his work, have been controversial for many years. Supporters claim the books are either true or at least valuable works of philosophy. Academic critics claim the books are works of fiction, citing the books’ internal contradictions, discrepancies between the books and anthropological data, alternate sources for Castaneda’s detailed knowledge of shamanic practices and lack of corroborating evidence.

SINCERE REPENTANCE

The monk Chu Lai was beaten by a teacher who did not believe anything he said. However, the professor’s wife was a follower of Chu Lai, and demanded that her husband had to apologize to him.
Displeased, but without the courage to deny his wife, the man went to the temple with her and murmured some words of repentance.
“I do not forgive you,” replied Chu Lai, “go back to work.”
The woman was horrified. “My husband is humiliated, and you were not generous!”

And Chu Lai responded, “Within my soul there is no rancor. But if he is not truly sorry, it is better for him to recognize now that he is mad at me. If I had accepted his apology, we would be creating a false state of harmony, and this would further increase the anger of your husband.”

Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 New number 0845 643 2283

 Helping People and Companies Excel

However you define success, we can help you achieve it! Success means different things to different people. Whether its outperforming the competition, adapting to new challenges or having more time to yourself, Catalyst Coaching can help you achieve your goals. Success comes in CANS and Failures come in CAN'TS, let me take you from I CAN'T to I CAN.

This e-mail, its content and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and are confidential. If you have received this e-mail in error you may not copy or use the contents, attachments or information in any way. Please destroy it and contact the sender via e-mail return. This e-mail has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but Catalyst Coaching makes no warranty as to accuracy or completeness. In particular Catalyst Coaching does not accept responsibility for changes made to this e-mail after it was sent. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Catalyst Coaching.

So Guys

Have you all signed up to the Yahoo group yet?

Down load the meditations from the link there!

The Big Idea — Your Attitude

“…Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” ~ Viktor Frankl from Man’s Search for Meaning

This message is the cornerstone of Frankl’s philosophy and, of course, is echoed among the great teachers (many have Notes available on their work):

From Marcus Aurelius in his Meditations: “Your mind will be like its habitual thoughts; for the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts. Soak it then in such trains of thoughts as, for example: Where life is possible at all, a right life is possible.” And “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

To another Stoic philosopher (and former Roman slave), Epictetus, in The Enchiridion: “We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.”

To Jesus: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

To Lao-tzu in the Tao te Ching: “Hold on to the center and make up your mind to rejoice in this paradise called life.”

To the Buddha in the Dhammapada: “Our life is shaped by our mind. We become what we think.”

To Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort but where he stands at times of challenge and discovery.”

To Dan Millman in The Way of the Peaceful Warrior: “Pain is a relatively objective, physical phenomenon; suffering is our psychological resistance to what happens. Events may create physical pain, but they do not in themselves create suffering. Resistance creates suffering. Stress happens when your mind resists what is…The only problem in your life is your mind’s resistance to life as it unfolds.”

To Carlos Castaneda: “The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge, while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.” And, “The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”

To Norman Vincent Peale in The Power of Positive Thinking: “Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they’re always there.”

And countless others.

Quote

“It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life—daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.”

~ Viktor Frankl quotes from Man’s Search for Meaning

Take care

Deepak

A New Home

When you awaken to the evolutionary impulse behind the entire cosmos as your very own Authentic Self, you find yourself living in a new world. It’s not the small, personal world that your ego or separate self-sense has lived in since the day you were born. You may still exist and function in that world, but deeply, it’s no longer your home. Your home is the vast process that began the day the entire cosmos was born. When this kind of shift occurs irrevocably, the idea of living “for a higher purpose” doesn’t even make sense any more, because at an interior level, you and that purpose have merged and become one. You have become the actual manifestation of that higher purpose. It’s no longer external to who you are. To a significant degree, you and that higher purpose become indistinguishable. That’s what Evolutionary Enlightenment means. Your entire life becomes permeated by that evolutionary impulse, because that is who you have become.

“Every single person on the planet is a genius.” : “We all have something that we are meant to do. Your genius will shine through, and happiness will fill your life, the instant you discover your higher purpose and then direct all your energies towards it.”-Robin Sharma

Dear Friends

Hope life is treating you very well, So I have some very interesting information for you and a couple of very special announcements!

So first thing first!

Number 1

DAN MILLMAN!!!!- yes Dan Millman is coming to the UK Details Here Click on the link below or cut and paste it into your browser!

http://www.mindbodyspirit.co.uk/email_dan/?aff=b9d2962a4033e0f5c564b5abe289f9e3

http://tinyurl.com/yk7z6j9

I booked the very first ticket as soon as I found out , it’s is very rare that Dan comes over from the USA, Dan is an amazing author , teacher and inspiring trainer!

If you don’t know Dan is the Guy that wrote Peaceful Warrior, the one book I absolutely rave about to everyone. In fact if you have been on my weekend retreat (by invitation only) we do a whole session on the book and the movie!

Want real value, want to grow massive amounts in one day- then I will see you there!!!!

Number 2

If you missed the training on the Universal laws of Abundance- well I am sorry- like I said, it was a one time only event!

Oh and BTW it was amazing, we even did the Casino Seminar right after the event! So we had an absolute blast and the end result created some astounding.

Oh and as far as I am aware, it’s the first time the casino seminar has ever been done here in the UK!

Sorry you missed it, well few a select few you , you can still experience this in the comfort in your own home with the home study pack which includes A CD set, workbook and DVD set of exercises and processes! All of this is Available for the sale price of £87.00

Best hurry though as there is only 20 sets left available, sorry!

If you want one, don’t go to the online store http://www.catalyst-coaching.org/page48.htm

Just email me, as I know by the time the information is added to the website, all the sets will be sold out! So best decide now!

Email me direct Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org and put SEND ME ONE in the subject.

Now for the article!

Performance Zones

Enjoyment appears at the boundary between boredom and anxiety, when the challenges are just balanced with the person's capacity to act. - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

In over 30 years of research into Flow and the Psychology of Optimal Experience, Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi (Mee-hi Chik-sent-mee-hi!) has identified 8 characteristics of optimal experience - that is, the experience of happiness, enjoyment, and fulfillment in the moment of doing whatever it is your doing. Each of the characteristics serves as both an indicator and a potential trigger - both a "wagging tail" by which we can recognize situations that will tend to lead to optimal "in the zone" experiences, and a tail by which we can "wag the dog" and create optimal, enjoyable flow experiences for ourselves.

The eight characteristics are as follows:
1. Clear goals
2. Immediate Feedback
3. Ability to concentrate on the task at hand
4. The possibility of successful completion
5. Total involvement
6. Loss of self-consciousness
7. A sense of control
8. Time distortion (i.e. minutes becoming hours and/or hours feeling like minutes)

While each one of these could merit a tip in and of itself, perhaps the most useful aspect of the research into flow if we want to design our own optimal experiences is a ninth, "meta-characteristic":

We tend to experience flow when there is a balance between our perception of the challenge we are facing and our perception of our ability to meet that challenge.

The clearest and most useful application of this principle that I have come across comes not from Csikszentmihalyi's work directly but in a somewhat obscure book by Robert and Marilyn Kriegel called The "C" Zone: Peak Performance Under Pressure. In it, the Kriegels identify the following three "performance zones":

1. The Panic Zone
When our perception of the challenge we are facing far exceeds our perception of our ability to meet that challenge, we tend to perform in "the panic zone". Here, we may find ourselves overcommitted and out of control, feeling either nervous, scattered, and hyper, or if we have cut off from those feelings of anxiety and "shut down" to deal with our fear, we may feel bored, disinterested, and apathetic.

2. The Drone Zone
When our perceived ability to handle a situation far exceeds the perceived difficulty of the situation, we may find ourselves in "the drone zone". Here, we become lethargic, sluggish, and bored, longing for excitement and frustrated with doing the same old things, day in and day out.

If you think of life in a typical office environment (or just read a few "Dilbert" cartoons!), you'll quickly recognize those people who are stuck in hyper-drive in the Panic Zone and those who quietly fantasize their escape while plodding along in the Drone Zone.

3. The Flow Zone
Fortunately, most of us have at least occasionally experienced the calm, focused energy that comes with performing in the Flow Zone, when we feel "up to" the challenges we are faced with.

The Kriegels make two further distinctions within the Flow Zone - Challenge and Mastery.

A. Challenge
When you try something that feels just a little bit out beyond the edge of your current abilities, you tend to experience a positive sense of challenge. Rather than push us all the way into panic, these small "risks" give us a sense of vitality and aliveness coupled with a heightened awareness and concentration that can become almost addictive in its pleasure.

B. Mastery
When you are demonstrating your mastery of a situation or skill, operating just inside the bounds of your current abilities, you will tend to experience a satisfaction in the ease, confidence, and competence with which you go about your business.

Life, at its best, is a constant shuttle between mastery and challenge, a continual process of stretching and consolidating our gains and learnings.

Bonus Tip:
It would appear that not all balance is created equally. Research shows that people are most likely to describe their experience and performance levels as "optimal" when both the challenge and skill are balanced at a high level (i.e. brain surgery) than at a low level (i.e. learning to use chopsticks).

So how do we design and adjust our experience to ensure we have the highest possible chance of both enjoying an activity and performing at our best?

The key is in the word "perceived" - that is, by adjusting our perceptions (of the challenges we face and of our ability to meet those challenges), we can literally re-create our experience for optimal performance.

From the Panic Zone to Flow
Think of a situation, project, or activity that totally freaks you out - that you feel you should or must or even want to participate in but is so far out of your league that you know you're bound to fail. This can be a business activity (quadrupling your sales volume in the next month) or a personal one (asking that guy/girl of your dreams out on a date).

Here are two simple strategies that will help you turn your feelings of panic into the focus of Flow...

1. Break Down your Goal into Smaller Chunks
By lowering your sights and focusing on a target that you know you can hit, you can quickly turn even the most daunting challenge into a fun adventure. When a young Tony Robbins went with an NLP training team to transform the US Army pistol shooting program, one of the first things they did was cut the distance to the target in half. As people's confidence and skill increased, the targets were gradually returned to the original distance. The result - a vastly increased success rate in less than half the original training time.
ex. - Quadrupling my sales volume
I set myself a smaller target - doubling my sales volume. No, still too scary. What if I try to increase my volume by one in the next week? Doesn't feel within my control. I know - I'll make 20 more calls a day than I did last month! That puts me firmly into my Mastery Zone.

2. Focus on Past Success
If you've got this far in life, chances are you've done more than a few things right. When you start to focus on what you do that's working, your perception of your ability increases, and along with it you increase the possibility of Flow.
ex. Asking dream lover out on a date
Hmmm... I've actually dated before. And some of them have even gone well! And remember that time that _______ said "yes", which really surprised me? And that other time? And that other time? OK, my heart's still pumping, but it's turned into excitement - I'm in my Challenge Zone.

From the Drone Zone to Flow - Setting Yourself a New Challenge
When I was regularly teaching NLP, one of my favorite things to do was to challenge my assistants, who had all done the training before, to find a way to make the day meaningful and fun for themselves by setting themselves additional tasks, challenges, and targets. Whether they decided to conversationally use a technique they had previously only used formally, to create a personal connection with someone they wouldn't normally interact with, or to learn and use everyone's name by lunchtime, what was really going on was that they were taking control of their own experience and redesigning it for optimal effect.

Here's a more prosaic example - when I play Scrabble with my wife, I play to win; when I play with my six year old son, I only allow myself words of six or more letters, raising the level of challenge to keep my interest high and the score close.

Today's Experiment:
1. Draw a grid ,Number both the vertical and horizontal lines of the grid from 1 to 10 (bottom to top/left to right).

2. Think of three important projects or activities you are currently engaged in or thinking of engaging in. For each one give yourself ratings from 1 to 10 for your perception of both the challenge and your ability to meet the challenge.

3. If your numbers don't place the activity firmly into the Flow Zone, use any of the strategies in today's tip to redesign your focus for optimal performance. You'll know you've done it when thinking about the project automatically puts you into a resourceful, excited state!

Have fun, Remember if you want to manifest your goals with greater ease then grab one of the remaining sets on the Universal Laws of Abundance Training sets!

Love

Deepak

The Following is an exert from the Seven Spiritual Laws by Deepak Chopra

This exert includes several exercises to help you to practice that particular law, my suggestion is to read through them to see which appeals to you the least then practice that one first! Just trust me on this if you want to create an amazing way forward from where you are in life right now!

By the way Deepak Chopra is currently here in the UK, and is doing and exclusive end of tour event in Manchester on the 26^th of September!

Click here to find out more details or cut and paste the following into your browser http://tinyurl.com/low9pw

Please do enjoy this article and I hope to see you at this event

The Law of Pure Potentiality

The source of all creation is pure consciousness . . . pure potentiality seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest. And when we realize that our true Self is one of pure potentiality, we align with the power that manifests everything in nature.

I will put the Law of Pure Potentiality into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. I will get in touch with the field of pure potentiality by taking time each day to be silent, to just Be. I will also sit alone in silent meditation at least twice a day for approximately thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening.

2. I will take time each day to commune with nature and to silently witness the intelligence within every living thing. I will sit silently and watch a sunset, or listen to the sound of the ocean or a stream, or simply smell the scent of a flower. In the ecstasy of my own silence, and by communing with nature, I will enjoy the life throb of ages, the field of pure potentiality and unbounded creativity.

3. I will practice non-judgment. I will begin my day with the statement, “Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs,” and throughout the day I will remind myself not to judge. 

The Law of Giving

The universe operates through dynamic exchange . . . giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.

I will put the Law of Giving into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. Wherever I go, and whoever I encounter, I will bring them a gift. The gift may be a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. Today, I will give something to everyone I come into contact with, and so I will begin the process of circulating joy, wealth and affluence in my life and in the lives of others.

2. Today I will gratefully receive all the gifts that life has to offer me. I will receive the gifts of nature: sunlight and the sound of birds singing, or spring showers or the first snow of winter. I will also be open to receiving from others, whether it be in the form of a material gift, money, a compliment or a prayer.

3. I will make a commitment to keep wealth circulating in my life by giving and receiving life’s most precious gifts: the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation and love. Each time I meet someone, I will silently wish them happiness, joy and laughter.

The Law of Karma or Cause and Effect

Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind . . . what we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.

I will put the Law of Karma into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. Today I will witness the choices I make in each moment. And in the mere witnessing of these choices, I will bring them to my conscious awareness. I will know that the best way to prepare for any moment in the future is to be fully conscious in the present.

2. Whenever I make a choice, I will ask myself two questions: “What are the consequences of this choice that I’m making?” and “Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?”

3. I will then ask my heart for guidance and be guided by its message of comfort or discomfort. If the choice feels comfortable, I will plunge ahead with abandon. If the choice feels uncomfortable, I will pause and see the consequences of my action with my inner vision. This guidance will enable me to make spontaneously correct choices for myself and for all those around me.

The Law of Least Effort

Nature’s intelligence functions with effortless ease . . . with carefreeness, harmony, and love. And when we harness the forces of harmony, joy, and love, we create success and good fortune with effortless ease.

I will put the Law of Least Effort into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. I will practice Acceptance. Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances, and events as they occur. I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. I will not struggle against the whole universe by struggling against this moment. My acceptance is total and complete. I accept things as they are this moment, not as I wish they were.

2. Having accepted things as they are, I will take Responsibility for my situation and for all those events I see as problems. I know that taking responsibility means not blaming anyone or anything for my situation (and this includes myself). I also know that every problem is an opportunity in disguise, and this alertness to opportunities allows me to take this moment and transform it into a greater benefit.

3. Today my awareness will remain established in Defenselessness. I will relinquish the need to defend my point of view. I will feel no need to convince or persuade others to accept my point of view. I will remain open to all points of view and not be rigidly attached to any one of them.

The Law of Intention and Desire

Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment . . . intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. And when we introduce an intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put this infinite organizing power to work for us.

I will put the Law of Intention and Desire into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. I will make a list of all my desires. I will carry this list with me wherever I go. I will look at this list before I go into my silence and meditation. I will look at it before I go to sleep at night. I will look at it when I wake up in the morning.

2. I will release this list of my desires and surrender it to the womb of creation, trusting that when things don’t seem to go my way, there is a reason, and that the cosmic plan has designs for me much grander than even those I have conceived.

3. I will remind myself to practice present-moment awareness in all my actions. I will refuse to allow obstacles to consume and dissipate the quality of my attention in the present moment. I will accept the present as it is, and manifest the future through my deepest, most cherished intentions and desires.

The Law of Detachment

In detachment lies the wisdom of uncertainty . . . in the wisdom of uncertainty lies the freedom from our past, from the known, which is the prison of past conditioning. And in our willingness to step into the unknown, the field of all possibilities, we surrender ourselves to the creative mind that orchestrates the dance of the universe.

I will put the Law of Detachment into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detached involvement.

2. Today I will factor in uncertainty as an essential ingredient of my experience. In my willingness to accept uncertainty, solutions will spontaneously emerge out of the problem, out of the confusion, order and chaos. The more uncertain things seem to be, the more secure I will feel, because uncertainty is my path to freedom. Through the wisdom of uncertainty, I will find my security.

3. I will step into the field of all possibilities and anticipate the excitement that can occur when I remain open to an infinity of choices. When I step into the field of all possibilities, I will experience all the fun, adventure, magic and mystery of life.

The Law of Dharma or Purpose in Life

Everyone has a purpose in life . . . a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.

I will put the Law of Dharma into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. Today I will lovingly nurture the god or goddess in embryo that lies deep within my soul. I will pay attention to the spirit within me that animates both my body and my mind. I will awaken myself to this deep stillness within my heart. I will carry the consciousness of timeless, eternal Being in the midst of time-bound experience.

2. I will make a list of my unique talents. Then I will list all the things that I love to do while expressing my unique talents. When I express my unique talents and use them in the service of humanity, I lose track of time and create abundance in my life as well as in the lives of others.

3. I will ask myself daily, “How can I serve?” and “How can I help?” The answers to these questions will allow me to help and serve my fellow human beings with love.

Join Mind Body Spirit and Deepak Chopra for an intimate and inspirational evening of self-exploration. Hosted in The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester's stunning £42 million state-of-the-art concert venue, this evening promises to be the highlight of Deepak’s 2009 UK tour.

During the evening Deepak will explore the deeper meaning of our existence including:

·  What is our true nature?

·  Where do we come from?

·  What is the meaning and purpose of our existence?

·  What is the mechanics of creation?

·  How can I transform myself?

·  How can I make a better world?

Deepak explains how the greatest spiritual secrets are tied up in this simple answer. It takes a total shift in perception to realise that you are not in the world, the world is in you.

History will view Deepak Chopra as the man who set the cornerstone for a medical model that promotes greater self-reliance and self-awareness as the most valuable personal and societal assets for creating health.

About Deepak Chopra

Known worldwide as the author of over 50 books translated in 35 languages with over 20 million copies sold. These  include “ The Third Jesus : The Christ We Cannot Ignore”, “Buddha – A Story of Enlightenment”, “Life After Death: The Burden of Proof”, “The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life”, “The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence”, “Grow Younger, Live Longer: 10 Steps to Reversing Aging” and  “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success”.  His book “Peace Is the Way”  won the Quill Awards and “The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of your Life” received the Nautilus Award.

Deepak Chopra continues to transform our understanding of the meaning of health.

He is the Founder of the Chopra Center at La Costa in Carlsbad, California where he continues to revolutionise common wisdom about the crucial connection between mind, body, spirit and healing. 

History will view Deepak Chopra as the man who set the cornerstone for a medical model that promotes greater self-reliance and self-awareness as the most valuable personal and societal assets for creating health.

Take care , hope you enjoyed the article

Love

Deepak

SUBJECT LINE: The NLP & Coaching Business Conference For Coaches and other Personal Development experts!

Hi Guys- This is a unique call for action!

I just wanted to let you know I've just registered for this and I think you should check it out IMMEDIATELY!

https://danbradbury.infusionsoft.com/go/con/a488

Everything is completely free, he's doing it all for charity

Anyway, I'm going and I hope you'll join me, go to the page quickly though as I think it's going to fill up very fast and I wouldnt want you to miss it!

See you there!

Deepak

Also I have a unique offer for you that will blow your socks off!

Join Mind Body Spirit and Deepak Chopra for an intimate and inspirational evening of self-exploration. Hosted in The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester's stunning £42 million state-of-the-art concert venue, this evening promises to be the highlight of Deepak’s 2009 UK tour.

During the evening Deepak will explore the deeper meaning of our existence including:

·  What is our true nature?

·  Where do we come from?

·  What is the meaning and purpose of our existence?

·  What is the mechanics of creation?

·  How can I transform myself?

·  How can I make a better world?

Deepak explains how the greatest spiritual secrets are tied up in this simple answer. It takes a total shift in perception to realise that you are not in the world, the world is in you.

History will view Deepak Chopra as the man who set the cornerstone for a medical model that promotes greater self-reliance and self-awareness as the most valuable personal and societal assets for creating health.

I have been allocated a small number of seats at this unique event- to get one or find out more click here

http://www.mindbodyspirit.co.uk/deepak+chopra?aff=b9d2962a4033e0f5c564b5abe289f9e3

Take care

Deepak

BTW it’s the 75% of the year so time to up the gears and get into action!

Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 New number 0845 643 2283

 Helping People and Companies Excel

However you define success, we can help you achieve it! Success means different things to different people. Whether its outperforming the competition, adapting to new challenges or having more time to yourself, Catalyst Coaching can help you achieve your goals. Success comes in CANS and Failures come in CAN'TS, let me take you from I CAN'T to I CAN.

This e-mail, its content and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and are confidential. If you have received this e-mail in error you may not copy or use the contents, attachments or information in any way. Please destroy it and contact the sender via e-mail return. This e-mail has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but Catalyst Coaching makes no warranty as to accuracy or completeness. In particular Catalyst Coaching does not accept responsibility for changes made to this e-mail after it was sent. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Catalyst Coaching.

The four candles burn slowly.

The ambiance was so soft that you could hear them talking.
The first one said “I am Peace. However no one can keep me lit. I believe  i will go out.” It’s flame rapidly diminishes and goes out completely.
The second one says “I am Faith. Most of all I am no longer indispensable, so it doesn’t make any sense that I stay lit any longer.” When it finished,talking, a breeze softly blew on it putting it off.
Sadly, the third candle spoke in its turn “I am Love. I haven’t got
strength to stay lit. people put me aside and don’t understand my
importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest & dearest to them.” And waiting no longer it goes out.

Suddenly. . . a child enters the room and sees three candles not burning.
“why you are not burning? You are supposed to stay lit till the end.”
Saying this the child starts crying.
Then the fourth candle says “Don’t be afraid, while I am still burning we
can re-light the candles, I am Hope.” With shining eyes, the child took the candle of Hope and lit the other candles.
The flame of Hope should never go out from our lives…. And each of us can be at Peace, have Faith and be in Love- forever.

The story was told to me by my father, who said it was told to him when he was younger. The original story is slightly different and the author is unknown.

Lots of love

Deepak

My friend Kavit Haria, who is a young successful Internet entrepreneur with numerous ventures online, is putting on a rare one day workshop in London to show savvy individuals like you how you can get started making money online with your own business or taking your existing business to new heights on the Internet.

Most notably, Kavits first company InsiderMusicBusiness is a well- oiled Internet business making over $15k a month yet he works just 10 hours a month in it. How? Come and find out so you can get to this point yourself.

It doesn't matter if you don't know which niche you'll run a business in, it doesn't matter if you don't have a product or a website yet, this workshop will help you create a profitable business model for you and equip you with the tools and strategies to help you get started.

It takes place at the Ramada Encore London West on Saturday 15th August. It runs for the whole day, is limited to just 40 people, and you must book online in order to attend.

Plus if you are on the first 20 people to book, you'll get a host if exclusive bonuses to start your essential web training before you even attend the workshop.

I myself will be attending and have bought my ticket so I'll see you there.

You can read more and register here:

http://www.continuityworkshop.com/?=deepak

For more information, please call Kavit on 020 8133 7437.

I'll see you on the 15th of August, I do hope you join me to learn how you can explode your business using the Internet.

Fancy being an internet entrepreneur?

We Have to Let Go

People always ask: How can I integrate my spiritual realization into my everyday life? But that question doesn’t really make sense. Consciousness has no beginning and no end. Spirit is absolute in nature, and that’s why it’s so completely liberating. We simply cannot fit that which is infinite and absolute into a relative context that is limited, fixed, and restricted. We have to be willing to open up our minds and our hearts and our souls and allow ourselves to be carried away. And once we’ve let go, really let go, then and only then can we look at our lives and see what makes the most sense.

“What we do naturally is we cling, we grasp, we hold on to. We are not functioning freely, not free, because we’re stuck. Buddha observed this tendency and gave it a name. He said when the mind is stuck, you’re in dukkha (usually translated from the Sanskrit as suffering). Dukkha literally means a wheel whose hub doesn’t move. So what kind of a wheel do you have? A useless, dysfunctional wheel. What good is a wheel if it doesn’t move?
What Buddha discovered and taught was to free up the wheel. He called it sukkha, a liberated wheel, a freed-up wheel. That means liberation, nirvana.” ~ Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel

So would you like to learn to let go?

Haven’t got time?

Can’t make the financial commitment?

Don’t know how to go about it?

Well, I have a simple option for you that will let you learn to let go fully and completely, interested?

Order the DVD the emotional Intelligence technique right now, and find out how!

Let me sweeten the deal for you further, Order the dvd and I will throw in any two of my ebook to you totally free of charge (each worth £9.99) and I will throw in the DVD thoughts become things totally free of charge (worth £19.99)  so that’s £39.97 worth of stuff free!

When you order the DVD  the emotional intelligence technique for £49.99)

So for a minor investment imagine would it would be like to really let go and be free from suffering.

Just order the DVD the emotional intelligence technique now

Have an amazing day!

Take care

Deepak

Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 New number 0845 643 2283

 Helping People and Companies Excel

However you define success, we can help you achieve it! Success means different things to different people. Whether its outperforming the competition, adapting to new challenges or having more time to yourself, Catalyst Coaching can help you achieve your goals. Success comes in CANS and Failures come in CAN'TS, let me take you from I CAN'T to I CAN.

Dear Friends

I thought I would share this wonderful concept with you from the Zen Master Genpo

“So we end up with what the Buddha taught in his first teaching, which is called the Eightfold Path, when he said, ‘have Right View.’ Right View is having no particular, fixed view, which means seeing that all views are limited, that no particular view is the only view. They’re all restricted, they’re all limited, they’re all fragmented. Actually the right view is no view.” ~ Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel

Imagine six blind guys. They’ve never seen an elephant before and are each touching a different part of the big old animal describing what an elephant is.

The first blind man grabs the tail and says the elephant is like a rope. The second one grabs the leg and is certain the elephant is like a pillar while the third touches the trunk and thinks the elephant is like a tree branch. The others go for different parts and have different perspectives (the back is like a throne; the tusk is like a spear; the ear is like a hand fan).

Now, what’s fascinating is that they’re all *100%* sure they’re *100%* right and can’t understand how someone else can have such a wildly different understanding of something that is SO obvious to them!

Enter: the limitation of thinking your perspective is the absolute truth. :)

Ken Wilber likes to talk about “partial truths” and reminds us that no one is smart enough to be either 100% right OR 100% wrong. There’s always a partial truth to a perspective — no matter how limited. AND, there’s always a partial limitation to a truth, no matter how profound.

We get in trouble when we think our perspective is 100% right.

Genpo tells us: “That is why from the beginning it’s really important that you learn to shift perspectives. That alone is going to help tremendously in your life. Just imagine the next time you get into an argument with your partner or spouse, and you are able to let go of your view and open up to the possibility that there might just be another perspective on the situation — her view, or his view. The moment you do that, it sets you free.”

Powerful stuff. Try it out the next time you find yourself in an argument with someone — whether it’s at work or at home. Odds are the tension comes from you getting locked into your perspective and the moment you can create a little more spaciousness and see the possibility of the other’s perspective you just took a HUGE leap forward.

The Big Mind process is all about being able to do that more and more consistently and, as a result, create more and more love, compassion and all that’s good in your life.

So an exercise for you to try right now:

1)      Make a list of at least ten truths that you believe to be true.

2)      Make a list of the consequences of your truths or beliefs.

3)      How do they shape your life?

4)      What would happen if you were to lighten up and give up those beliefs?

5)      Want to learn how to do that? Then email me Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org and put in the subject “Tell me how!”

Have a wonderful weekend of love and growth. By the way a friend of mine is host a series of teleseminars on the development of human consciousness and is looking for a sponsor. Approximated costs is £35 a month, for that you will get exclusive advertising rights to a large audience. If you are interested or know of someone who maybe interested please do email me and I will put you in touch.

Lots of love and hey lighten up!

BTW the free seminar is being booked this week,  there are still places available, details will follow!

Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 New number 0845 643 2283

 Helping People and Companies Excel

However you define success, we can help you achieve it! Success means different things to different people. Whether its outperforming the competition, adapting to new challenges or having more time to yourself, Catalyst Coaching can help you achieve your goals. Success comes in CANS and Failures come in CAN'TS, let me take you from I CAN'T to I CAN.

This e-mail, its content and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and are confidential. If you have received this e-mail in error you may not copy or use the contents, attachments or information in any way. Please destroy it and contact the sender via e-mail return. This e-mail has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but Catalyst Coaching makes no warranty as to accuracy or completeness. In particular Catalyst Coaching does not accept responsibility for changes made to this e-mail after it was sent. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Catalyst Coaching.

Dear Friends

I hope this newsletter and information finds you well. In this special issue you will find:

·        Why i have been so quiet recently

·        One of the keys to the Shadow seminar

·        A free Seminar for you and your friends ( no i really mean free!)

·        An exercise on your limiting beliefs around money and even the word free!

·        A beautiful explanation of enlightenment!

And if that’s not enough i am going to give you all an opportunity to all the entrepreneurial  types an opportunity to be part of something huge. Ok that’s enough to wet your appetite it’s down to business:

Why i have been quiet!

So Why have i been so quiet, well i have been to two retreats, one on yoga and healing and the other one advanced coaching skills, as well as a marketing workshop and a professional speaking workshop to find out why people prefer to hire me than other speakers. Which really blow me away!

Anyway, So i have been really busy formulating and preparing new material for 2010, only to be told by the marketing group that i should launch it in 2009 as soon as possible as “the new stuff” will blow your mind. Anyway more on that later.....

One of the keys to the Shadow Seminar

“Why is it you spend most of your life trying to fit it, when you were designed to stand out and be different!”

Isn’t it strange how we all like to fit in, in all situations and circumstances, especially in a recession!

We all seem to subscribe to the doom and gloom and attract everything we don’t want into our lives, strange that! Especially when you find out that you were designed to stand out , be different for a unique purpose! So how many of you know your purpose or are living your purpose? Would you like to find out more, well its worth looking down and seeing your own shadow.

Did you know you can follow all the key concepts to the shadow seminar on twitter on

http://twitter.com/deepaklodhia or even the live updates on www.catalyst-coaching.org

A free Seminar for you

Before you ask, yes it is free, it’s my commitment to my friends

The Seminar is based on the Universal Laws of Abundance, I will be teaching you how to use the laws of attraction. If you are one of the millions who has seen the secret and all the other films like it, and fed up of being sold the course to fill in the missing piece on how to make it work then this is for you!

I am going to tell you everything  for nothing! All i ask is that if you are interested to email Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org and put “I want more” in the subject. This is so that i can reserve the right sized room (and i am paying for it!) and your resources.

Ok, i know your amazed i can do this, and its because of the amazing result from using the laws that i can afford to do this. So let me know asap so i can set a date and book a room. I am sorry but this is going to be a one time only offer!

An Exercise for you

I want to help you conquer some unconscious limiting beliefs (you may not even know you have) about money, so you can attract more money in your life right away.

Let's do a quick exercise from my program...

First, make a list of up to five things going on in your life, or around you, that leads you to believe you can't attract money.

1. ____________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________

Now, that you've done that, let me ask you a question...

When you look back on your list, can you say beyond a shadow of a doubt, that nobody has ever overcome these challenges to attract money?  (Be

honest.)

Think about it...

- You may have listed the up and down economy.

(Reality: Many people, dealing with the same economy as you, are becoming millionaires right at this moment.  I'm making more money than

ever.)

- You may have listed bankruptcy.  (Reality:

People and companies file bankruptcy every minute and many emerge from bankruptcy stronger than ever.  Donald Trump is a great example.)

- You may have listed that your home is in foreclosure or your facing homelessness.

(Reality: Most people never lose their home to foreclosure and even those who do, can move and start over again.  At one time I lost my home, and went on to become financially independent and a bestselling author.)

- You may have listed that you're out of shape and have no energy.  (Reality: Do you believe every wealthy person is in perfect shape?  Money comes to people of all sizes, races, religions, and backgrounds.  It does not discriminate.)

All of things you listed are nothing but unconscious limiting beliefs, and you need to get clear of them.  Getting clear is truly "The Missing Secret" to making the Law of Attraction work for you all the time.  After all, it isn't your conscious intentions that are being manifested in your life it's your un-conscious counter-intentions.

Obviously, once you clear those hidden

unconscious blocks/beliefs, nothing will stand in the way of your success.  The roadblocks will be gone.

If you find yourself concerned about your finances, the economy, your relationships, oil and gas prices, global warming, or otherwise just feeling like there's no hope...I want you to realize that you can clear these unconscious limiting beliefs.

Make today the first day of the rest of your life.

Want a new car?  Make it happen with no excuses.

Want to attract more money?  Make it happen with no excuses.

Or if you want anything else - make it happen.

Take inspired action today.

Enlightenment a different perspective

Experiment:

1. Think of a time in your life where you became aware, however briefly, that you were more than your physical body. Reflect on that experience until you begin to recreate that awareness (generally of love, peace and power) now.

2. Identify at least one daily practice (meditation, journalling, walking in nature, etc.) which would enable you to access your 'inner lion' on a regular basis.

3. Like Nike puts it- “Just Do It!”

Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 New number 0845 643 2283

 Helping People and Companies Excel

Dear Friends

Hope this newsletter finds you well and healthy! So I know I have been very quite these past few weeks, I have been secretly working on multiple projects (not the best way to do things!)

So be prepared for lots of information about what’s developing for the future!

Firstly what are you doing on the 12^th of October 09- I know I sounds like a long way away, This event is something special?

The event? Ten Secrets of Everyday Enlightenment

The question I get asked the most is,” there has got to be more to life than this?”

I have studied and practiced this question and resolved it’s answer over the last ten years, and I

am ready to share the ten secrets of everyday enlightenment with you.

If you would like your life to mean more than the usual grind, then this workshop is for you, by

the end of the workshop you will be able to:

• Understand a new concept of life purpose

• End your misery of motivation with inspiration

• Understand the true cost of freedom and how to achieve it

• How to find your true purpose

• Understand how to make room to change

• Understand the Spiritual stages of development and how to follow the map

• Learn the ten secrets of everyday enlightenment

And its presented by yours truly a special one off event, with limited seating- ( that last event was sold out!) there is only 100 seats so I want you guys to get the head start and get the seats only.

Email- Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org to book your place right now!

Secondly, There is a small group developing to train to run for the London Marathon for 2010 with Stu Mittleman the famous endurance athlete from the American Hall of Fame. There is a few places still available, if interested then contact me by email- Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org for further details and get on the team and run with us!

The foundation of any authentic path to higher development must, in the end, be based upon a deep conviction in one’s own capacity to consciously evolve and a commitment to ensuring that it will occur. Penetrating into the deeper and higher dimensions of our own being is not an impossible feat that only spiritually gifted people can accomplish. It just requires an authentic personally felt compulsion to find something bigger, deeper, higher, and infinitely more real than anything one has ever known. And above all, it requires that one make room for the possibility that one can actually succeed, at the deepest level of one’s being, in becoming that something which one cannot yet grasp but feels choicelessly compelled to reach for.

To authentically tread the path of conscious evolution, to me, means nothing less than intending to succeed in developing in such a significant way that our attainment is unmistakable to those who have the hearts and minds to recognize it. This is important, because for far too many of us, the mere idea of being on a spiritual path is enough for us to assume that we’re living the human experience at a higher level, when this is often not the case. Spiritual development is just like any other kind of development. It’s about moving to a higher level, raising our center of gravity, getting to someplace new within ourselves that we have not yet reached. This approach stands in stark contrast to so much of the gospel of postmodern popular spirituality, both Eastern and Western, which often seems to be more about self-acceptance than it is about self-transcendence. There is a goal, there is a destination, there is a purpose, and there is a way—but we have to intend to get there. We don’t get on a train or a plane or into a bus or a car simply for the ride. We enter those vehicles because we’re headed to a specific destination. But when it comes to the spiritual journey, intending to get there is infinitely more challenging than simply being on the path. It changes everything.

Thirdly, I have been asked several times to run an event called The Shadow Self- the authentic missing piece to inner freedom, after several talks and a private seminar lots of participants want me to run the same event again. I am considering running the event in September , at a special price of £50 for the event only 40 places available and 10 places VIP £120.

Let me explain, the normal place you get the full days training and the VIP places you get the full days training, a copy of all the DVD’s , books and training materials Plus- I will personally take you out to dinner and pick up the bill!

Just to put a perspective on it- My Dvd collection is £49.99 my books collection £40.00 the training pack is £25.00 that’s £114.99 worth of stuff so your training would only be £5.01 so that’s quite a bargin and I take you to dinner and pick up the bill- that’s crazy!

Email Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org to reserve your place or for questions or more details!

Keep an eye out for more information coming your way soon, there is lots happening!

Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 New number 0845 643 2283

 Helping People and Companies Excel

However you define success, we can help you achieve it! Success means different things to different people. Whether its outperforming the competition, adapting to new challenges or having more time to yourself, Catalyst Coaching can help you achieve your goals. Success comes in CANS and Failures come in CAN'TS, let me take you from I CAN'T to I CAN.

This e-mail, its content and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and are confidential. If you have received this e-mail in error you may not copy or use the contents, attachments or information in any way. Please destroy it and contact the sender via e-mail return. This e-mail has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but Catalyst Coaching makes no warranty as to accuracy or completeness. In particular Catalyst Coaching does not accept responsibility for changes made to this e-mail after it was sent. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Catalyst Coaching.

No one can be free who refuses to see what actually lives within him. This is why Real self-healing begins with Truthful self-seeing. There is no other order, no other way. Consciousness of any unwanted condition in us must precede its correction, just as the rising sun dismisses the fear hiding in the darkness of night. This is why we must learn that anything in us that does not want us to see the truth about our actual unenlightened condition is itself a part of what is punishing us. We can learn to do much better!

“The medicine is bitter, but it heals,” said the late great author Vernon Howard when it comes to seeing the truth of our lives. If we would heal the hidden hurt in us then we must learn that the initial bitterness of self-truthfulness is the front-runner of our ultimate spiritual betterment. Our work is to concede to the bright prescription of Higher Self-Honesty regardless of how it “tastes” to us in those moments when we see ourselves as we are.

Here now are nine eye-opening facts about areas in our lives where we have chosen not to see what must be seen... If we would be Free. Choose in favor of your freedom. Choose to see!

1. We close our eyes to the fact that the imaginary value we have placed upon our life only holds up for as long as others don’t disturb our dreams.
   
   
2. We close our eyes to the fact that wherever we go, and regardless of whom we meet, we still seem to run into the same conflicts and experience the same negativities.
   
   
3. We close our eyes to the fact that what we call being sorry for our bad behavior really just means that we don’t want to be bothered anymore by those who have been troubled by our unpleasant manifestations.
   
   
4. We close our eyes to the fact we blame others for what we call their selfish insistence that we serve their interests when the real pain in such moments is but our own resentment over our cowardly inability to just say “No.”
   
   
5. We close our eyes to the fact that in spite of all of the pain it causes us, and others, we still believe that we know what it means to be a “winner” in life.
   
   
6. We close our eyes to the fact that just because we have mastered hiding some character fault of ours doesn’t mean that it has stopped hurting those around us who cannot avoid being subjected to it. 
   
   
7. We close our eyes to the fact that we would rather have the company of known liars and betrayers than have to go through our life by ourselves.
   
   
8. We close our eyes to the fact that we will only inconvenience ourselves (especially when it comes to answering the need of others) as a means of avoiding what we see as being a greater pain: their complaints!
   
   
9. We close our eyes to the fact that crying for ourselves out of self-pity doesn’t change one thing about the nature of the self that is the secret source of all these tears.

Awakening to Evolution

by Andrew Cohen

For those of us looking toward the future who are spiritually inclined, it is often difficult to find a path or practice that makes deep sense. What I mean is, it’s difficult to find a spiritual path that has a truly contemporary orientation—one that doesn’t compel us to embrace ancient belief structures that may no longer be relevant to our time. That is why I believe we need to create a new context for our individual and collective spiritual development, one that is appropriate for our twenty-first-century circumstances. The new seeker, the postmodern seeker, is in a unique predicament. But it’s a predicament that couldn’t be more thrilling, because it is so pregnant with creative potential. By “seeker” I mean the spiritually inspired individual who is awake to what I call the “evolutionary impulse” but who has abandoned traditional approaches because they just don’t seem able to meet our contemporary psychological, philosophical, and spiritual needs. I’m speaking about those individuals at the edge who want to catalyze a revolution in consciousness and culture, a revolution that will be able to create dynamic new structures that enable a new future to emerge. I believe such a revolution would have to be based upon the most important scientific, historical, cultural, and spiritual discovery of the last three hundred years: evolution.

Why is that? Because when considering what it would mean to create new structures for individual and collective spiritual development, it’s necessary to keep an important fact in mind: Up until very recently in human history, we didn’t know that we are all part of a developmental process that had a beginning in time and that is going somewhere. Many of us tend to forget that it was only in the twentieth century that we came upon what’s called deep time—the incomprehensible span of fourteen billion years since the universe burst into being.

I have no doubt that the evolutionary process—from the big bang to the present moment—is not merely a random, meaningless event. If one stands back and takes a good, hard look at the entire sweep of the process, all the way from its earliest beginnings, one can see undeniable direction and even, I dare say, purpose in its majestic unfolding. But who or what initiated that process? What energy or intelligence made the choice to take that first miraculous leap from formlessness to form, from nothing whatsoever to energy and light to matter to life to consciousness to self-reflective awareness? Such an audacious move, that instantaneous leap from nothing to the beginning of everything, could only have been made by a force that was nothing less than Godlike. That impulse, that evolutionary impulse, is what I call God. That same impulse is not separate from the most important part of each and every one of us, from our uniquely human drive to create and innovate and, most significantly, from our will to consciously evolve.

As that impulse we have all been here, in some shape or form, throughout the mind-opening, awe-inspiring journey of Becoming that has been unfolding since the time process began. We’ve been together since infinite density emerged from absolute nothingness when the universe was created. We’ve been together since atoms, which make up the very foundation of all matter, were formed three hundred thousand years later. We were there when those atoms formed gas clouds, which turned into stars, which grouped together as galaxies, each of which eventually produced billions of solar systems filled with small rocky planets, such as our beautiful Earth, which was forged from the remains of generations of dead stars.

We have been here since the first single-celled microorganisms emerged from the primordial soup and throughout the slow flowering of life in all its diversity. We were here when the great dinosaurs ruled the food chain unchallenged, and through their demise. When the first hominids walked on the African savannah, this impulse, which is who we all are, guided each evolutionary step. And since our ancestors appeared on the stage of life just two hundred thousand years ago, that impulse has guided the vast unfolding tapestry of cultural development that brings us to this present moment.

Throughout this whole process, from the beginning of time to the very edge of the future, as the energy and intelligence that has been driving cosmic, planetary, biospheric, animal, human, and cultural evolution, we have been here at every step. What do I mean by that? I mean that as the evolutionary impulse, as the initiatory force that is driving the entire creative process, from the innermost dimensions of our human interiors all the way to the farthest reaches of our cosmos, we have always been here.

It was my own gradual discovery of and awakening to this picture of the developmental process as a whole that eventually compelled me to reinterpret and redefine the meaning and significance of spiritual awakening, of enlightenment, for our own time. And this awakening is not merely an ever-growing cognitive appreciation for the miraculous unfolding of the entire evolving cosmos that we are all part and parcel of. I’m speaking about an actual experience at the level of consciousness itself of the presence of that same telos or felt pull toward the future. I’m convinced that the momentous enlightening leap that needs to be taken by those of us at the leading edge is the delicate and all-important transition from the mere intellectual and philosophical recognition that our cosmos and culture are evolving to the direct, felt, living experience of the energy and intelligence that is driving the entire process, vibrating in one’s very own heart and mind. It just makes sense that a spiritual path that would enable us to create the future in our own time would have to be based upon such a revelation.

It is indeed a perpetually enthralling insight that we are, at all levels of our being, products of time and the creative process. But it is literally enlightening when we begin to directly experience that we are truly one with the mind of God—one with the original evolutionary impulse that chose to take that eternal leap from Being to Becoming fourteen billion years ago.

 Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

The Garden of Your Life

One truth stands firm. All that happens in world history rests on something spiritual.

If the spiritual is strong, it creates world history. If it is weak, it suffers world history.

Albert Schweitzer

One of my favourite exercises, which I use with many of my clients to both check
in with how things are going in their lives and as a part of their ongoing
self-care routines, is based on a Hawaiian system of healing and self-care.

Feel free to adapt it in whatever way works for you. Some people like to read all
the way through the exercise before doing it; some have someone read it to them
the first time they go through it, while others prefer to simply follow along,
taking a few moments to close their eyes and imagine what is being described
before opening their eyes again and reading further.

For many people, visiting the garden becomes a regular part of their spiritual
self-care routine. For others, it is a place to visit in times of great change or
upheaval. Once you have gone through this exercise a couple of times, you will
find it easy to return to your garden any time you choose...

Take a few moments to relax. ‘Inspire’ yourself by taking a few deep breaths and
really enjoy the sensation of your body filling and emptying itself of air. If
you like, you can close your eyes, counting backwards from ten to one…

Now, imagine yourself stepping in to a shower of light. Let all the cares and
stresses of the day be washed away until you are feeling clean and clear and
refreshed. Continue to enjoy the shower and notice that the light outside awakens
the light inside and your body begins to fill with light…

As your body becomes lighter and lighter, you are becoming more and more relaxed.
Soon, every cell in your body will be infused with the most beautiful light you
can imagine. Enjoy the experience of clarity, lightness and ease…

Now, as the being of light that you are, float up out of your body and into a
garden. This is the garden of your life. In it you will find every aspect of
yourself and your light reflected…
When you are ready, have a wander round your garden and notice what you notice:

*Is your garden large or small?
*Is it neat and tidy or rambling and overgrown?
*Are there any particular features that draw your eye towards them?

Here are some of the things to check out while you are exploring your garden. You
may find any or all of them already waiting for you or if there is a feature I
describe that you are particularly attracted to, you can always add it in
yourself. Remember, it’s your garden!

-----------------------
The areas of your life
-----------------------
In every garden, you will find (or can create) areas that represent the areas of
your life. At the very least, I recommend you find parts of the garden to
represent health, wealth and relationships, but many people also enjoy planting
things to do with their career, social causes and spirituality.

----------------------------
The fountain of inspiration
----------------------------
I used to find my own garden a bit bland until I added a fountain of inspiration.
Whenever I need to recharge, I sit by the fountain and enjoy being refreshed by
the cool splash of inspiration!

----------------
The inner flame
----------------
Your inner flame can be representative of your current levels of health, energy,
inspiration and well-being. One of my clients has a sacred shrine in her garden
where she sees her inner flame like an eternal candle; another has his in an
outdoor fireplace which burns brighter or more dimly depending on what he has
been doing in his life.

There is a saying often attributed to Mother Theresa that ‘if every one would
sweep their own doorstep, the city would soon be clean’. I would put it like this:

As each of us tends to our own flame,
the world will be able to bask in our collective warmth and light.

--------
Animals
--------
Many people like to have animals in their inner garden. But unlike in the outer
world, the animals (and pretty much anything else) in your inner garden can talk
back to you. If you ever come across something in your garden you don’t
understand, ask it what it’s doing there and what it’s message is for you. If it
feels like you’re just making it up, it’s working perfectly!

--------------------
The master gardener
--------------------
For many of my clients, their favourite thing about visiting their gardens is the
time they spend in conversation with their ‘master gardener’. The master gardener
is a wise aspect of yourself (or if you prefer ‘beyond yourself’) you can turn to
for inspiration, counsel and assistance in tending your garden.

For some people, the master gardener appears as a historic or religious figure;
for some he or she is someone that they know, love and respect; for still others
it appears more as an energy or symbolic rather than human form. (One of my
clients has Chauncy Gardener, the Peter Sellers character from the movie Being
There!)

You will know you have found the perfect master gardener for you when you feel
peaceful and at ease in their presence.

==========================
What to do in your garden
==========================

There are no limits to what you can do in your garden, but here are a few things
I recommend:

1. Weed your garden regularly. Anything in the garden you don’t like can
go. If you’re not sure why something is there or if you keep removing something
and every time you return to the garden it’s grown back, ask the master gardener
(or the weed itself) what its importance is and why it keeps returning.

2. Nurture what you love. Taking time to water and even talk with the
plants and animals can be extremely rewarding. In the garden, a useful guideline
is that if it feels good to do it, it is good to do it.

3. Plant new things, particularly in areas of your life you would like to see
changes. It never ceases to amaze me how changes I make in the garden are
reflected in my life (though I wouldn’t necessarily talk about it with some of my
more scientifically minded or mentally conservative friends!)

4. If you pray or meditate, going to the garden is an excellent way to begin.
Many people tell me their experience of prayer or meditation is greatly enhanced
by this simple practice.

5. Enjoy it! As you cultivate your garden, you will find it a more and more
peacefully invigorating place to be. Especially in your garden, resist the
temptation to overwhelm being with doing.

When you have explored and enjoyed your garden fully, leave any final
instructions with your master gardener for changes you would like made before
your next visit.

When you are ready to leave, say a silent ‘Thank you’ to your garden and float
back down into your body. Imagine stepping onto an energizing beam of light until
your body is filled with energy – open your eyes, wiggle your fingers and toes,
and ease your way back into the world…

 Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 Helping People and Companies Excel

However you define success, we can help you achieve it! Success means different things to different people. Whether its outperforming the competition, adapting to new challenges or having more time to yourself, Catalyst Coaching can help you achieve your goals. Success comes in CANS and Failures come in CAN'TS, let me take you from I CAN'T to I CAN.

This e-mail, its content and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and are confidential. If you have received this e-mail in error you may not copy or use the contents, attachments or information in any way. Please destroy it and contact the sender via e-mail return. This e-mail has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but Catalyst Coaching makes no warranty as to accuracy or completeness. In particular Catalyst Coaching does not accept responsibility for changes made to this e-mail after it was sent. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Catalyst Coaching.

Dear Friends

I know that I have been very quiet the past few weeks, and as you read this newsletter and absorb the lessons and put them into practice you will realise why!

I have an amazing offer that is going to blow you away, its worth £500, and you, yes you can have it with no strings attached!

Read on:

12 Steps to Help Find Your Way Back Home

Almost everyone feels dissatisfied with his or her life, but almost no one understands the real reasons why. And so it goes: For most men and women -- in spite of their best intentions, and sincere efforts, very little ever changes: except that is for the type of the dissatisfaction experienced, or what's being blamed for it. Now, here's the real reason behind all of this persistent and personal sadness: This world which you presently call your own isn't really your home at all. 

Just as a high-flying eagle can't feel content as a captive in a cage, neither can who you really are find the fulfillment and freedom you long for in the lower levels of this world; a place of temporary and restrictive conditions which you've mistakenly come to think of as your home. This world and all of its various trappings may be familiar, but then so can any common jail-house become acceptable. Just ask one of their unfortunate inmates! 

To break out of any prison you must first find a way that works. Following are a dozen new actions that have special powers to show you this needed Way. Be assured that you may follow them all the way... Up and out... Back to your real Home. Each instruction requires you take only one step at a time, but do your best to place yourself, each day, into as many of these personal practice-situations as possible. The Way back Home exists! Start your journey with these 12 steps. As you get your footing, create more steps out of your own new and growing understanding. Then step back and watch how the Path magically appears before your grateful eyes. Remember! Each one step, taken every day, reveals the Path, and teaches the Way.

1. Go through one agitating life-situation without saying, or doing, anything to try and change it.
2. Make one wish for something or someone besides yourself.
3. Face one fear.
4. Ask one time to see what you need to see about yourself.
5. In one encounter, where you're sure you're right, let someone else have the last word.
6. Notice and then refuse one urge to either spread, or listen to, any form of gossip, gloom, or doom.
7. Catch and swallow one complaint without letting others know you're struggling to keep something down.
8. Accept one moment of emptiness without making something out of it.
9. Sacrifice one sad, hostile, anxious, or defeated feeling.
10. Allow one great or beautiful moment of yours to live or die without your intervention.
11. Complete one task without compromise and to your absolute best ability.
12. Observe one face of a friend, family member, or everyday acquaintance -- at the same time that you place one of your personal demands upon him or her.

BTW take five minutes and watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jETv3NURwLc

Now for my amazing offer, My very close friend and Coach, Randeesh Sandhu is holding an amazing event!

What: Combat illness using the Demartini Method

When: Thursday, March 19, 2009 from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (GMT)

Where: The Royal Institution of Great Britain - 21 Albermarle Street - Mayfair - London, London, City Of W1S 4BS  - United Kingdom

Hosted by: Randeesh Sandhu Consulting Ltd

More info at http://randeeshsandhu-invitefriends.eventbrite.com

NOW, this is very important, places are very limited and will be filling up very quickly

VERY IMPORTANT COST- NOTHING- just make a donation to his choosen charity!

And its not too late to donate, http://www.justgiving.com/deepaklodhia

Many thanks, love to all and I will see you all when we get home!

Deepak

Deepak Lodhia

Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Firewalk Trainer

Catalyst Coaching

 www.catalyst-coaching.org

www.deepaklodhia.com

Join the BLOG here

Tel 00(+44)121 288 5502

Mob 00(+44) 789999 6377

Email: Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

 Helping People and Companies Excel

However you define success, we can help you achieve it! Success means different things to different people. Whether its outperforming the competition, adapting to new challenges or having more time to yourself, Catalyst Coaching can help you achieve your goals. Success comes in CANS and Failures come in CAN'TS, let me take you from I CAN'T to I CAN.

This e-mail, its content and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and are confidential. If you have received this e-mail in error you may not copy or use the contents, attachments or information in any way. Please destroy it and contact the sender via e-mail return. This e-mail has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but Catalyst Coaching makes no warranty as to accuracy or completeness. In particular Catalyst Coaching does not accept responsibility for changes made to this e-mail after it was sent. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Catalyst Coaching.

Self-pity doesn't help, overcoming it does

I know this is an amazing long article this month, there are many levels of consciousness addressed, regardless of where you are in your journey, this will be for you!

Some of you who know me personally, know my grandparents died after suffering major strokes, and suffering the long and hard. So this year I will personally be supporting the stroke association as my personal challenge. So as this is the year of coming of age- (Yes I am turning 40!) I am celebrating in style, there is going to be an amazing event on my birthday- details will come later.

On the 21^st of March ( my wife's birthday), My wife and I will be performing an abseil down the famous Fort Dunlop Building in Birmingham on behalf of the Stroke Association . What I would like to ask is that every reader sponsor us, I am not asking for a lot of money- £1, $1 or a Euro because when we add it all up, it will make an amazing difference!

Here is the link

http://www.justgiving.com/deepaklodhia

Please make a contribution to helping other, oh and by the way, If you make a contribution- I will let you have any one of my EBooks for free to say thank you!

Thanking you in Advance

Do enjoy the article and I do love your feedback!

Deepak

Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

The modern plague is one that kills the spirit, not one that destroys the body. It is experienced by millions, and the symptoms are feelings of fear, self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, helplessness, and resignation. The victims of this ailment lack self-confidence and are filled with self- doubt. One such person lives in England and is just 16 years old.

He writes:

"I am really feeling down and feel like I am going to fail in life. I am studying media in college, but I have poor grades. I want to be happy and don't want people to think that I am wallowing in self-pity. I want to change my life. Do you have any suggestions?"

I'll start by commenting on additional information he has provided, make some general comments, and suggest some steps to take.

Although not his real name, I'll call our reader "Charlie" in this article. Charlie is studying media, yet he uses his home computer mainly for chatting. No wonder he has poor grades. Why would he neglect his studies and waste time chatting on the Internet? It is not because he is lazy, but because a subconscious part of him is trying to protect him. You see, if Charlie is afraid of failing, or if he believes studying is very hard, failure or study would result in pain. And it is this pain that his subconscious is trying to protect him from. After all, if he doesn't try, he won't experience the pain of failure.

But there is no such thing as failure; there are only learning experiences. Charlie may or may not be suited to media, and the only way to find out whether he is or not, is by trying. If he continues to neglect his studies, he will fail the course without knowing if he could have passed. What Charlie doesn't realize is he doesn't have to pass, all he has to do is try to pass. If he tries his best and fails, he will have learned something. He will have learned that media is not for him and he should try something else. Eventually, he will discover what he is suited for and become a great success.

My first suggestion to Charlie is to stop using the computer for chatting and start using it as a powerful tool to help you practice and develop your media skills. True, if you don't study hard, you won't experience the pain of tough work, but in its place, you will experience the bitter pain of regret.

He spends most of the time at home at the computer in his room, and there is little communication with the rest of the family.

Charlie says, "My family doesn't really come up and see how I am doing." But Charlie, your family doesn't know you are chatting on the Internet; they think you are studying and they don't want to disturb you. When you feel you need a break and a few moments with your family, leave your room and see how THEY are doing.

Men and women in their 30's and 40's realize that when problems erupt they'll have to struggle for awhile, but it all will pass.

And in the long run, the worst problem will prove to be the greatest blessing. But 16-year-old Charlie lacks the experience, so not surprisingly he finds it difficult to have faith in the encouraging words of others. To help Charlie see the big picture, I'd like to share a couple of facts.

Like Charlie, another British boy was doing poorly in school. He quit school at age 16 and went into business for himself. He later founded a very successful record company, 360 other companies, and an airline. Today he is worth approximately 4.4 billion dollars. His name? Richard Branson (Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson).

Charlie may be too young to know the great American actor, writer, director, and producer, Michael Landon. But he had a bed- wetting problem until age 14, and his mother would hang up the soiled sheets on her clothesline for everyone to see. Imagine how he felt. Nevertheless, he went on to achieve fame and success.

Yes, many of the greatest names in business, entertainment, sports and the arts all started out with problems like Charlie.

I, too, Charlie, was doing poorly in school when I was your age because I was raised by immigrant foster parents who had a sixth grade education. So, you see, the problems you now have are no indication of what your future will be like. Everyone has to start where they are at the time and this includes Charlie.

STEPS TO TAKE 1. Learn the difference between "I  can't" and "I won't" or "I choose not to." Don't make the mistake of saying to yourself you can't study when you really mean you don't feel like studying. We all have the power to do what is important even though we don't feel like doing it. Some things, Charlie, are more important than avoiding discomfort. Things like your happiness and success. You may have to work hard for them, but aren't they worth it? Don't you deserve better?

2. When you're feeling in the dumps, don't use that as an excuse to stop working. As another British man said "Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair." (Edmund Burke, 1729 ~ 1797) Hardly anyone had more reason to feel depressed than Helen Keller (1880 ~ 1968). Yet, this is what she had to say, "Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world."

Also, make every effort to get over a bad mood as quickly as possible, not only for your own good, but for the good of others.

For we have no more right to spread misery and rob others of happiness than we have to enter their homes and steal their possessions. On the contrary, we are obligated to spread joy because the world is in great need of it.

3. Don't get trapped in defeatist thinking. Just because something goes wrong, don't believe the problem will continue indefinitely, affect all areas of your life, and be your fault.

It is precisely this kind of thinking that leads to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and despair. As you grow in experience, Charlie, you will realize problems are temporary setbacks with limited impact and due to external causes. So be patient; be hopeful, and don't blame yourself. In a word, be positive.

4. Self-pity is a coping mechanism. It is like stepping into a sauna in that it provides temporary relief. But it is not temporary relief but a permanent solution that you need. To find it, seek strength, not comfort. Along these lines, here is what Dr. Megan Reik had to say, "There are few human emotions as warm, comforting, and enveloping as self-pity. And nothing is more corrosive and destructive. There is only one answer; turn away from it and move on."

You can never grow successful by brooding over what troubles you.

Rather, focus on what you wish to become and work towards it. Or, in the words of Harry E. Fosdick (1878 ~ 1969) "Self-pity gets you nowhere. One must have the adventurous daring to accept oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting game in the world -- making the most of one's best."

5. Charlie is troubled by his shyness and lack of confidence, but sometimes it is these very qualities that drive us to excel in special areas. In other words, we compensate for our weaknesses by excelling in other areas. For example, I was like Charlie, shy and lacking in confidence, so at age 14, I studied magic and hypnosis, which resulted in large crowds whenever I performed. A great many famous entertainers became super stars not because of their confidence, but because of the lack of it! Charlie, too, can turn his weaknesses into strength by using them to goad him on to excel in some area. Charlie can make his problem a blessing in disguise.

6. We cannot think of two things at the same time. Neither can we experience two feelings at the same time. Why not use these principles to our advantage. For example, if we are frustrated, why not focus on what we have rather than what we lack? Each moment that we're grateful for what we have is a moment that we are not complaining and are not frustrated. Use idle time wisely, rather than brooding over your worries, you can divert your attention from the negative and get closer to a solution by reading a helpful book. No self confidence? Why not read a book on self-confidence or self esteem? It will remove your attention from your problems and help you solve one of them. Repeat this for each problem and you will find you won't have time to worry and you life will improve.

7. To beat off the battle of the blues, start each day planning how you can brighten the lives of others. Thinking of others removes the attention from yourself and your problems. And because it is impossible to help others without helping yourself, you will find that as you help others solve their problems, you will be solving your own as well.

8. Accept responsibility for your success and happiness. You are the only person that can abandon you. Don't do it; come to your aid and fight for your success. Don't wait for someone to solve your problems for you because there are none that can. You are the only person that can help yourself. Also, there are no magic bullets, no shortcuts, no easy way out. You have to do the work yourself. And as you do so, you will grow increasingly proud of yourself and ever more confident.

9. Speak the language of success, not failure. Let your mantra be, "Yes, I can." It is impossible to fail if you keep trying.

Sure, you may experience temporary setbacks and travel down some side streets and detours, but as long as you keep your eyes fixed on the goal and keep trying, you will eventually reach it. So, don't give up.

10. Stop worrying about what others think of you. Putting all of your attention on yourself is like driving with the headlights beaming on you instead of the street. You will be blinded by the light, unable to see the opportunities and possibilities, and you won't be able to see where you are and where you are heading. You are in the driver's seat; don't allow others to cause you to lose faith in yourself. Make your own roadmap to success and follow it.

11. Welcome the challenges you face for they offer an opportunity to take heroic action. Don't be a scaredy-cat or fraidy-cat. Take chances. Train yourself to risk failure and rejection rather than avoid them. You see, if you try, you MAY be unsuccessful, but if you don't try, you WILL regret it.

12. Don't be concerned if you or your ideas are rejected.

Consider the source. What are the qualifications of those judging you? And if you are rejected, there isn't one possible explanation, but countless possible explanations. So, don't jump to conclusions. Learn how to handle rejection, rather than avoid it. Also, don't set yourself up by having overly high expectations. If you expect too much, you're bound to be disappointed. Reasonable expectations are more likely to lead to success. Here are two more points: if we act inferior, people will treat us that way, and since you have a right to reject others, grant them the same right to reject you.

13. Here's a way to put some of the time you are alone in your room to good use. Practice this mental exercise. Relax, close your eyes, and imagine that there are two people in the room. You and a 3, 4, or 5-year-old boy. The boy is actually you as a child. Note how lovable the child is. Befriend him. Play with him in your imagination. Love him. Would you ever say to him, "You are stupid. You will never succeed. You are lazy. You are worthless. You are a failure. You have no guts."? Of course not.

But you and that little boy are the same person. Why do you say these things to yourself? Embrace that little boy and promise him you will watch over him and never say anything bad to him again.

14. Here is another powerful mental exercise. You should practice it at least three times a day. It only takes three minutes to perform and it is designed to dissolve your problems and bring peace into your life. To perform this exercise, just tell yourself you are going to take a three minute mini vacation from your problems. That is, for three minutes you will not think, worry, or brood over your troubles. Your three minute vacation consists of the following three steps:

a) Spend the first of the three minutes thinking of something pleasant. Perhaps you recently met with a close friend or will meet with one soon. Pick any example you can think of and allow yourself to experience some pleasure. While you are trying to do this, some worries may suddenly enter your mind. If they do, just say to them, "I'm sorry, you'll have wait a few minutes. You can return later, but I'm setting you aside for now as I am on a mini vacation."

b) Almost all of the remaining two minutes will be spent here in the second and most important step. Now imagine what it would be like if all your problems were gone. How would you feel?

Relieved? Elated? Joyous? Excited? For almost two minutes allow yourself to feel the way you would if all your problems were gone. If you harness the full power of your imagination, you will easily be able to do this step. As in the above step, if any negative thoughts arise and interrupt what you are trying to do, just set them aside and tell them to wait for a minute or so.

c) Now that you have felt just the way you would if your problems were gone, say "Thank you!" with gratitude in your heart. That's it. That's the third step. It just takes a second or two to perform.

Practice this simple exercise three or more times a day and you will experience peace and solve your problems. You don't have to understand how it works to be successful. But for the curious, I'll briefly explain. The language of our subconscious is images and FEELINGS. By repeatedly doing this exercise, the feelings of victory over one's problems reach the subconscious. Once it reaches there, the subconscious interprets them as a command.

That is, it is just as if you were speaking directly to the subconscious and saying, "This is how I want to feel." Now that the subconscious knows how you want to feel, it will automatically work to bring it about, but before it can do so, it must eliminate your problems. It does this by changing your behavior. You will find yourself spontaneously doing things differently. Not because you planned it that way, but just because you feel like doing things differently. Your subconscious will be working in the background, guiding you. If this all sounds confusing, don't worry about it. Just do the exercises and enjoy the benefits.

15. Although the goal should be to escape from the pit of self- pity, every now and then - especially after very trying circumstances - you mind and body may need a two or three day break to lick its wounds and feel sorry for itself. But the thing to remember is if you decide to give yourself a few days relief, first set a deadline. Tell yourself firmly that regardless how you feel, you'll get back to what needs to be done in a few days.

Richard Gordon Guindon couldn't say it better, "You shouldn't wallow in self-pity.  But it's OK to put your feet in it and swish them around a little."

16. Whenever you're experiencing negative thoughts and feelings, don't try to suppress them. Your feelings are your friends.

Embrace them. Negative ones are a built-in alarm system. They're just alerting you that you are doing something wrong and you need to make some changes. So, rather than trying to ignore negative feelings, heed their advice and ask yourself a series of questions whose answers will point to a way out of the morass of misery. Ask yourself questions such as, "What causes me to feel this way? What am I doing wrong? What am I neglecting to do? What shouldn't I be doing? What small steps can I take now that will lead me to a bright future?

17. One thing in Charlie's favor is he likes to participate in sports in his spare time. But, presently, he isn't as active as he should be. Whether it's a game of soccer, a workout in the gym, jogging, or merely a series of pushups done in his room, Charlie needs more exercise to ward off the blues. Exercise will take his mind off his worries, improve his health, boost his confidence, and give him a natural high. Don't just sit on your chair, but do some sit-ups to beat the blues, Charlie.

18. Also helpful is to do the opposite of what the cartoon character Charlie Brown said. Here is what he said, "This is my depressed stance. When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."

Well, as I conclude, Charlie, I would like you to understand that the feelings you are going through are natural and common, especially for someone your age. Not only do common people, such as you and I experience them in our youth, but a large number of super stars as well. The lesson, then, is not to be discouraged.

Follow your instincts and do what you know needs to be done.

I can tell that Charlie is made of the right stuff and up to the task. But I'm not saying that the road to success will be swift or easy. After all, anything worthwhile never is. Just remember, Charlie, that inferiority is not what you are but a feeling that you have, and when you roll up your sleeves and work toward your goals, that feeling will change. I'm sure all of our readers join me in wishing Charlie a happy and successful New Year!

. What I would like to ask is that every reader sponsor  us, I am not asking for a lot of money- £1, $1 or a Euro because when we add it all up, it will make an amazing difference!

Here is the link

http://www.justgiving.com/deepaklodhia

Please make a contribution to helping other, oh and by the way, If you make a contribution- I will let you have any one of my Ebooks for free to say thank you!

Thanking you in Advance

Do enjoy the article and I do love your feedback!

Deepak

Deepak@catalyst-coaching.org

The Growth of Understanding

By Ken Ward

A student clutching a pile of books and rushing to a university class might not normally be compared with, say, a Buddhist monk meditating in a lotus position contemplating existence, or a Japanese Zen student studying a koan, or even with a high magician performing a Kabbalistic ritual, yet it seems all these students are progressing through the same four stages of growth and all are seeking their enlightenment.

For those interested in mental development, it is no surprise to read about exotic and religious systems that claim to enlighten, but they may be surprised, or even astonished that students in traditional education follow the same stages, seeking the same result.

Many systems refer to stages of development and of initiation, but here I am using the 4 stages proposed by a conventional psychologist, William Perry, Professor of Education at Harvard. Perry proposed that students in higher education pass through a number of stages, and the 4 stages mentioned here are a grouping of his 9 stages. These 4 stages relate (roughly) to each of the 4 years of a well-taught university course - one where students are encouraged to become researchers and innovators, rather than merely regurgitate facts and theories.

1. Dualism
In both traditional university education and in esoteric and religious studies, students arrive, ready to sit at their teacher's or guru's knee, and, wide-eyed (and bushy tailed), await answers to the mysteries (of science, art, or the spirit). They are in Perry's first stage -- Dualism. That is, thinking is dual -- there are only two rational views of a statement: it is right or wrong. There are only two ways to do something: the right way and the wrong way. There are only two aspects of artistic judgement: the beautiful and the ugly. And there are only two types of people: authority figures who know the truth (such as teachers, gurus and doctors), and others, who have nothing to contribute. The student believes that the teacher knows all the answers and is the final arbiter of right and wrong, true and false, etc. Although students may have a short respite, when the first year is used to consolidate their previous knowledge, by the second year at the latest, the wise teacher or guru begins to challenge the student's dualistic beliefs and knowledge.

Students expect to be taught knowledge and skills which will give them confidence and certainty. They expect to learn the laws of the universe, but they discover that this isn't exactly what they will learn.

An example of Dualism is the central argument in 'Language, Truth and Logic' by the philosopher A J Ayer. In this book, he argued that all knowledge is empirical. Everything else -- religion, art -- is nonsense. That is, there are two categories: empirical knowledge and nonsense. The only way to truth, according to the book, is through scientific method. And everything else -- literary theory, ethics, law -- is nonsense, insubstantial pondering. However...

While a first reading of the book might give us a temporary feeling of certainty, that this is clearly true, we might apply its principles to determine what material is worthy to be called knowledge and what is nonsense. The natural place to start testing this idea is the arguments of the book itself. We can ask ourselves, in what category are the arguments in this book: empirical or non-empirical (and therefore nonsense)?

Are they empirical? Of course not. They are philosophical. So, by its own principle, the book is nonsense. And our dualistic test for knowledge must also be nonsense. So, perhaps there is knowledge that isn't scientific knowledge, after all. What we previously believed clearly true, we now believe to be clearly false. Such contradictions also occur and are encouraged in other systems.

For instance, a Buddhist student may crave enlightenment above everything else. But he learns that in Buddhism, attachment and craving lead to human suffering. Is, then, the craving for enlightenment just another way to cause suffering! Such contradictions leave us confused, and challenge our dualistic way of thinking. In Zen, this confusion is actively encouraged by the use of koans.

In Zen there is a story of a master named Dongshan Shouchu who was asked "What is Buddha?" As the monks were making flax at the time, he said, "A ball of flax." Such an answer seems completely non-sequitur! Their task, like ours, is to unravel the ball of flax, and to understand or transcend the contradictions.

When confronted with contradictions, what can the student do? Of course, she might drop-out, and keep her duality by dulling her mind to any exceptions. Alternatively, she could move to the second stage.

2. Multiplicity
To do this, the student must give up the idea that there are right ideas and wrong ideas, and acknowledge multiple ideas. Also, the student give up the idea that teachers and gurus are infallible. After all, if there are no right ideas, the teachers or gurus cannot know what is right and what is wrong. They can no longer be teachers and gurus.

This stage is called Multiplicity. It refers to believing there are many viewpoints, all equally valid. Students in this stage believe:

• Ideas are multiple, that is, there is more than one valid idea.
• One man's opinion is as valid as another's.
• There is no unity, only diversity.

In this stage, there are no standards. The students are concerned with collecting multiple viewpoints and criticisms, without any real comparison. They apply criticism to everything, but without a real intention to seek the truth. They mouth ideas and the support for these ideas to please their teachers (and get their grades), without any real belief in any of them. In the end, it's all opinion. Everyone's opinion is just as good and just as bad as anyone else's. The opinion of the janitor is as valid as that of the professor. In this stage, the students develop a kind of liberalism where adopting a fact, theory or viewpoint is as individual as choosing the flavor of an ice cream! For this reason, this stage is sometimes called the 'Cornetto', or 'Baskin-Robbins stage' (Both of which refer to ice cream.) There are no absolute truths, so there aren't any truths (only vanilla, strawberry, and infinite choices, including toffee crisp).

Here people can agree (and disagree) with anything. Even strange and weird theories! The students are still highly influenced by their teachers and gurus. But here they are complying with what the student thinks the teachers want from them. This is a stage of rejecting dualism and preparing the student for greater development, whether in traditional or esoteric education.

In Buddhism, the student may meditate on thoughts: how they arise; how they develop; and how they pass away. Ideas begin to be perceived not as inherently existing, but impermanent. This is also the stage of Multiplicity.

At Multiplicity (and later stages) students may be haunted by the ghost of dualism, where, although they believe ideas are multiple, they cling to the hope that one day the true answer will be found.

This stage makes students less credulous, because they have learned there are many different viewpoints. Their craving for false certainty diminishes.

We should point out that some kinds of moral and social relativism are examples of multiplicity (not Perry's next stage of Relativism). In social or religious relativism, the student believes there are many types of behavior or good, and many religions and beliefs --all equally worthy and true. Beliefs are relative to the individual's society, etc. The student believes that beliefs are multiple and neither good nor bad. So this 'relativism' is the stage of multiplicity. There is also a plurality of things, and no unity.

The following illustrates the difference between dualism and other stages. Suppose a student is given the question: Which of the following is correct?

1. 1+1=2
2. 1+1=10
3. 1+1=1

The dualist may answer this question easily, choosing 1 as the answer. The more advanced student may find the question unanswerable: all of these are correct.

A Zen master, Zhaozhou, was talking to a student when a dog walked by. "Has a dog the Buddha nature?" He suddenly asked.

The student tried to think quickly, but the master suddenly yelled, "Mu!"

While this story has many meanings that cannot really be verbalized, one interpretation is that the master caught the student being dualistic -- trying to think whether the dog had the Buddha nature or not -- and he made him jump to shock him out of that kind of thinking.

3. Contextual Relativism
After the stage of Multiplicity, where the student believes that there are many viewpoints, each of which is as good as another, the student begins to learn that while all theories are equal, some theories are more equal than others. Some viewpoints are nonsense or extremely weak; others are stronger; and yet others have almost universal application.

Perry called this third stage Contextual Relativism. Theories and beliefs are not mere opinion. Although there aren't any absolute truths, some ideas are better than others. They are more rational. They have more scope. They have more support from evidence. At the stage of relativism, students have a greater belief in the power of some tools to find truth. For instance, logic, scientific method, observation, historical support, applicability, aesthetics, etc.

They are able to list a number of possible answers to questions, and they will evaluate the relative merits of these. But they are still more likely to do this to please their teachers.

4. Committed Relativism
The final stage is called Committed Relativism. Students are committed to learning diverse opinions and introducing their judgments and evaluations to select those ideas to use. They learn that there are many resources, but no gurus. They can learn from everyone, but some people, such as professors and gurus can contribute more and be effective mentors. Of course, the opinion of someone who has spent years researching a subject is more valuable than the opinion of someone who has not. Some guides are clearly better than others. But none can replace your responsibility to decide. Yet to judge, you must listen and learn from whatever resources are available. That is, there is respect for all theories, but no gullible or credulous belief in any. Belief is provisional, and based on good reasons, not just preference. People at this level remember when they were dualists, and therefore show respect for those who are still moving through these stages. At this stage there is a new unity.

Because at this stage of development there is diversity, the new unity is not the merging of all things into one, but the acknowledgement of the wide range of circumstances where different rules apply. Therefore, people who have developed to these higher stages are less likely to apply theories and principles mindlessly or dogmatically.

In physics, for instance, we might think of 3 realms: the micro realm (where Quantum Theory is useful), the normal realm (where Newton's theories apply) and the mega realm (where Einstein's theories are used). The physicist needs to apply his knowledge thoughtfully. He does not apply a rule which works in one realm to another where it doesn't work.

It seems there are no absolute rules, and every rule has exceptions. This is illustrated by a priest's joke. During the Second World War, a prisoner of war in Germany went to his priest to confess.

The priest listened impatiently as the solder told him: "Father, I lied to get off the work party. And I broke into the food store. I stole some food. And a guard came in and there was a struggle. I killed him."

Rather angrily the priest interrupted him. "Stop boasting my son, and tell me something you have done wrong!"

So even in strict ethics, an act that is normally considered unquestionably wrong, does not seem so evil under some circumstances.

At this level, there is unity, but not simple unity. The desire to over-generalize is diminished. Valued principles in one area may not be mindlessly applied to another. A child knows that we can wash dirty clothes in a washing machine. We can also wash dirty curtains in a washing machine. Even dirty trainers can be washed in a washing machine. But what about a dirty baby? Even children might draw the line at applying the washing machine principle to the baby.

Yet we find that even some poets dream of the day when we can apply scientific principles to solve all of our ills. And some scientists believe that ethical principles have no place in science.

For instance, in the theory of evolution, there is the principle of the "survival of the fittest." This may be scientifically right. That is, right in the realm of science. But to apply this principle to society, to produce a master race, or to improve the health of nations -- even though it may (or may not) be scientifically right -- is, in terms of thinking, akin to putting the baby in the washing machine. What is sometimes appropriate and right, is sometimes inappropriate and wrong. In the realm of society, ethics is more important than, or is as important as, science. At level four of cognitive development, Committed Relativism, there is not a mindless application of a 'correct' principle in one realm to another. Here unity is a viewpoint. When looking at a scientific experiment, we may consider ethics to be less important than scientific method. But when looking at society, ethics looms in importance. It is not inconsistent to consider a principle right in one realm, but terribly wrong in another.

"Learning without thinking is labor lost;
thinking without learning is perilous"
—Confucius

Beyond these stages, the student progresses to understand that 'truth' and other concepts exist -- but not in any simple way. The truth cannot always be clearly stated or verbalized. Yet even though we have moved beyond mere words, our foundation of knowledge is secure and rational. Here we might more meaningfully speak of knowledge as a skill, and speak of knowing (a process) rather than of knowledge. While this sounds mystical, there are many examples where we can know, but not be able to clearly articulate our knowledge. For instance, few or none of us can clearly explain how to swim or how to ride a bicycle. And those people who have a good memory for faces may not be able to tell us precisely how they do it so that we can do it too. Nonetheless, even though we cannot clearly explain how to do something, we might be able to swim, ride a bicycle or have a good memory. We can clearly do these things, even though we can't explain them.

In summary, we have claimed that in many systems, students progress from blind belief in experts, facts and theories, through a stage of believing all knowledge is equal, to stages where they compare a multiplicity of ideas, choosing those ideas which are more rational, better supported, etc. They are certain of things not because they have accepted a theory, but because they have evaluated the alternatives - perhaps in the process creating a new theory of their own - and have chosen the most appropriate. And still, they keep their minds open.

About Ken Ward...
Ken started the original version of the trans4mind.com site with Peter Shepherd back in 1996 when it was at four-d.u-net.co.uk, and then on the trans4mind.com domain itself in 1998. At that time, Ken and Peter had co-written the Start a New Life! Course, as an introductory setup for The Insight Project, an advanced spiritual development course that Peter was already running in UK independent from the Internet. On this new site, Ken was writing prolifically and created a huge site of his own within trans4mind at Freeing Your Mind - take a look, you'll see he has an amazing mind.

Letting Go: A Little Bit at a Time

-- Guy Finley

 

 

Find the Secret Victory that Lives Just Behind Any Unwanted Event

Be a Life Champion Like George Foreman

Nearly 100 million George Foreman Grills have sold since 1995 and George Foreman is now one of the most highly paid and recognized celebrity endorsers in the world. But his life is not one of just business success. Foreman is also a community leader, father, husband, world-champion boxer and—best yet—his life has meaning.

Apply Foreman's philosophies for success in your life:

1.     Belief: "You have to have something you believe in. It could be someone you believe in, too. But at least have something you believe in and you cannot be talked out of by dollars and cents."

2.     Integrity: "You must preserve the quality of your name, your integrity. You don't want to lie about anything. And it's something that people will be happy about once they get to know you. Because people count on you."

3.     Sales: "Learn to sell and you'll never starve."

4.     Resilience: "You're going to fail if you do enough business. But you can always come back because you've got some integrity, and people need that."

5.     Persistence: "It may take a year, it may take three or four years, but you're going to hit something so you have something to put on the table for your family."

Quit Moaning!!!

The Demand of Authenticity

Over a decade ago, the renowned integral philosopher Ken Wilber made his first appearance in the pages of Enlightenment Today with a passionate article titled "A Spirituality that Transforms." In its pages he delivered an evolutionary call to action that never ceases to inspire:

In fact it was this article that actually started my path into personal development because of the lack of authenticity within my own life, the person I had become; the one that looked back at me in the mirror was a complete stranger. Hence the beginning of my search for purpose and meaning of my life!

I had two important emails today which caused me to write, the first was from an old client

A young good looking , physically fit, extremely wealthy man who had just collected his brand new Mercedes Benz S-class- fully loaded (approx £80k) with his stunning Brazilian beauty of a wife! They were driving back to his penthouse in London docklands after visiting his other home in Northampton! (don’t some people just make you sick!).  What did he want to work on you ask? He said,” he was not happy, what can he do?”. Huh????

The second email was