9 Rules for a Simpler Day

These are the rules I suggest:

Know What's Important. The simple version of simplifying is "Identify what's important, and eliminate the rest." So take time to identify the most important things in your life (4-5 things), and then see what activities, tasks, projects, meeting and commitments fit in with that list. Also take time each day to identify 1-3 Most Important Tasks (MITs), at the beginning of your day. Or the night before, for the next day.
Visualize Your Perfect Day. This is not so much because this "perfect day" will come true, as it is to understand what a simple day means to you. It's different for each person — for me, it might mean some meditation and writing and spending time with my wife and kids. For others, it's yoga and painting and a hot bath. For others, it's time to focus on the important work, but still get other things done later in the day. Take a minute to visualize what it means to you.
Say No to Extra Commitments. Now that you've identified what's important, along with the "perfect day", you need to start saying "No" to things that aren't on your important list, and that are standing in the way of the perfect day. The biggest thing you can say No to is a commitment — membership on a committee, involvement in a project, coaching or participating in a team, going to an event, being a partner in a business, etc. List and evaluate your commitments (professional, civic and personal), and say No to at least one. It just takes a call or email.
Limit Tasks. Each morning, list your 1-3 most important tasks. List other tasks you'd like to do. Say no to some of them. See if you can limit your list to 5-7 tasks per day (not counting little things, which you'll batch). Limiting your tasks helps you focus, and acknowledges you're not going to get everything done in one day.
Carve Out Un-distraction Time. When are you going to do your most important work? Schedule it with a block of time (1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, whatever works for you). Make this your most sacred appointment. Become incommunicado. Close the Internet, all notifications, hold all calls. Just do the most important task, then the next one if you have time.
Slow Down. We rush through our days, almost in a single frenetic anxiety-filled non-stop movement. Instead, slow down. Life won't collapse if you aren't rushing from task to task, email to email. You can pause, take a moment to reflect, smile, enjoy the current task before moving on.
Mindfully Single-task. Stop multi-tasking. One task at a time, with full focus on that task. Practice mindfulness as you do the task — it's a form of meditation. Watch your thoughts wander to what you need to do later, but then return to the task at hand. Your day will be much simpler, and much more enjoyable, when you practice being present with your current task.
Batch Smaller Tasks, Then Let go. Email, paperwork, little things at the bottom of your task list (create a "small tasks" section at the bottom), minor phone calls, etc. … these shouldn't get in the way of your important tasks. But they still need to be done sometime (unless you can let them go, which is best whenever possible). If you need to do them, batch them and do them in one go. It's best to do these later in the day, when your energy is lower and you've done the important tasks for the day. Don't let the small tasks get in the way of the big ones. When you've done a batch of small tasks (including processing email), let them go, and get out. You don't want to do this all day, or even half a day.
Create Space Between. We cram our tasks and meetings together, and leave no spaces between them. The space between things is just as important as the things themselves. Leave a little space between meetings, even tasks. Take a break to stretch, walk around, get a glass of water, perhaps do some simple breathing meditation for a minute or two. Enjoy the space.

Sea Change Simplify Your Day Challenge

I invite you to join my June Challenge to Simplify Your Day, by signing up for my Sea Change Program.

How does the challenge work? We'll have a "Say No" habit for you to do every day, but it will have a different focus each week (commitments, tasks, single-tasking, etc.).

You'll also be able to use the forums and accountability teams in the Sea Change Program, and I'll hold a live webinar and share 2-4 articles on the topic.

Track Your Challenge Habit on Lift

Finally, we're adding a new tool to this challenge: a Sea Change group on Lift, which is a great habit app for the iPhone (and now with a web app version in beta). You'll use Lift to log your habit each day, and we'll all be able to see each other's progress and encourage each other. Fun!

To join the group on Lift, please sign up for Sea Change, and I'll be notifying the Sea Change members of how to join the Lift group and challenge.

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June 2013 Numerology Forecast

Posted: 29 May 2013 12:00 PM PDT

bringing light The universal June numerology forecast indicates that this month you will have more vitality than in May and will have strong creative urges… Read the rest for the #3 below.

The number information in italics is for the current month's universal forecast. To find your own personal month: add your month and day of birth and the current month and year together like in the example below.

Example: Feb 3, June 2013
2+3 +6 +2+0+1+3=17=1+7=8

#1 – New Beginning

Are you ready for a new beginning in your work or family life? You are busy planning and have a lot of things to do.
This is a great month for a wedding, the birth of a child or the start of a new business.
Be disciplined and use your head.
You take pride in your accomplishments, but also know that you still have much to do.

#2 – Slow Month

This is a going to be a slow month with strong romantic possibilities.
This is a time of integrations and changes in friendship.
Small details will make a big difference.
There could be a temporary delay with money.
Try to be more receptive and less assertive, things will run more smoothly.
Pay close attention when driving.

#3 – More Vitality

You will have more vitality than last month and strong creative urges which are great for art and music.
You may want to buy new clothes, carpeting, drapes or wallpaper. Go take a trip, entertain at home, have a child, start a garden or just buy some flowers.
You don't seem to have money worries right now.
You can bring light to other's problems.

#4 – Make Plans for the Future

Go ahead and make plans for the future. You will be very busy with work.
You will find many restrictions at home, at the job and wiht money.
If possible do not travel.
Be careful how you spend you money, no extravagant purchases this month.
Re-evaluate and re-organize.
Drive carefully.
Maybe take a class and produce what you have conceived.

#5 – Surprising Changes

Surprising changes are in store for you and you need to be adaptable and flexible.
Do not enter a contest of wills.
You are under great business influences. So go out and advertise yourself, go out more and meet with influential people.
Travel is definitely highlighted this month for you. Stay in the best hotels.
June is also a great time to invest in the unusual.

#6 – A Very Domestic Time

June brings on a very domestic time with changes in your home life.
Be generous, tolerant and helpful.
You may suffer a loss of a relative or relationship. There is also the possibility of an inheritance.
You are feeling secure and affluent.
You are under great influences for artistic endeavours.

#7 – Focus is on the Spiritual

Your main focus this month is on the spiritual with less emphasis on the material realm.
You want to make changes, but first you want to just give it a trial run. Going on a retreat might be helpful to figure things out and will give you a chance to rest and enjoy being in the countryside. Look into different diets and exercises and also change and refine your ideas and goals. What is your specialty?
You are ready to discover a hidden secret.
Pay attention to your dreams.

#8 – Work – Your Effort Will Pay Off

Life seems harder than what you want, but you know if you work steadily this month, your effort will pay off. A small raise is also possible.
You are ready to sell something that you have had for a long time to make room for something new to take its place
If necessary go out and hire an accountant, it is time.
Be businesslike, but decisions will come slowly.
You might experience money and power issues.

#9 – Time of Completion

This is a time of completion, especially for creative projects.
You want to reach out to others and be generous.
This is a time of influence and good luck.
This month's lesson is to let go of your need to control and just let the situations unfold as they will.
Beware that you are currently easily influenced by what others say.
You are beginning to see the workings of fate in your life and want to nurture your urge for spiritual meaning.
Be tolerant of others.
Do not start a new project until next month.
Set aside some time each day to unclutter your mind and your life.

Are you looking for more in-depth information about you and your life based on Numerology I can guide, just contact me.

Do you want to learn more about numerology? Have look at these Numerology Books at my Amazon Store

May 2013 Numerology Forecast
November 2012 Numerology Forecast
March 2013 Numerology Forecast
October 2012 Numerology Forecast
February 2013 Numerology Forecast

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Early Morning Stress Reduction Inspiration - 5/29/2013

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:00 AM PDT

"We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive."

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma

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How to Stop Incessant Fights from Ruining Your Relationship

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:00 AM PDT

Do you sometimes feel unnecessary fights with your significant other are sapping the time and energy out of your life?

I know I did. Until less than a year ago the fights between me and my husband were quite literally incessant. Our weekends and holidays were completely dedicated to this favorite sport of ours. When we were too bored with our jobs we'd even keep the sweet nothings (somethings) flowing over the phone.

Like all addictions, this little hobby of ours also started taking its toll on our bodies and minds pretty quickly, not to mention our relationship. I think I'd have lost my sanity completely, if it wasn't for something in me which woke up one fine morning and said, "I'll not fight anymore, no matter what."

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Buddhism distilled

Posted: 28 May 2013 11:00 PM PDT

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Gautama the Buddha put forth a substance theory or if you prefer a less challenging term, he puts forth an essence theory. Incidentally, for me, this puts Buddhism into the realm of science insofar as the Buddha directly cognized a unique substance. Let's not forget what the broad definition of science is. It is "knowledge or cognizance of something specified or implied" (O.E.D.).

More specifically, such an awakening by Gautama whereby he became the Buddha was the cognizance of an all pervading substance which was not composed or asankhata/asamskrita, in contrast to the composed. It also implies that the universe exists within a spiritual medium which is mind-like. Even our most subtle thoughts occur within this enveloping medium, the substance or essence of which is only Mind (cittamatra).

About his ministry, to make a long story short, the Buddha tried to show composed things have no actual substance or essence. They are empty and illusory. More importantly, he taught that our psychophysical body is not the first-person or our authentic self, the self being the immediacy of substance which, in our unawakened human condition, we are unable to recognize. Because of this, we are unable to distinguish our real self from our composed psychophysical condition which is the false self or anâtman. This further leads to our rebirth into composed states where again we are unable to recognize our self in this encompassing deception.

In this context, the importance of meditation cannot be overstressed. To put it simply, meditation, when accomplished, is the awakening to the universal substance that Gautama cognized. The adept has passed through all fluctuations of mind to arrive at pure Mind itself which is irreducible. At this arrival, one sees that Mind is free of suffering which has always been oneself. One no longer blindly journeys (samsara), incomplete and ignorant (avidya) clinging to a false self which is composite.

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Compassion and impermanence

Posted: 28 May 2013 10:00 PM PDT

100 Days of Lovingkindness As I wrote in my book, Living as a River:

Relating to someone as a "self"—on the basis of how we see them right now—is like seeing a video reduced to a single frame, or seeing a ball hurtling through the air in a freeze-frame photograph. It's life-denying. It's a static way of seeing things. In taking a snapshot of a thing we lose its sense of trajectory, the sense that it's headed somewhere. We're disconnected from the reality of change and process. But imagine if we could consistently see a person not as a thing but as a process—if we could, at least in our imagination—see that person evolving towards wisdom and compassion. How might that change both them and us? That's the challenge for us all.

I'd like to suggest an experiment to you, and I'd be delighted if you'd write a few words below about your experience of trying this. The experiment will only take two or three minutes of your time.

I'd like you to call to mind someone you have a conflict with. Perhaps they have an annoying habit, or have done something to hurt you. Imagine that this person is in front of you.
Call to mind the thing that bothers you about this person. Feel the annoyance that's connected with that thing.
Now, imagine, to the left of the person you're thinking of, a much younger version of them. Perhaps at about 10 months old, when they were a baby, able to sit up, perhaps, but not yet able to walk or talk. And realize that these are both the same person.
Then, on the right side of the person you're calling to mind, see a much older version of them — perhaps in their nineties. Really old. And realize that all three forms are the same person.
Now, call to mind that same thing that annoyed you about this person.

So, what happened for you?

I've recently been asking people to try this, and almost everyone has said that they experience sadness. They move from irritation or resentment, to sadness. Very quickly. Often people mention a sense of love or compassion as well, mingled with the sadness.

I think this is a very positive thing. It's much healthier and less destructive, on the whole, to experience sadness than it is to experience hatred.

If you like my articles and want to support what I do, click here to buy my books, guided meditation CDs, and MP3s.

Why might we feel sad?

For me, it's a number of things. I feel sad that I've taken one thing about a person's life that I don't like, and related to them on the basis of that, ignoring the rest of their being. I feel sad because life is too short to waste on petty ill will. And perhaps I'm a little sad at reminding myself of the brevity of life, and the inevitability of death.

But there's a sense of sadness, too, that's almost esthetic. Seen as just one part of an entire life, this irritating flaw makes the whole more beautiful, like the craquelure on an old painting, the creases on an old, faded photograph, or the peeling paint and sagging timbers of an old New England barn.

The sadness is, for me at least, mingled with love and compassion. It's freeing myself from the prison of the moment, and seeing the person not as a static thing, but as an ever-changing continuum that allows that to happen. When a person is seen as a fixed point in time and space, there is much to dislike. When a person is seen as an ever-evolving process, there is much to love.

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Breaking bad habits: Interview with Dan Goleman and Tara Bennett-Goleman

Posted: 28 May 2013 09:00 PM PDT

stop bad habits Elisha Goldstein, PsychCentral: We all have habits that we want to break and that is why I'm thrilled to bring to today Daniel Goleman and Tara Bennett-Goleman who . Daniel Goleman is an internationally known psychologist who lectures around the world and has many classic books including Emotional Intelligence which has over 5,000,000 copies in print. Tara is author of The New York Times bestseller Emotional Alchemy and her new book Mind Whispering: A New Map to Freedom from Self-Defeating Emotional Habits that can help us transform our emotions, improve our relationships and connect us to the inner wisdom that has always been there…

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Indian meditation lends spiritual touch to Africa’s golden jubilee

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:00 PM PDT

Meditation for earth Bella Jaisinghani, The Times of India: There was an Indian touch to the 50th anniversary celebration of the African Union.

Last week, 23 countries came together to celebrate the golden jubilee with a spiritual quotient.

Around 10,000 people of all races and religions joined an online meditation 'I Meditate Africa' conducted by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living.

People of all age, races and religions gathered at different centres in these 23 countries to meditate for an Africa free of violence and stress.

The campaign started with 2,800 students meditating for peace in the city of Soweto, Johannesburg, the home of…

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