WorkingAwarenessNetwork : monday morning minute

Hello MMM Readers,

This week I am launching an out-reach program called "Welcome to Freedom."                            

Over the past few years and this past year specifically I found myself in times of worry and anxiety which I call a scarcity mindset.

During these times of spiraling worry, anxiety, and feelings like there is just not enough time or resources there always comes a moment where I lift my head and my heart to a higher level of thinking.  From this place I remember I can choose to shift my focus from a scarcity mindset to the perfect mindset.   

Each time this mindset shifts from not enough to sufficiency, my gratitude grows and new doors effortlessly fly open, doors that were even beyond my wildest dreams.  Once again I am re-minded what freedom there is in connecting with the wisdom in my heart.  Just one little shift changes everything.

Experiencing these moments of instant freedom have been life changing and rewarding. I'm now left with a strong desire for others to experience this freedom first hand.  Therefore I'm offering 100 thirty-minute freedom sessions absolutely FREE.  Free means free like a birthday gift or a hand shake, no catch and no hidden clauses.  These lucky 100 individuals will have the opportunity to shift from scarcity to freedom in a matter of minutes. 

Space will be limited to a few hours each week and will be on a first come first serve basis.  The intention of this program is simply to give back to all of you who have supported me, who read the Monday Morning Minute and who have furthered my growth and the growth of my business.  This is about helping 100 people who want to take a step forward in creating a life that they LOVE and for me to step into greater levels of contribution and service to my community. 

What are my strengths you ask?  Well I am often told that I am a trusted advisor who will share the honest truth in a manner that helps people get what they want from their work, life, and the world.  I'm a die hard catalyst for adventure and a fire starter for the greatest part of you. 

If you're interested in one of the FREE sessions please read below for the details.  Know someone you'd like to share this with, forward it on!  The recipients do not have to be MMM readers.

The Details

There will be a limited number of 4 thirty-minute phone sessions available each week.  Sessions will continue to be booked throught out this year until 100 participants have been reached.

The Purpose

To share my time, passion and to inspire 100 people into the direction of freedom so that they can begin to create a life that they LOVE.  To give whole heartedly without any expectation of return.

The Promise

I promise not to manipulate, upsell, or bait and switch these sessions in any way.  Although I would not turn away or be opposed to future work together, my intention is soley to be of service on each session and help you begin to create clarity in your life.

The Request

My only request is that sometime during the week of your session you'd be willing to post a comment about your experience in the reply box provided below.

If you'd like to join me in this journey please put your contact information in the "Leave a Reply" box and I will contact you shortly. 

In Gratitude,

Jason 

The Mindfulness Maverick 

We can learn by observing life.  If we are looking, it happens everywhere. It happens when we are walking in nature, sitting in meditation, and yes, even watching the Super Bowl.  

What about the guy in the Lazy Boy, drinking a beer and stuffing his face with hot wings as he watches a football game ?  Do you think that he’s learning life lessons?

He is if he is really watching. In football, you can see a wide receiver leap at a full sprint, catch a pass, and get drilled by the player on the other team.  The wide receiver isn’t focused on getting hit, but rather on catching the ball.  When he catches that ball and gets tackled, he’ll dust himself off and go back for the next play. And he knows that he did what he set out to do. The guy feels great!

Who this player is being is someone who is going to catch the football no matter what.  He knows that the other team is waiting for him and that they will do whatever it takes to push, pull, and punish him for his mission.

We’ve all been tackled by life, at times, through financial woes, relationship breakdowns, or health issues.  The key is to keep playing even when the unexpected shows up and tackles us to the ground.  It's all about paying attention and keeping your eye on the ball.

Monday Mindfulness
Get into your own Super Bowl game this week and ask yourself: Who would I be being and if my obstacles weren’t a problem?

PS  Introduction to Freedom Coming This Week

PSS Loved this Minute or Hated it - Post your perspective in the box below. 

One on One Support

I dedicate this MMM to my ego who has plenty to say about the grammar mistakes in the Coaching Offer I sent to you last Friday.   Click Here For Offer

So there I am in my yoga class wondering why I never stretched before, even after 30 years of playing soccer games.  I'm not happy.  My left leg is quivering like Jello and my right leg is starting to fall asleep as I breathe and listen to my thoughts passing by. “If you’d have stretched after soccer you’d be more flexible like the blonde in front of you. 

Hmmm…….. Blonde in front of me, Stop staring!.   Be a real yoga man and focus on the stretch in your left leg.  You know the one that feels like your ligaments might be pulled right off the bone….  Okay, thanks for sharing Jason – now take another breath.”

And that’s when it happens…a few moments of total bliss.  My mind goes quiet, my body sinks into the pose, and I breathe into serenity.

And then I hear the chatter in my head start to go off again like a loud bang.

“Hey. that being totally present was awesome.  Oh, I just said ‘was’, so I’m no longer there.  Oh man, I’m so stupid I can’t figure out how to stay there.  Who am I to teach people mindfulness?……Wow, listen to myself talk I’m like some crazy homeless person rattling off some monologue.  Okay Jason, now thanks for sharing – take another breath.”………….And again I arrive into a mindful place and feel my entire soul be nourished.

Our ego has created the myth that we are worthless if we can’t stay in a mindful state all the time.  This myth says that we are a “failure” if we do not arrive at “present” like a destination and change our internal location forever. 

This is like beating yourself up with a proverbial celery stick after you’ve swallowed some forbidden food.  It serves no purpose, except that the bored ego is wanting to entertain itself with your worries and woes.

What if you no longer challenged your ego for the noise it creates?  What if you didn't reward it with worry or shame during thoughts of worthlessness?  What if you were able to identify your thoughts without judgment and even thank the voice of your ego for sharing when it says something really nasty or completely ridiculous?

Monday Mindfulness
This week notice when you’re having thoughts that aren’t serving you.  Get in touch with the dialogue that you’re really having inside your head and then thank it for whatever it shares.

Take a bold step forward and share with us the non-stop dialogue you're having about this article in the reply box below.

Are you ready to feel more meaningful success and far better results in your work and in your life?     Click Here For And Check Out the 40/80 Guarantee

A thought occurred to me this week.  Isn’t it fascinating and unfortunate how countries declare war on each other.  That is until I recalled all the times I’ve declared war on those around me.

The dictionary defines war as “Any serious struggle, argument, or conflict between people built on the idea that there is not enough.”  Not enough money, not enough land, and not enough resources.  It is out of this fear that we end up creating a world filled with, “how can I get more.”  

Once we are in a war mindset our attention is automatically drawn towards scarcity (what we don’t have vs. what we do), we create and encourage conversations that keep this core story in place and we’re left with the belief that there just isn’t enough.

So how do we unwind this thinking?

First we must take notice of all that we do have and where in our lives that we have a sufficient amount of those things we are longing for.  Second is to then pay gratitude to the abundance.  This is extremely counterintuitive especially in the business world.  The main focus in business is usually how we can add to the bottom line and how can we get more.

When we become overly concerned with scarcity regarding clients, coworkers, subcontractors, or our own families it is especially beneficial to distinguish when we are declaring war.  We can start challenging the idea that more is always better and begin choosing to consciously practice thoughts of abundance and gratitude.  Those moments of insight create an inner richness and freedom.  

From this place of fullness and gratitude we begin to find new solutions to challenges and our gratitude for what we already have begins to grow.  Wait a second you mean stopping and creating gratefulness instead of trying to work harder and get more is actually more beneficial in the long run?

So a question to ponder this week is this.  What have you declared war on? Where can you shift your thoughts into sufficiency so you can see what you already have?

Monday Mindfulness
This week notice where others as well as yourself are using language of scarcity like: one day when…, there is not enough.., I’m afraid that…,  we need more… Each time you catch yourself hearing a scarcity phrase, take a moment, and think of one thing you are grateful for.

Also I'd love for you to share a gratitude in the box below and watch as our community helps each other grow in appreciation and abundance.

Wishing You a Grateful Monday,

Jason

P.S.  Emails from professionals at the last Meditation in the Workplace Seminar were inadvertently shredded before sending the notes.  For anyone wishing to see the notes please click here 

Early on in the parenting rollercoaster, my wife came to me and said, “I need a night to myself.”  Since that conversation, Wednesday Nights have been a sacred time for my wife and a coveted time for me with my daughter.  This time together reminds me to be playful and to laugh out loud.

Every Wednesday Night we spend time together and every Wednesday night we have new adventures. 

These journeys have included: make believe walks through the neighborhood, trips for sushi, and  various other wanderings.  Most Wednesdays are pretty magical.  However, last week I was resistant.  I was tired, grumpy, and anxious about some upcoming business decisions.

I started to scheme a way to get out of Wednesday Night Duty.

Possibilities came streaming in; maybe I could find a sitter or sit her down in front of a movie.  The movie I was thinking of, Cars, complete with special features, would give me at least two hours to squeeze in some work.  But Sierra wasn’t having it, no sitter, no movies, just forced quality time.

Now some of you might think I’m crazy.  Who wouldn’t want to have fun and play instead of work?  But let me ask you this?  Have you ever resisted something that you knew would nourish your soul?

So, with my scrunched up face and the two of us bundled head to toe, I disgruntledly agreed to go find puddles to jump in. It didn’t take long for me to realize how ridiculous I can be about not having fun.  My serious side, filled to the top with anxiety and worry, was no match for Sierra. Within minutes we were both soaked from head to toe and having the time of our lives.        

Upon our return to a warm house, we decided to figure out how  to use the internal video camera in my Mac and send some video clips, saying hello to friends and family.

To my surprise, Sierra was more interested in what was up her nose than the actual messages we were sending.  I’m still laughing out loud. Thankfully this week, I’m committed to surrendering my own worries and fears long enough to remember how to play.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_XuSZCIza8]

Monday Mindfulness
We all get stuck in some sort of serious reality full of doom and gloom.  Find your laugh this week and share with us.  Sometime this week put a joke, story, or video link in the comment box below.

In 2007, we are entering into a new phase of evolution.  Those that know how to manage stress will survive and those that don’t… well, the magic 8 ball says “Outlook Not Good".  

But what if you are so crunched for time that it appears impossible to make space for exercise, yoga, or even a short walk?

Then I recommend starting small and incorporating micro-breaks into your day.  For years professionals have managed to take five-minute breaks by simply going outside and having a smoke.  They considered it essential.  Why not use their strategy and do something good for yourself.  Take it to the next level by practicing some visualization or deep breathing during those breaks.   Let that inbox (email or otherwise) just be for a few moments, and allow the voice mail to do its job and take a message.  

By taking just 5 minutes to re-center, re-ground and re-connect you will be amazed at how one simple act can re-energize, re-vitalize and re-fill your tank.  The bonus?   All that work that was so hard to walk away from for even five short minutes will be way easier and you’ll be more productive.  Go figure that!  It is in the pausing that we are able to keep going.  So this New Year raise your probability for stress survival and learn how to integrate micro-breaks into your day. 

Monday Mindfulness 

This week pay attention to when you're feeling overwhelmed at work, back away from your computer, and take a 5 minute micro-break.

Don't know where to begin?  Click this link, close your eyes, and take The Mini-Vacation

Wishing You A Mindful Monday,

Jason

Do you take vitamins? I do and I’ve noticed on the bottle that there is always a Daily Minimum Requirement for each nutrient listed on the label. This got me wondering where else in life do we place our focus on the bare minimums that we require for survival?

What if our mindset is focused only on bare minimums? We accept the least that we need to get by rather than the abundance that is necessary for us to thrive? I’ve noticed this to often be true in the way that we think and deal with our finances. A professional who needs a certain amount of money will often squeak by with the minimum amount they need and this scarcity holds them back from growth, expansion, influence, and prosperity in their working life.

It seems that we’ve been taught by parents, education systems, and even the FDA to always shoot for the minimum.

I recommend you choose some places in your life and go for the Maximum Daily Requirements. Bring in the Universal Laws of Abundance this coming New Year and see if you can hone your Jedi Mind Tricks to really play a bigger game in your work life…..the kind of game that would have you grateful at the end of the day, knowing that you played full out.

Hey! Why not go for Maximum Daily Requirements in every aspect of your life? Don’t Live a Little…..Live A LOT!

Monday Mindfulness

This week notice where you’ve settled for the minimum and ask yourself what the maximum for your life would look like?

My brother, Judd, and sister-in-law, Lisa, are world travelers.  They met each other while wandering the globe and together they have traveled from the southern to northern hemisphere.  Along the road of their breath-taking journeys, they always take one picture of them in flight.

They find a rock, table, or just flat earth and jump as high as they can while snapping a majestic photo.  They have jumped in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, across the US, and many places I’ve never heard about.  With each jump comes a new adventure. 

Judd and Lisa have found that life is filled with challenges and obstacles, but each road block is an opportunity to take a leap of faith. 

In our own life journey it is only our worry and anxiousness that holds us back.  The big question of “What if…” often lead us down a path of doom and gloom and keeps our feet planted firmly in our “stuck zone.” Judd and Lisa remind us that no matter where we are and what we do, we can take a risk and jump boldly into the air knowing that our adventures keep us young and alive.

With each adventure comes a great story to share.  I remember the time my friend split his knee open in Morocco and we experienced first hand the dark side of a hospital in extreme poverty, or when Judd and Lisa got married out in the blue Hawaiian waters and we found our boat surrounded by the majesty of many whales. 

These stories, the experience of our adventures, are the golden threads that weave through our lives and are evidence of a life fully lived.

Monday Mindfulness
What new adventures are you going to create for yourself this next year?  This week what is the first leap you can take into that direction?

Another week, another Monday, another Monday Morning Minute.  “Just last night I was sitting at the table when… and so on and so forth……”

Here I am sharing about my life week after week. But there is a piece missing in this dialogue. What I am equally curious about is you, how you are and what you are needing. I am interested and curious as to how I can be of service to you.  

You see the MMM was created as a vehicle for me to share with you and get feedback from you.  It was created to be a way of connecting….and anyone who knows me KNOWS that I am all about connecting with people.  

This is the most essential part of my business and I realize it’s been way too long since I’ve stopped and asked about you and really connected with who you are and what you face each day.

So this week I’m asking….. and I’m curious about a few specifics.  Tell me, friend, if you will.

1. What are the biggest challenges you’ve been facing at work?

2. What would you like to see offered in my 2007 products and services that would be of value and support to you?

3. What would you like included in the MMM that would be helpful to you that is not being included now?

What I know about connecting and friendship and support is that it is based on relationship… and relationship is a two-way deal.  You have heard from me for a while.  You know my commitment to you and to the idea that you will never ‘work alone’.  Now I would love to hear from you.  Tell me your story, your hopes, your dreams, and your fears.  We are in this together.

I look forward to hearing from each of you.  Please post your answers in the comment box below.

It’s that time of year again…..more cars on the road, more people in the stores, more crowds enjoying the city, and definitely that grey-haired, red-suited  fat man will be singing “Ho Ho Ho” everywhere you go.

My childhood memories of Christmas weren’t especially great, …like the year my Jewish father had the “Christmas Table” with all the presents underneath it….or the time my sister forgot to send a thank you card to my very correct grandmother and was almost excommunicated from the family.  And then there was the 1982 Christmas Blizzard where I was pushing a car in 6 feet of snow!  I became a bit of a Grinch about ‘Celebrating the Season’ over the years.

My MindSet focused on the commercialism and the greed of the holidays.  I resented everything about this time of year.  The fact that the Salvation Army was in my face with that high-pitched bell…and their hands out… set my teeth on edge.  There were endless potlucks and parties and cheer – it was too much.  Not to mention that almost everyone I encountered had a Good Cause that they wanted me to support and help.  I was like a cynic at a comedy club; arms folded, brow furrowed, nothing was going to make ME laugh.

That was until several years ago when my wise and caring wife shared with me about my Grinch-like attitude.  She wasn’t placing blame or angry with her sharing.  She was kind as she explained that we get to create whatever blessings and rituals around the holidays that we want to celebrate as a  family.  We did not need to over-buy or over commit.  We could, in fact, create the Perfect Holiday.

As her green eyes sparkled and her excitement ignited, my heart opened up with love.  And that is when the Magic happened.  I saw how the holidays could be our own personal Holy Days- a reflection of our values and love and sharing in the world.  I started to smile at the idea of Christmas and to look forward to the Celebration of the Season.

And each year as my small daughter gets older, I cherish the moments we create- the sledding, visits to Santa, and ALL the eggnog Cheer!

Monday Mindfulness

If you are overwhelmed with the idea of the holidays, try remembering one thing that you are grateful for each time you see that fat red suited man.

Monday Offering 

If you are running yourself ragged and tired of being stressed out, it may be the Perfect time to start an individual coaching program.  It is possible to have the life you want.  I currently have two spaces open right now.  If you want one of them, go ahead and fill out the comment box below.

Wishing you a grateful week,

Jason