Tag: Tony Robbins

Looking forward to 2019

Goodbye 2018 / Welcome 2019

I tend to avoid New Year’s Eve parties.  I have never really enjoyed them.  But I see the point of them – saying goodbye to the year that is past and welcoming in the New Year.   Some people don’t like the divide between one year and the next; they see it as a false construct or as a sign that another year has gone and that they are nearer death.   Some see the making of New Year’s resolutions as pointless or as just being something else to worry about.

I have always looked back at the year that has passed and I do make resolutions for the year to come.  I think it is a useful construct especially this year.  It is the opportunity to look at where I am on my journey and consider what I can do better/ differently to travel in the right direction, enjoy the walk, take pleasure in the scenery.  At the same time I am looking at where I am now… there is a lot of happiness in my life and there is sadness.  I need to live in the present – to appreciate the now but in my “now” I can do things which will help my future and aid my happiness.

I have been listening to Tony Robbins podcast with Russell Brand this morning.  They were discussing “Recovery” which I have written about before.  It has been good to refresh my memory and increase my understanding of the Russell’s interpretation of the 12 steps.  One of the most useful ideas is the view that addictions can be anything – any behaviour that I really want to stop, that I feel uncomfortable about doing but somehow keep on with.  This is alcohol but is also attachment to social media, TV, a particular person.  Working through the 12 steps can help with these and any addictions.

Russell and Tony ascribe to the idea that we are entitled to be happy.  We have to look at what we believe happiness to be though. True happiness is not short term pleasure – that is fleeting; impermanent.  According to Tibetan Buddhism, the two main things we need to be happy are mindful awareness and loving compassion.  Compassion / loving kindness / metta for ourselves and for other beings.  These can be built by meditation through which we can overcome negative thoughts and habitual emotional responses – we can start to live from a calmer, more peaceful place.

So, in 2019, I will continue the journey which I started this year.  I believe that I can change myself, change my thinking and that I am responsible for my own happiness.  How I think and how I respond to my emotions will dictate my degree of happiness.  I am walking the Buddhist path as best that I can.  I have practical steps which I have started to take.  I will practise the 5 precepts (see below), meditate and use Russell’s interpretation of the 12 steps to help me rid myself of addictions / negative behaviour and to develop more skillful thinking and behaviours.   Buddhism, the 12 steps see the goal as living a life that is compassionate, serving others.  In the podcast this morning, Russell and Tony both described how helping others takes you outside of yourself and brings happiness.

I cannot expect the journey to be linear – there will be meandering, backward steps. But I shall remember what the words of a friend – “We practise the 5 precepts the best that we can; we are all practising.  None of us is perfect”.  What matters is that we try.

So 2018 has not been a great year in many ways.  BUT it is the year in which I changed my path – started this journey.  It is the year in which I got up off the floor and started moving.  It is the year in which the walls which I had built up came tumbling down.  It is the year in which I started to take control.

In 2019 I will continue my journey to become more Tee…

Happy New Year!

The Five Precepts 

  1. I undertake to abstain from taking life
  2. I undertake to abstain from taking the not-given
  3. I undertake to abstain from sexual misconduct
  4. I undertake to abstain from false speech
  5. I undertake to abstain from taking intoxicants/drink and drugs which cloud the mind
  1. With deeds of loving-kindness, I purify my body
  2. With open-handed generosity, I purify my body
  3. With stillness, simplicity and contentment, I purify my body
  4. With truthful communication, I purify my speech
  5. With mindfulness clear and radiant, I purify my mind

Today…

Today has been a different sort of day.  It has been an extremely wet and miserable day – one of those designed to put anyone in a bad mood.  A day which makes sensible people retreat indoors with a hot drink and a box set.  Me being me – I have been out on a couple of walks and have got soaked each time.  The first time I took a very grumpy Pretzel and the second time I took pity on her and went on my own.  I think that she may have forgiven me by now.

Today has been a thinking, reflecting, growing sort of day.    I have been listening to and learning from some very spiritually aware people.

I started the day with a Metta Meditation led by Tara Brach.  This was a lovely meditation led by a very softly spoken woman.  Follow this link to learn more about her – https://www.tarabrach.com/

 I then listened to Russell Brand’s podcast with Tony Robbins on my first walk this morning – a very different experience.  The energy coming off these two inspiring men was insane!  This is well worth a listen!   https://www.russellbrand.com/podcast/056-meeting-a-mentor-with-tony-robbins/

Later,  I went onto Discovery 5 and watched a couple of episodes of Ben Fogle’s “New Lives in the Wild”.  Randi, the first Norwegian woman to climb Everest was delightful!  So charismatic and happy; such a courageous and spirited woman. https://www.my5.tv/ben-fogle-new-lives-in-the-wild/season-7/episode-4

It is now early evening and I am looking forward to watching “Strictly Come Dancing” with my girls.  It is musical night so should be amazing to watch.  I admire those celebrities so much – how do they learn to dance like that?

Today has been a day which has made me even more determined to keep to my path.  To learn from and follow the Dharma and to learn to be happy  myself and to help others be happy too.    Tara Brach, Russell Brand, Tony Robbins, Ben Fogle, Randi – thank you for your inspiration.