by ken winston caine

You have three choices with fear: (more…)

When I read Tracy A.’s newest piece, Top 10 Things Between You and a Great Life, it felt eerie.

I thought, “This girl’s been reading my mail!”

Because, at one time or another, I’ve fallen into every one of these traps. And I bet you have, too.

Having them listed and explained eloquently, as Tracy does here (reprinted with permission), is a powerful resource for motivational behavior change… I expect to review the list often. Just to remind myself of the tempting and almost automatic habits, cop-outs and defensive behaviors to work around.
– ken winston caine

Top 10 Things Between You and a Great Life

by Tracy A.

If you’re not living the life you dream about (and if you’re like most people you’re not) then identifying what’s getting in your way could be the most valuable way you’ve ever spent your time. Here are the Top 10 Things that come Between You and a Great Life!

1. Playing it safe.

One of the hardest things for most people to do is to risk the level of success they’ve achieved in order to reach the next level, but playing it safe isn’t the way most people dream of living.

2. Being comfortable.

We all have a desire to coast at times but settling into your comfort zone is a death knell for an extraordinary life. Where in your life are you choosing comfortable over greatness?

3. Avoiding rejection.

If you’re like me you’re OK with taking risks as long as they’re not too risky! I’m not a big believer in jumping off cliffs and building wings on the way down; I just don’t believe that life has to be that frantic but I do know that my fear of rejection is one of the fears that I still struggle with and it’s been eye opening to take a look at how it really gets in my way.

4. Procrastinating.

We tell ourselves some fantastic stories to increase our level of comfort with not getting off our duff and going on there and really scuffling it up on the (more…)

Learn to ask, “What’s not wrong here?”
– Thich Nhat Hanh

Before you speak, ask yourself:
+ Is it kind?
+ Is it necessary?
+ Is it true?
+ Does it (more…)

by ken winston caine

“Wag more. Bark less.”

Bumpersticker wisdom I saw for the second time yesterday.

And, in general, damn good advice, says he who probably growls, whines and bares his teeth far, far too much.

Over the decades of mind-body research, multiple studies have observed the many physical, emotional and social benefits of behaviors that can be summarized essentially as “wag more; bark less.”

Well-done scientific studies have looked at things like full-hearted laughter, loving attitudes, smiling. And the science is this: Laugh more, love more, smile more and the world laughs, loves and smiles more with you.

Who wouldn’t want that?

So, wag more. Bark less.

Because when you get down to the nitty gritty, wagging is nothing more than a delighfully engaging way of expressing a full-body smile.

by ken winston caine

Here’s a magical question that changes EVERYTHING! Practice asking it of yourself throughout your day.

Especially ask it when feeling overwhelm, upset, frustration, and so forth. The question:

How would you like to feel right now?

Put it in the first person form, of course. That is:

How would I like to feel right now?

And be perfectly honest — and really, really sure of your answer.

And then: (more…)

These are words from the ancient Upanishads — Hindu Scripture.

They describe how to attain and sustain a state of being at one with God. Or, put another way, how to achieve a Godly state, in spite of your Self.

Two minutes and 19 seconds of calming, clearing expression.

They remind me of what I used to describe as “the beautiful riddles” that came from Jiddu Krishnamurti’s mouth during his Oak Grove talks in Ojai.
–kwc

Live from a place of possibility, not from a place of perceived limitations, past or projected.
– ken winston caine

by Ken Winston Caine

Georgia Nichols asks, “What can you do to make life better for yourself and others?”

That’s a great question to ask.

A great focusing question.

A great legacy-creation-inspiring question.