If you are not meditating, do it now!

There used to be a time that people could choose if they wanted to meditate or not. Not anymore.

I am a meditator for the past 40 years and I have seen the effects of meditation in my life, and they are exactly what people needs right now. Let’ prepare a small list…

You are feeling sad because of what someone told you. By meditating, you experience the best of yourself, you set in your self-esteem and you go beyond sorrow.

You just lost your job! And look at the Economy!!! Calm comes through the experience of meditation and then, new ideas come up to your mind… possibly a solution.

Your partner left you… for NO REASON! Your best friend is your mind, just feel the positive comforting energy that comes from your thoughts.

You have a PROBLEM! Meditation can help you finding a solution to overcome it.

Yes, other paths could help you, if you are having just one problem at a time – great, right? “Problem # 2, wait your turn!”

Meditation and its related processes, like prayer or contemplation, are the only methods that can compensate the present complexity in a successful way.

If more problems come, new ways of meditating will help the self to manage them. And meditation never tires you.

Try it.

Right now!

A map to understand cause & effect

In terms of solving problems and personal change, there is a special element that was forgotten, at least by me: cause & effect.

If there is a sickness, by understanding its symptoms (effect) as connected to a cause, it is easier to heal; if anyone only focus on the symptoms, trying to fix that, it is possible the cause remain intact and later on, symptoms will come back. It is a principle that medicine follows, and so other areas of our human complex society: if I am hurt by someone (effect), by finding the cause (something I said) I may fix it; if you are not going well in terms of business (effect), by finding the cause (bad marketing skills), it is possible to solve the problem, and many other examples.

However, in life things are not so simple. One thing is the ONE CAUSE – ONE EFFECT, but what about if there are many CAUSES and one effect? Or worse, when causes and effects are not easy to track…

So, here is a small map of a sort and I hope it helps you to deal with different situations in which you can identify causes and effects.

• One cause, one effect. It is the easiest one, but the trap lies in trying to fix the effect and leaving the cause alone. Go for the cause, the effect will fade away.
• One cause, several effects. If you see situations come to your life and you can track them to one common cause, again go for the cause, but because there are many effects, work on them too; it will make life easier.
• Several causes, one effect. Yes, it is possible that one single effect has different sources, which means it will take time to solve it. Solution would be the same as before, but my personal suggestion is… forget the causes! Just focus on the effects and, at your own pace, deal with a few causes that come on your way.
• Several causes, several effects… or not! This is the highest level of complexity and causes & effects model won’t work on this case. Focus on your objectives in life, check about your specialties and make a plan to move forward.

Hope this map works for you!

Being wise instead of knowledgeable

We live in a society that is hungry for knowledge and learning. It has been a beautiful dream of a long time for many people and it is no small wonder to see even the simplest people accessing technology that was available only for high class or academics in a very recent past. However…

There is a cost for life in this knowledge-centered society: knowledge cannot solve all problems. This impossibility generates frustration and even feelings of depression. A high number of articles on topics like 5 Common Mistakes Smart People Make shows this reality. But why knowledge is not enough? That is when wisdom comes in…

After all, besides solving math problems and design complex strategies, a leader or any person also needs to solve relationship issues or to face health problems, for which that person’s knowledge won’t be necessarily useful. But wisdom will be!

It has a variety of meanings, but I would indicate a few levels of wisdom that can be applied to resolve different circumstances in life.

1. A knowledge-based wisdom. I think the first level is pretty simple: just apply knowledge! For instance, you can research about courses that will help you to improve your relationship or heal your health.
2. Intuition. Although some affirm it is restricted to a particular gender, it is not my experience. Basically, it means to listen to the non-logical part, a side of our brain or perception that is able to “catch” signs our conscious self didn’t, and it is not conditioned by gender, age, race, religion or any label. It will guide you in giving a special gift to that special person or talking to a different doctor who would have an unorthodox solution for your problem.
3. Contemplation. There is a point your wisdom comes from a deep contemplation. A few years ago, I tried to discern the difference between contemplation, reflection and meditation; when you reflect, you speak to yourself, while when you contemplate, you let your own self to speak to you… (meditation unites both in one practice). To be wise at this level means you don’t take decisions in a rush; you rather take your time, check between several possibilities and then you take a decision. Therefore, you won’t rush into a solution for a relationship or health, but you will think it deeply and the solution will come to you.
4. A master. It is not the final level, but you can call it a final stage of the path of wisdom. You start sharing and teaching others, and they are able to learn and follow a similar path. Success is measured here not for the master’s achievements – which are still important as they show their own wisdom, – but for their followers’. A master will teach about relationship and health, and their disciples will find solutions.

In which level of wisdom are you?

The puzzle of our lives

I loved puzzles for a big part of my childhood. They used to help me deal with the situations I was going through, they stimulated my mind and they gave me an odd satisfaction when I was able to solve them.

And even when I was not able to solve them, I still felt so happy! After all, the effort itself gave me a new energy to do other things in life.

So… one way of looking at my life has been to see it as if it is a big puzzle. Sometimes, it requires patience; other times, determination. There are times I must take a break and other times, I have to work on it until completing it.

Puzzles have a few components to bear in my mind and maybe this will help you solving the puzzle of your life:

They have a very clear aim or objective. Although, its clarity is relative and many times it comes from reflection. What is your aim right now?

They have several pieces or clues, which don’t have meaning individually, but when you join them you are able to create a whole picture. Check for signs life has left you; it maybe a new opportunity, the loss of a chance or something someone spoke.

There is a method to solve. The method will help to glue the pieces together and create a meaningful picture at the end. How are you going to solve your puzzle?

Ah, you also need some reserved time and space… You have to create the proper environment so you can solve them faster. Which environment is the right one to dedicate and solve the puzzle of your life?

Good luck, I am sure you will be able to solve it and help others solving theirs.

Your thoughts change the atmosphere - Reason 52

Normal people complain.  A lot.  There are complaints about anything and everything: it is part of everyday life.  In fact, most people expect to get together with others to complain and generally to talk about bad things.  It seems people enjoy the problems and turmoil happening with other people and in the world, more than the solutions and positive aspects happening around.

On the contrary, leaders make their best effort to think well, speak with refinement and act better, because by doing this a leader feels good and enable others to feel good as well.  This may change the atmosphere around him or her, just like a fan can do wonders during hot weather, a ‘cool’ thought from a leader – let’s say, on peace – may calm others and change the general mood in a room.

It is not the leader does not feel what other people who complain fell, but she or he prefers to connect to the best of the self, which paves the way for positive thoughts.  There is always something good that can help minimise the effect of bad things and instead stimulate solutions, transforming the energy present in the environment.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

Proactive problem solving

When we deal with situations, the normal approach is reactive: we wait until things happen, and then we act.

What if we act BEFORE things happen? After all, we have so much knowledge, experience and intuition to understand if what is coming is a storm, hail or just a drizzle, and with that knowledge we can dress properly.

This skill requires a deep sense of observation and a lack of labeling. It requires a wide openness from your side, as things sometimes don't show their real appearance and you need to be open for anything that happens.

You have to be careful to not become paranoid... Proactivity is not based on fear, but on trends and observation. Let's see some examples of this skill practically:

• You can sense your son is going to have a hard time in his exams. Fear can generate an attempt of control from your side and you can even try to bully your kid into more and more study. Proactivity helps you to deal with that situation before it happens, so you can help your son emotionally making him understand he is loved no matter what, and you can show him you are available whenever he wants, if he needs some help with his studies.
• One of your salespersons is going for a big client and you can see he won't be able to make the deal. An afraid boss will decrease his employee's self-esteem by giving bad suggestions ("Why don't we send Jane instead?") or offering himself to go with him, but not with the right attitude ("Let's go together, so when things go south, I can fix them."). Proactivity will help you to invest more time in training, to dialogue with your people and to show respect for them in all situations; in this way, the salesman can look easier for help and prevent a failure.
• You can feel your health is not that good... Fear can make you either go for a doctor for any pain you feel, or hide from all doctors as you don't want to hear their diagnose. Proactivity will make you go to a doctor in a regular basis, keep a diet and a routine of exercises that help you to feel healthy, so when you really feel something worse is happening to your body, it is easier to detect, accept and go through a treatment.

Start right now: don't judge, just watch. Be open for changes in life and be prepared, but not afraid of them.

Problems II

Still having problems in life? Congratulations! Still alive...

I hope you do not have prejudices regarding this word: PROBLEM. Actually, the fact that you still have problems indicates your own energy, because there is no problem without a solution, and if there is solution, there is life.

But how to solve the problems?

For logical or mathematical problems, you can use basically a simple process:

• Analysis. One tries to understand the problem from various angles, open to new paradigms and possibilities.
• Synthesis. After expanding the problem for understanding, it's time to "repack it". It is common the problem changes at this stage, taking an easier form to be handled, or perhaps more interesting.
• Solution. It comes as a natural evolution of the problem. It is the last stage of the process.

Well, if we use the same process for general problems adapted to the human side, we get:

• Analysis. It is essential that you understand the problem from several perspectives. Talking to other people, reading books with a positive approach or just sitting and contemplating on the situation helps to take the darkness and negativity out of the problem. By giving light you solve it by half, corresponding to the emotions that come along with it.
• Synthesis. On the screen of your mind, the problem becomes something you can work. It can be an image or a simple paragraph, small, that carries the essence of the problem.
• Solution. With positive attitude and awareness, look at the problem and make a decision on what to do about it. It is important to understand that not always the solution is related to the personal desire. For example, the solution can be let go and let someone go - not the best, from the point of view of the desire for not being alone, but the most important thing is to reach a stage of full contentment.

And if you really want to work with the problem in another dimension ...

• Analysis. Be detached from the problem completely. Through meditation, it is very simple. You can "deliver" the problem to God and just enjoy the relationship with the Supreme Being, who will give you all the power you need for this.
• Synthesis. On the screen of your mind, look at the problem as something positive. Experience the solution that comes along with the problem, thanking life for this opportunity for improvement.
• Solution. Assimilates deeply the meditation experience, being inspired by the solution that you are taking into your life. Allow the problem to continue with God as Father and Friend, but bring you the fantastic solution you realized. Apply it into practice, with courage, enthusiasm and love.

I hope it will help you.

No problem

One of the biggest challenges a translator faces is to be faithful to the one he or she is translating. Even when the translator does not agree. A short time ago, I was translating a friend's lecture in which he was making a strong statement: THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. But...

As a coach, I've learnt to avoid certain words, among them... Yes! Exactly: PROBLEMS. But...

But, what is it so bad in a problem, really?

In fact, between using words like challenges, opportunities for improvement or lessons, I believe the word PROBLEM is much more effective in terms of motivation. Why?

A problem is anything that demands a solution: there are math problems, problems in terms of food, sleep and harmony in relationships.

The key word for PROBLEM is implicit: SOLUTION. A problem ALWAYS have a solution, otherwise it is not a problem...

If there is a challenge, sometimes the solution is far off as it depends on the individual's skills. There can be opportunities of improvement, but they vanish after a while and even though we are taught some lessons, it is not sure we will learn anything.

By having a problem, there is the mental clarity that THERE IS ALWAYS A SOLUTION. Maybe the person will need to learn some skills or develop certain capacities, but the solution is there. Better, in the school of life you can copy from others - so, if someone else has solved the same problem, just adapt her or his solution to your own life.

I suggest you to start to see problems in another way, as a circumstance that you will be able to solve FOR SURE, as its solution already exists.

No problem...