Motivational Article

It is a Sunday morning and my daughter is playing with her girlfriend in every nook and cranny of the house.
I use the word 'play', but from the booming sounds that are penetrating through the floorboards from downstairs, one could easily assume there is a platoon of marines in combat.

My original game plan was to relax and enjoy my free Sunday, until a sharp screaming, brought me running downstairs, just to find the two girls rolling in laughter...

After a few false alarms, a striptease show, a broken glass and two walls freshly painted using lipstick, I wondered whether I was on the verge of a heart attack or a stroke.
Considering my young age and my top physical condition, I decided that a nervous breakdown would be more applicable.

With the commencement of the following battle, I remembered my position as a well-respected trainer and resolved to utilize the advice that I have so often given to group participants, friends and for that matter anyone who is willing to listen.

Thus, the first thought that popped into my mind was: "ask for help."
So I went to my beloved, and cried, "HEEEEELP!"
But she locked herself in the bedroom and refused to come out until the girl gets married and leaves home.

I realized I was on my own, but then an insight came flashing by, "of course, the universe is trying to tell me something."
So I listened carefully, to the small still voice in my head that echoed, "ice cream, ice cream, ice cream"
Well, I screamed, not that it changed anything...

At a complete loss as to the next step, I decided to listen to what my inner-self had to tell me.
My inner-voice said, "Spank the child!"
But they were two of them and they looked dangerous, so I thought better of it.

"Connecting with nature must help", was the next spontaneous thought.
My favorite nature is my backyard goldfish pond. When I arrived there, I realized that the girls were also busy with the connection process... I found my goldfish trying unsuccessfully to swim on the lawn looking desperately for meaningful contact...

After rescuing the poor fish I was exhausted and close to tears.
I knew I was losing it, so I chose to reach for my weapon of last resort "find your YES!"
I was still chanting "yes" when the girls came giggling, saying something I couldn't quite decipher.
Refusing to allow them to disturb my process, I continued to chant "yes" whilst the euphoric kids rushed happily to have their fifth ice cream that I had unknowingly just agreed to.

I crawled up the stairs, sat in my chair and contemplated my situation.
In order to release stress, every self-help guru recommends, "Spend 30 minutes a day in quiet meditation."
Yeah, right!

"Girls, daddy is meditating now, please play with the ball outside."
"What's meditating?" they asked.
"It's sitting still in a dark room thinking of nothing - just being."

"Is that what mom is doing?
When is she coming out of the bedroom?
We want a peanut butter sandwich!"

"Look," I said, raising my inner voice. "You kids need to be quiet!"
"We want to see you meditate. Are you doing it?" they asked lifting my closed eyelid.
"I'm trying."
"Does it hurt?"
"No."
"Are you thinking of nothing now?"

"Okay," I sighed. "If you go outside and play for half an hour, I'll give you both an ice cream."
They happily agreed and left. I closed my eyes and slipped back into my trance.

Two minutes later my daughter's friend came in shouting:
"Thom fell down!"
"That's okay," I answered softly. I was centered. I was at one with the universe. I was just being.
"And she's inside the fish pond and she's crying!"

That much for meditation...

Well, if you are really serious about reducing stress, I'd suggest grabbing a really big self-help book and RIPPING all of the pages out... you'd feel better. I did!