Goal setting or a journey of discovery

It is well written that people who set goals achieve more, and just maybe lead a more fulfilling life, although this last point is open for discussion. But what happens if you don't know what you want out of life and so find it difficult to set your goals. This can result in a feeling of being stuck, going nowhere and frustration. The trick here is to set a goal, preferably quite a big one, but to then become detached from the outcome. By this I don't mean forget about it, but as you progress towards it have a wider perspective, follow everything that arises to it's conclusion. You don't have to be passionate about the goal but you do need to be determined to complete it, however as you follow other paths you may well find something you are passionate about. The key to this form of goal setting is determination and curiosity, above all else it will get you moving in life and who knows what you will discover. Remember set the goal and start your journey if something arises that interests you follow it, if it turns out to be more interesting than your original goal, ditch the original and follow the new one. If it isn't, back to your original goal and so on...........

Setting goals is like looking
at the stars

You might not be able to reach
them

But they can help you
navigate.

Aruna Ratanagiri: Harnham Buddhist Monastery

Today I visited Harnham Buddhist Monastery, the scenery was stunning and the calm and tranquil atmosphere created a wonderful sense of peace. I spent an hour with Ajahn Munindo discussing meditation practise and mindfulness. We discussed how we really need to be in the now when meditating, both in mind and in body. And how it is sometimes useful to label thoughts, feelings and emotions during our practise, to notice and label without judgement.

The conversation was fascinating and the hour passed very quickly, it is not often you get to spent time with someone so experienced in mindfulness and Buddhism, you must listen carefully, for they are precious moments.

http://www.ratanagiri.org.uk/

http://www.forestsangha.org/

Life Purpose

Listening to an Anthony Robbins Cd today something he said stuck a chord with me. He said everything in life is connected and everything has a purpose, so what is your purpose.

Working with my clients this comes up a lot, in fact some people get desperate as their life progresses and their purpose becomes no clearer. I believe our life purpose is staring us in the face but we are so busy living on automatic pilot we just cannot see it.

However there are recurring themes within our lives that give us clues, I have listed ways to spot potential life purpose themes in my last newsletter, you can register on http://www.truepotential.co.uk/ your comments and ideas would be welcome.

The Quest

Something interesting arrived in my mail today-



The quest for enlightenment is the quest for truth or reality. Its not a quest for ideas about truth- thats philosophy. And its not a quest to realize your fantasies about truth- thats fundamentalized religion. Its a quest for truth aon truths terms. Its a quest for the underlying principle of life, the element of existence.



In your quiet moments of honesty, you know that you are not who you present yourself as, or who you pretend to be. Although you have changed identities many times even in the course of a single day, none of them fit for long. They are all in a process of constant decay. One moment you are a loving person, the next an angry one. One day you are an indulgent, wordly person; the next a pure spiritual lover of God. One moment you love your image of yourself, and the next you loathe it. On it goes, identified with one self-image after another, each as seperate and false as the last.



Interesting stuff......... more soon.