Level 4.99 - Now

Level Your Life -  [The Level of Now] [4.99]

Now

In his classic "The Way of Zen, Alan Watts refers to what Western mystics call the Eternal Now, the state of one-pointed awareness, this "one moment" in the sense of being focused in the present. Being parked in the present without focusing on past experiences or fears of the future is the very essence of what we are trying to achieve.

The warrior has learned that in all physicial activity(which is everything) he must be focused in there here and now to experience optimal performance. He knows what we all need to know, that being in the now is pure joy and satisfaction.

You do not dance to get to some other place and you do not sind to get to the end of the song.

Neither should you work out, train,run,swim or do your job just to get it done. Focus on the joy of the process- minute by minute, day by day.

To help you focus like this, direct your attention to all the wonderful things going inside your body as you do your task. Feel the blood flow through the arterial pathways. Remind yourself that every moment you train and work is an investment in mental and physical health, one that pays dividends for years to come.

Focus your eyes only on what your are doing.

Fill your ears with words of encouragement and positive expressions. Perhaps listen to music that facilitates concentration in the moment.

Try to plan your life as if you were to live forever, yet act as if this is your last day on earth.

Carpe diem: Seize the day. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. feel "the fierce urgency of now."

Declaration: What time is it ? Now ! I always perform at my best when I focus on the here and now. Now is how performance becomes wow.

Reflection: Today, when my mind starts racing toward the future and I begin to become overwhelmed with chores and work to do, I will ask myself this question: "What can I do today, since that is all I have ?

Level 4.91 - Moderation

Level Your Life - [The Level of Moderation] [4.91]

Moderation

Wisdom, regardless of its source, suggests that we follow nature´s law of moderation and not indulge in extremes of any sort.
We encourage you to strive for moderation in all you do. Be reminded ,however, that moderation does not necessarily mean staying safe in the middle ground.
It is a concept that teaches you how to work with extremes.
Remember that the trouble begins when you go to one of two extremes, such as being too high or too low. Moderation is the wise choice whereby you integrate these opposites into a coherent whole, a balance between both, resulting in an ideal state of performance.

In any physical endeavor, learn to recognize when you have had enough of either extreme.
The addictive nature of sports (or LYL) and fitness can sometimes make it difficult to yield to common sense, to know the delicate balance between being in your best shape and running the risk of injury or
sickness.

Clearly, when you are training for a major personal event, you may have to go outside the line and disrupt the balance or moderation. Just remember to swing back toward the center when the event is complete.
You may observe that there is nothing  better than moderation; consider this an invitation to avoid excess all aspects of life (social activity,work,diet)
Remember that excess in any arena can usher in disorder,disaster,burnout and fatigue.
Leisure, for example, is good,yet too much of it can lead to restlessness. Work is important, yet in excess it causes havoc in other parts of life. Exercise and sports create vibrancy and wellness, but in overabundance they can strip away the vibrancy one has gained.
The warrior learns to dance between the two extremes with great agility.
Learn to walk the moderate way.

~ The Buddha teaches , 
                   "Everything in moderation. " To which we reply: "Moderation is everything."



Declaration: Excel without excess. I realize my dreams when I avoid the extremes.Balance is power !


Reflection: What aspects of my training, diet, work and life can I trim to avoid excess and as a result be better off? In any aspect of my life, in what ways am I addicted to excess ?