The University of Life
We are all enrolled in the university of life, with the best possible teacher: experience.
We are all enrolled in the university of life, with the best possible teacher: experience.
How well we learn depends on whether we pay attention to the teacher, and how we pay attention.
The quality of our attention makes all the difference.
Notice the difference
If you are fully present, you will notice the difference
You can engage in the same practice five days in a row in the same location, at the same time, and have a unique experience each time. If you are fully present, you will notice the differences.
Life is … what?
There is no right answer.
For some people, life is a game.
For some people, life is an ordeal
For some people, life is a problem to be solved.
The ways you habitually feel and act are the clues to what you think life is.
And what you think life is shapes how you feel and act.
Attention as generosity
Simone Veil wrote: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”
Simone Veil wrote: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”
You are what you practice
We transform and evolve through our practices.
We practice when we do something repeatedly, either deliberately or unthinkingly.
We transform and evolve through our practices.
We practice when we do something repeatedly, either deliberately or unthinkingly.
Dare to experience Discomfort
Pay attention to what you avoid because you find it uncomfortable.
Do something you find uncomfortable every day.
Otherwise your comfort zone will shrink and become your prison
Pay attention to what you avoid because you find it uncomfortable.
Do something you find uncomfortable every day.
Otherwise your comfort zone will shrink and become your prison
Your memory needs attention
Samuel Johnson said that the art of memory is the art of attention.
Most failures of memory loss are instances of not paying attention.
Samuel Johnson said that the art of memory is the art of attention.
Most failures of memory loss are instances of not paying attention.
What, Why, How and Who
WHAT you do matters.
WHY you do it may matter more. WHY is about your motivation. Your purpose. It's WHY that makes an activity feel meaningful.
The way you do it - the HOW - probably matters even more.
Because HOW you do things permeates every instant and every action and ultimately builds WHO you are - the way you habitually show up in the world, whatever you do.
Whether or not you know WHAT and/or WHY, pay attention to your HOW.
WHAT you do matters.
WHY you do it may matter more. WHY is about your motivation. Your purpose. It's WHY that makes an activity feel meaningful.
The way you do it - the HOW - probably matters even more.
Because HOW you do things permeates every instant and every action and ultimately builds WHO you are - the way you habitually show up in the world, whatever you do.
Whether or not you know WHAT and/or WHY, pay attention to your HOW.
Exercise can be risky
The biggest risk of exercising too much is that is can ruin your relationships.
The biggest risk of exercising too little is not being around long enough to enjoy your relationships.
The biggest risk of exercising too much is that is can ruin your relationships.
The biggest risk of exercising too little is not being around long enough to enjoy your relationships.
Imitation is not just flattery
“I wonder what’s it like to do that.”
“I wonder what it's like to be that.”
Imitation is a great way to answer those questions.
“I wonder what’s it like to do that.”
“I wonder what it's like to be that.”
Imitation is a great way to answer those questions.
Anticipation beats realisation
My gran used to say “anticipation is better than realisation”.
James Clear says your brain has far more neural circuitry for wanting rewards than for liking them.
Same idea, poetry vs prose.
My gran used to say “anticipation is better than realisation”.
James Clear says your brain has far more neural circuitry for wanting rewards than for liking them.
Same idea, poetry vs prose.
KISS ME
People have a short attention span for other people speaking, so do you pass the KISS ME test when you present?
Keep It Short, Simple, Memorable and Engaging
People have a short attention span for other people speaking, so do you pass the KISS ME test when you present? Keep It Short, Simple, Memorable and Engaging
The body thinks
Disregarding the body amounts to neglect of the mind, because the two are inseparable. They are two aspects of a whole.
Disregarding the body reduces our intelligence and range of thinking.
Disregarding the body amounts to neglect of the mind, because the two are inseparable. They are two aspects of a whole.
Disregarding the body reduces our intelligence and range of thinking.
Walking is radical
So much of our life is fast-paced and reliant on technology and fossil fuels. Walking isn’t. Walking is a radical choice.
So much of our life is fast-paced and reliant on technology and fossil fuels. Walking isn’t. Walking is a radical choice.
Get on down, get on up
Learning how to fall well and get back up smoothly is a valuable life practice - a good life metaphor too.
Learning how to fall well and get back up smoothly is a valuable life practice - a good life metaphor too.
Your habits build your life
Your habits are the building blocks of your life.
It may take years for the value of good habits and the cost of bad ones to become clear.
So pay attention to them sooner rather than later.
Your habits are the building blocks of your life.
It may take years for the value of good habits and the cost of bad ones to become clear.
So pay attention to them sooner rather than later.
There's learning, and there's learning about
Learning to do something involves the whole body. Learning about something does not.
Learning to do something involves the whole body. Learning about something does not.
You don't know until you do
The more awareness you can bring to bear on any action, the more feedback you get from the experience, and the more naturally you learn what works best.
There is no substitute for learning from experience. You don't know until you do.
The more awareness you can bring to bear on any action, the more feedback you get from the experience, and the more naturally you learn what works best. There is no substitute for learning from experience. You don't know until you do.
An attitude of gratitude
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude makes life sweeter for you and for everyone round you.
So I thank you for reading these words and weighing them up.
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude makes life sweeter for you and for everyone round you.
So I thank you for reading these words and weighing them up.
Actions embody identity
Your actions are how you embody your identity.
They are evidence to others, and to yourself, of who you are. For practical purposes, you are what you do.
Your actions are how you embody your identity.
They are evidence to others, and to yourself, of who you are. For practical purposes, you are what you do.