Notes for YOU from Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather

After having an excellent second Friday 13th in a row, how else as I was following Ivana’s Survival Manual for Friday 13th. I have decided to share with you what has touched me within a blog entry break. Someone, who had courage to quit his job and with support of his second wife, has dedicated upcoming two years to break through with his work. His patience has been rewarded and gave joy to million around the globe.

THANK YOU, HUGH PRATHER!

Notes to Myself, a tiny book, which was able to move me, by another step further, on my thousands miles long journey called life. Main ideas are as usually, handwritten and captured in one of my diaries. Sharing gratitude and admiration for Hugh’s book is the least what I can do, to give tribute to an authentic human being, sharing his gifts with the world as Hugh is.

Let me drop down for you the most powerful lines from this masterpiece. I am warning you, they are spooky true and will make you think. So, are you ready to face the truth and look into mirror? I am sure you are, otherwise you would not reach this blog, you would not reach this paragraph either.

Here we go, ladies and gentlemen: “Let me present Hugh Prather’s Notes to Myself!”

…My anxiety doesn’t come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it…

...My only habit should be to have none…

…Time is change, therefore I have more time per- clock when I am flexible…

…When I have listened to my mistakes I have grown…

…Guilt is a guide that will lead me whenever I will choose to follow…

…There are no absolutes for something so relative as human life. There are no rules for something as gentle as human heart…

…Dishonest people believe rather in words than in love…

…Accept happiness as present attitude not a future condition…

…Forgiveness is the willingness to begin. Guilt is the love of staying stuck…

…Generosity feels at least as rewarding as greed…

…Learning to respond to now is the only thing there is to learn…

…I have a choice to be right or to be a human...

…No one is wrong. At most someone is uniformed. “You are wrong” means I don’t understand you. I am not seeing what you are seeing...

…As long as I am hated I make difference…

…When I say “You should” I avoid committing myself…

…An argument is always about what has been made more important than the relationship…

…By giving what I want I realize that I have what I thought I lacked before…

…All my life I have made it complicated, but it is so simple. I love when I love and when I love I am myself…

…Being real is more a process of letting go than it is effort of becoming. I already am what I am…

Hmm, how do you feel? Any changes, faster heart beat maybe? Busy thoughts running through your head? Did you allow yourself to let go?

Tell me about it.

Certainly each of the above mentioned quotes could be the topic for separate blog itself. It is up to you which one will stick into your heart the most, it is up to you which you will manifest in your day to day life. Let’s make it simple and just send the message forward by being true example.

I trust you have enjoyed part of your journey, which you have spent by reading this article.

Peace and loads of love.

Who said that Friday 13th is unlucky day?

Hey ALL
I am very confident that you have lived your day to the fullest and you've over heard „warnings“ about bad luck day, black day, Friday 13th...
I DID! And you know what? It worked!:-) How? Let me share with you, newly invented manual, tested and just approved after passing user's acceptance test:-)

IVANA’s SURVIVAL MANUAL FOR FRIDAY 13th:

1. „Fire up the volume of your favourite tune on ipod or CD when starting your day“ - don’t listen to silly radio RJs in breakfast shows, who are feeding you with horrifying stories about black Friday 13th.

2. „Set a target of XYZ people, who you will make smile today.“ – great chance to start, is already in the lift of the office building.(*Fortunate are those residing on the top floors of the towers, much easier to fulfill the target -large lifts fit in more people, the journey up lasts longer)

3. „Cherish every minute of the day, which is the most precious gift regardless of the date in the calendar. One and only chance, gift of presence.“ – Remember the words from The Suncreen Song – Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.”

4. „Give uncoditionally the best out of you.“ – when carrying this in your mind and serving your best. I guarantee you won’t dedicate any tiny mini thoughts to the topic of „black unlucky day.“

5. „Be like Jonathan Livingston Seagull“ – don’t follow the flock. The only thing you are allowed to follow is your heart. Be bold, even when crowd will call you outcast. Love the flock and be an example of happy Friday 13th journey.

My beloved readers, I believe that in case of any dark thoughts about upcoming Friday 13th in March 2009, you will know now, where to look up for help.

Help is within YOU!!!!

Have fun and keep leading the flock with love.
Cheers,
i.

The Half Truth by Doc Fleming and Ivana's vision about Chief Reality Officer

Hi Ya, Namaste, Ahoj, Ahlan wa Sahlan to All.:-)

Hmm, curious right? Chief Reality Officer - CRO? What is that girl talking about? We all know what CEO, CSO or CFO shortcuts stand for...Where on Earth is the company which have „Reality Department“ in its organizational chart?

Let me again poke your brain cells and raise few question marks in your mind.
The Half Truth is the book, which mentioned CRO on its pages. Book written by Dr. Kevin J. Fleming, was hard to get, but definitely worth to wait till its delivery...
www.amazon.com/Half-Truth-High-Breaking-Illusions-Powerful/dp/0595457088/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231695443&sr=8-1

I chewed up its pages within few days, while sipping coffee prepared with love by my dear friend Dinesh from Sri Lanka...Numerous notes in my dairy are now, free to the sight of blog’s world too.

„Know thyself!“ are the first words of the book, the advice of old Greek thinkers.

Searching for truth is in my opinion, never ending life long journey. Thanks to geniality of those who left here many information available for seekers, one can speed up this process a lot...But as Doc Fleming is saying: „Gaining wisdom isn’t a sprint sport.“

So, please, step on the starting line. Ready? 3, 2, 1...Go! Let’s make first tiny step out of comfort zone.


Many black pen lines and thoughts have taken away virginity of the book, which is fate for all my books, though. Few following quotes are those which I liked (apart from many others) and I’ve decided to share them with you, with my comments to it and my featuring new CRO characteristics.

Again, I am asking You, to give me valuable feedback as soon as you will read this column.

„Over-sized egos kill people.“
This is one of the very true reality of today’s world. Every CRO must be definitely aware of it and understand both realities, negative and positive aspects of it. Knowing own dreams and ambitions as well as those who are surrounding CRO, is excellent to start with before managing, leading and distributing any tasks to people. CRO’s ego must be completely absent. Offering partnership instead status based hierarchy and remembering to be always humble and open, must be naturally possessed and mastered by any effective CRO.


„Don‘ push the river.“
Movement doesn’t necessarily mean improvement. People are more moved to avoid pain than to achieve gain. CRO must be living example of evolution toward better existence of organization and its people, facing possible hurdles and pain without fear, in order to follow path of true reality agent. Prone not to choose easier way in order to avoid arrows in the back. Being authentic is the key for CRO to breed more authenticity within whole company.

So my take on being authentic CRO is:

CRO cannot become emotionally or mentally lazy. Constant learning and sharing gifts of gained new insights with his/hers people and followers. Being great listener to own inner voice and guts helps to identify roots of truth, for CRO as well as for those interacting with him/her.

Never settle…Deeper truth isn’t always obvious to the human eye or ear.
In order, if we are keen to make 1 plus 1 far more than 2 we should go forward with accountability, love and authenticity.

I think every part of our lives is determined by the level of our ignorace toward seeing truth...Reality department is invisible and present in every insitution, family or relationship. To be CRO in every field of one's presence, should be the goal for all of us. Leaders, and decision makers are not allowed to stop and neglect working on living in truth.

I highly recommend to add The Half Truth to your list of must read books. To find out more about Dr. Kevin Fleming, click on www.effectiveexecutivecoaching.com

Peace and keep your high spirits.
Cheers,
i.

White Tiger and Slum Dog Millionaire...Fiction or true India?

It is almost midnight, chilly night with temperature far below zero degrees Celsius , first 7 days of 2009, first week with new Euro currency for every citizen in my country…
Despite all those facts, my mind is far away from my present location…Curry, chapatti, paan, buffalos, rickshaws, slums, outsourcing hubs, 5 star hotels, sweat, heat, various people’s destinies and amazing landscape – planet India.

Aravind Adiga was the one who has got hooked up many to his novel, giving away a story about successful “entrepreneur “Balram Halwai in India’s south Banglore..No wonder, that Aravind was awarded by Man Brooker Prize in 2008. (All of you can read the reviews online when you will look up The White Tiger)
So, I will focus on my take from this novel. Please, share with me your opinions, my dear friends from all around the globe! I am great listener and even author composed this book by talking to people.

I have bought this book by “accident”, when I have had last 50 AED note in my wallet during my last visit in Dubai. Price of the book was 50 AED and it was on the central stands in the bookshop as bestseller. However, I don’t like to follow the crowd, I have taken it. “Nice color and cover of the book”, I thought myself.


Start: 27th December 2008, 4:00 AM

Underlined places of the book and notes have made my thoughts run in my head and I have learned many new facts, which I didn’t know about India, even despite 3 years spent with many Indian friends and now I even understand them more…especially those who are called office BOY even at their forties…
Interesting facts:
• Bohd Gaya is the town where lord Budha sat under tree and found enlightment
• Benaras is the holiest spot on the river Ganga
• Balram is sidekick of the god Krishna
• Halwai is cast of sweet makers
• Cast system is still present with very strong family pressures and loyality
• Corruption is part of day to day life: in health care instutions , educational system, police departments and government offices
• Poor people in the north drink tea and poor people in the south drink coffee.


Underlined parts of the book, I want to share with you:
• Servants are obsessed with being called “sir” by other servants
• Trustworthiness of servants is the basis of the entire economy, who are caught in the scoop like roosters before getting killed by butcher, they don’t even try to escape from the scoop…
• Dreams of the rich and dreams of the poor never overlap…the poor dream all their lives to get enough food and looking like rich. And rich are dreaming of losing weight…Ironic, huh?
• The moment you show cash, everyone knows your language.
• Everyone who counts in this world, has killed someone or other on their way to the top.
• The moment you recognize what is beautiful in this world, you stop being a slave..

Balram broke the chains of his slavery, got out from the scoop….Made himself a free man, he let his spirit out of the cage made by rules and boundaries built by society…

I am just wondering...
- Why can be people so cruel to other human beings? Are not we all one?
- How can be respect to human life changing its levels as the casts are lowering? Aren’t we all one?
- Who has got the power and influence in hands is mostly the greediest one…Don’t we all need to eat just 3 meals a day and sleep on one bed at a time?

Hmm…and the same night when I finished the book, I have bumped into a movie trailer Slumdog Millionaire. I have just finished watching the movie. Please do the same.


When you will combine it with novel White Tiger, you will understand my urge to write down this lines.
My next steps: trip to India...

Finish: 7th January 11:45 PM

Cheers and awaiting your feedback

i.

Money, money, money...

Lyrics of the famous Swedish band’s tune is known to millions of people. .. ABBA is associated with beats of night clubs, old LP players and cassette tapes radios for many. But today’s hottest topic: money isn’t linked to the cheerful music of legendary band…
I have recently talked to friend of mine through one of frequently used IM service, who lives in the other part o the world…
“How are you?”, I have asked him.
He said: “What a silly question, how can I be in today’s situation? Of course I am not ok…”
I asked: “Why? What so, horrible happened to you?”
He replied with exclamation in his virtual response through IM messenger: “Oh, my God, you don’t know what happened in the world?!!Didn’t you hear about financial crisis?!!”
“Well I did, but can you tell me how does it stop you from enjoying your days?”, I have continued.
“Situation is very bad, real estate market is down, stock market is down…”
“Yes, that I know, but still how does it affect you? How does it stop you to live your days to the fulliest?”
“ Oh, you don’t understand anything, I have lost 80% of my savings…How am I supposed to live?”

I thought a lot about my friend, it was pointless to get deeper in this conversation at that time, it would be like adding oil to the fire…
So, I have decided to write down, what I wanted to tell him, but couldn’t overcome his refusing mood, touched by anxiety and offensiveness….
Yes, world is struggling with financial crisis, and market’s crash…But do we also have to take it as our struggle…? Will it help anyone, if we will be worried and in bad frame of mind? Will it ease the tensions?
Instead, of enjoying everyday’s sunrise, living days in truth, serving our best, sharing our gifts with those we love and care about….we are constantly worried and it is distracting ourselves from the things which
make sense…
I have read somewhere, that: True man will remain, when he gives up all possession and positions….
So, why to worry, whether I have lost some money? What goes around, comes around…isn’t it always like that? If the essence, the real purpose’s of man is sincere and coming out from the heart, money and assets cannot decrease net value of one’s mission …don’t chase money, they will follow you…

Living in Truth, My Life's Purpose

Humility, acceptance and silence seem to work most of the time. So, I should better live my purpose, act accordingly and master my deepest purpose. Not to “yap” about it.Yes, more you know, more you realise how much you don’t know. Which will keep you very much with your feet on the ground, or even put you down on your knees.

So, why I am writing this document, then? There are many things, which one cannot express by words. And those who, understand, never ask. They just can read it from the sparks in the eyes, the way I look at the world, how I treat people, and how I value relationships.
What I trust is universe, I have my eyes and heart opened. Patience always helps to go through difficult ups and downs. Listening to inner voice, and balancing emotions within me, while putting them into action, is very difficult lifelong challenge.

There are no right or wrong choices, just different results.
And as Einstein said: “Insane are those, who expect different results by doing everything the same way.”

Serving my best is the only way, how I want to lead my life.
Give the best out of me to the world. Leave long term impact on people’s lives. Even tough I cannot be responsible for anyone’s choices or actions, except mine. Raising expectations are giving birth to disappointments. But I am ready to face all the obstacles on my journey. I have the warrior’s spirit and I will fight without fear to the last breath, if I cannot serve my best and follow my path, if I cannot be present.
Is there any other sense of being, then?
Living in lies, in “wasteland”, according senseless rules, absent of fundamentals, so essential to me. NO! Not me.

Which are those essential fundamentals for me?
Let me try to note down, some of them:
• Honesty and sincerity, living with heart.
• Character and core values, which cannot be suppressed by short term monetary possessions.
• Refusing “Copy – paste lifestyle”...and following fake idols created by system and society.
• Treating all people with the great respect, regardless to status, age, or race etc.
• Being aware of own fears, but not letting them to kill the mind and spirit in me.
• Not missing importance of “accidental coincidences in life”.
• Being grateful.
• Listening twice as much than talking.
• Being always me and authentic.
• Being nice and gentle to myself. (don’t expect others to do so, if you are careless about your own life, health, emotions...)
• Respecting elders, having great love for my family.

Nothing is fixed...We are all connected...All is energy. As, Joseph Jaworski called it in his extraordinary book Synchronicity: “Oneness.”

Available for Radio and TV Appearances

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