Happy Chinese New Year folks! Today’s Note is Everyday Enlightenment by Dan Millman.
Everyday Enlightenment by Dan Millman
“When people ask me abstract questions about time, or space, or reincarnation, I may respond by asking whether they exercise regularly, eat a wholesome diet, get enough sleep, show kindness to others, and remember to take a slow, deep breath on occasion—because it seems important to bring our spiritual quest down to earth. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with philosophical speculation. But let’s not mistake conceptual thought for the spiritual practice of everyday life. After all, what does it serve to know whether angels wear earrings if we can’t hold a regular job or maintain a long-term relationship? What good does it do to pray like a saint or meditate like a yogi if we are unchanged when we open our eyes? What good to attend a place of worship on Saturday or Sunday if we lack compassion on Monday?”
~ Dan Millman from Everyday Enlightenment
Some words from Brian:
I was given his book Way of the Peaceful Warrior almost exactly a decade ago when I was a 25– year old CEO running my first business (eteamz.com) during the dot com boom of the 90’s. The market had just crashed and we were about to go from 45 employees to 14 before selling the biz. Dan’s wisdom helped navigate that juncture of my life… and many since!
In fact, he was the first author I loved so much that I went out and read all of his stuff. Some of my favorites (that I think you’ll also dig) include: Way of the Peaceful Warrior and Everyday Enlightenment (of course), Body Mind Mastery (see Notes), The Life You Were Born to Live and Living on Purpose.
And as always, what’s your BIGGEST Aha! moment from this Note and how are you going to implement the wisdom from today into your life? Drop a comment and let the discussions roll!And twitter users, don’t forget the #50days 
Also, because lots of people are joining in on the Challenge a few days late and in case you miss a day or two, check out this page » We’ve listed every Note that will be discussed (on which day) along with links to the discussion posts.Can’t wait to get the discussion going on today’s Note.
Talk to you guys tomorrow and if you haven’t got your 100 PhilosophersNotes yet, you can grab them here »
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Hi Team
I like to opening — All the intellectual stuff make no difference unless we translate it into reality.
I love the “Self-worth is not a thing; it is a perception.” leading to “you are a human-in-training and that making mistakes and having slips of integrity and mediocre moments are a part of life, not unforgivable sins.”
Love the GB Shaw quote “the ignorant are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt”.
LOL — “Everything is easier said than done.” Yeah — like playing golf, or becoming a candidate in elections.
“Make any positive behavior as convenient as possible.” Having a buddy or coach really works for me. Someone to challenge and call me to my highest when I feel like taking a break.
“Carpe Punctum” — seize the moment.
“Your major battles with fear are not outside you; they lurk inside,” aint that the truth. All the questions that GBS referred to.
This one has been in my foreground for the last 15 years “Pain is a relatively objective, physical phenomenon; suffering is our psychological resistance to what happens.” Getting much more masterful at removing resistance.
“Of course, we don’t love painful feelings like anxiety or depression.” “but we do have to accept them”.
“Life Is a Series of Moments” — we’re all human, and we all do crazy stuff.
I love “Giving everything up doesn’t mean giving everything away. Rather, it involves living a simple, functional, ordinary life without clinging, craving, or holding on.”
“Love Begins with You” — YES!!!
“Find a form of service that calls to you, that suits your abilities, aptitudes, qualities, and interests, that makes time fly, that draws forth your best, that tells you you’ve arrived home and found yourself.” For me, that means an eclectic mix.
Thanks Brian and Vishen
Another great note.
Hi Ted
Reading your post brings up a thought. We are like rubber band, we are valuable only when streched, it seems.
Thanks you
Hi Bernard
I have this mental image that I use, that we start out our intellectual lives like virtual amoeba — with our initial shape in “knowledge space” defined by a mix of the interaction of our genes and our culture with the environment into which we are born.
As we grow, we push out pseudopoda into distinctions that we make.
Every distinction opens a new infinite dimension that we can explore some of.
There doesn’t appear to be any limit to the number of distinctions.
So here we are, these potentially infinitely dimensional beings, with existences in both physical space and knowledge space, with our actions acting as a conduit between them.
To the extent that we push ourselves, and move the boundaries, in either space, we add to the sum of what humanity has, and, for the most part, to our own feelings of contribution.
It seems to me that most of what we are, who we be, isn’t under our direct control; our consciousness is actually rather slow, and rather single focussed, but our subconscious appears to be “holographic” in nature; which links us to all that has been, and all that might be.
It seems that what we can do consciously, is create contexts that empower ourselves and others.
Particularly create contexts that create habits of forming yet higher contexts.
So it is a Yes, in this sense of extending ourselves, and pushing our boundaries into ever greater realms — pushing the boundaries of the known.
Thanks for the note.
And when that rubber band is released, we get a leap-forward kinda action. Remember the balsa airplanes with the wind-up rubber band driven propellor?
Hi! I found the following quotes in the “Everyday Enlightenment” PhilosophersNote to be very powerful!
“The only problem in your life is your mind’s resistance to life as it unfolds.”
This is a REALLY powerful statement—words echoed by ALL the great teachers:
“The only problem in your life is your mind’s resistance to life as it unfolds.”
“The moment we not only accept what is but alchemize it into something positive is the moment we’re truly free from suffering.”
“Truly free from suffering” .…. working on it! .… Lol
Thanks for another great PhilosophersNote Brian! Have a great day Everyone!
I love these notes from Dan Millman, each one of them has so much packed into it.
“You are no more or less worthy than any other person or part of reality. Your sense of worth grows by doing what is worthy. But you do not have to feel worthy; you need only treat yourself as you would a loved one or honored guest, ending self destructive behaviours or cycles of self-sabotage, opening to life’s opportunities.” This really spoke to me today, “treat yourself as you would a loved one or honored guest”
I love the idea of making postive habits easy to do, and negative ones really hard to do. I’m really going to focus on this idea today, I think it could make a huge difference.
Again we see the idea of facing your fears “Whatever form fear takes, your willingness to face it squarely will determine your fate in the high country of human potential”. As some of you are aware, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to stop making excuses, and booked myself a tango lesson. I’ve since had 2 private lessons and last night I went to the “group” dance class. I allowed plenty of time to get there, and sat in my car for 15 minutes before the class. My stomach was churning with anxiety. I was there on my own, joining a group who had been going to this class for 4 weeks already, and most of them were going to be couples. I remembered the previous notes, and breathed through the fear as though blowing out candles on a birthday cake, I got out of my car and went in. I had a great time. While most people were in couples, there were other single women too, and there was a number of experienced men, dancing with the single women. I got to dance with 3 men who were very understanding of my beginner ability. I’m so glad I didn’t just give into the fear, and I’m looking forward to future weeks.
I love the line “As you transcend your own limitations and tendencies, you will naturally show loving-kindness to others. As you own light shines more brightly, you illuminate the world”. It reminds me of another quote that I love by George Bernard Shaw, “Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” Here’s to shining brightly!!
It’s funny but last night I was reading Chicken soup for the womans soul, and one of the last stories I read was about random acts of kindness, tying in quite nicely with the last part of todays note.
Maxine! I just started Rumba lessons
I would totally have been your dance partner had you shown up in class alone and I was there. Happy days to you, my friend. xxoo, JD
Well done you, hope you enjoy the Rumba. Shame we’re in different countries
I’m so glad to hear that you had a good time in the class Maxine. You, know, you could see it as a bonus that you don’t have partner taking the class with you. This way, you get to dance with many more people and learn your own style of swaying to the beat than you might if you were taking it with another. Good job on using the techniques and breathing through the fear, and best wishes to you.
I realised on the night that there is a real bonus to going on my own. Most of my partners will be people who have been doing the tango for some time, and hence know what they’re doing. If I’d gone with a partner, then as a beginner, I’d be dancing with a beginner.
Splendid, Maxine! Mazel tov! I wore my dancin’ shoes on Sunday. Dressed up in suit and red tie to commemorate St. V Day and take personal photos of meself. May as well not let this time go by without some form of recognition. A true valentine will come along later and I can wear them dancin’ shoes for real.
Loving-kindness is truly a beacon. Random acts of it, unclaimed, can boost your spirit tenfold and more. It wil also attract and entice others who view it to perform in the same manner.
So great to hear about facing your fears at dance class! Oh, how strong we become when we breathe and face them head on, and how much fun we have! Bravo to you!
The most important notion here is “Loving the Self.” And by extension, treating your Self as you would an honored guest or a loved one. It reminded me so much of something I learned years ago from a terrific artist. When I was a young film student, I made a documentary film about a woman who was considered a brilliant painter in her twenties but somehow never lived up to her potential. She told me her story and I was lucky enough to get it all on film. Her biggest problem turned out to be trying to fit into the art world by emulating male painters she respected instead of trusting her own voice. It wasn’t until she struggled with her identity as an artist for twenty years that she finally asked herself the question, “What would you do for your child if she desperately needed help and a ‘rebuilt ego?’” That question gradually propelled her forward into a wonderful career with a prolific amount of beautiful work.
Now, Dan MIllman and others remind me again, that I need to take it easy on my Self; treat it with the love I would give my own children. What a great thing to remember! Thanks, Dan. And thanks, Brian!
PS: I’ve written several funny one-act plays about enlightenment and living in the moment. I’ve posted the performances on my website.
My favorite idea from this book by Millman is Carpe Punctum — seize this moment! In each moment we have the opportunity to choose how we think, act, and respond to our experiences. May we choose wisely in each NOW. Namaste, PN Tribe
Yes, for me, seize the moment is so much better than seize the day, it sort of breaks it up into little bite sized morsels and simultaneously reminds us that “NOW” is where the action is.
Carpe Punctum allows for a much more flexible happy hour schedule. =)
Post #1 Like one of Pavlov’s dogs, my entire system woke up as soon as I heard the Philosopher’s Notes intro music this morning. It knew I’d returned and that we were in store for something wonderful. Hi guys. My computer crashed last week leaving me separated from the internet for a handful of days. Dare I say, I LOVED it? Even as much as I missed this motley crew of big hearted, big thinking, big being, big doing people spirits – those days were honestly a luscious departure from that little light blue wire umbilical cord that connects this apartment to the outside world. I felt somehow lighter. That said, I missed the heck out of this part of my day. Oh, I adapted and filled in with some wonderful things but nothing can replace what I am getting from exploring Big Ideas with you guys. I return with a huge sense of gratitude for this challenge, for you all and for the internet. Life is indeed a grand and exciting experiment, ain’t it? (p.s. what’d I miss?? What’d I miss???)
Well John, it’s good to see you back. Having experienced similar problems myself during this challenge, I am totally with you. It is kind of nice when the internet can’t be accessed and you get a sense of how much time you actually spend plugged in. During my time away, I faced the same scenarios, and really found myself missing the comaraderie that goes on here. Welcome back!
Thanks you guys! Whew, I am happy to “see” you guys again.
My cord’s yellow…how’d you rate blue?
I would cherish a reprieve from the computer. It is, obligingly enough, my primary outlet and connection to the world. I am still in relative isolation in order to put together the rest of my life…which will be sent among many people in many lands (part of my plan and higher purpose). By that time, though, all I ever really need will be so portable I can utilize it no matter where or when I am.
Great to have you back. You wanna share personal contact with those of us who have begun? I’m at chai.yotiv@gmail.com…for ANYONE here. =)
I wonder if afterward it would be fun to make a facebook group for people that went through this together?
I believe it is inevitable, SSoma. I have already joined with Tom and Bernard in exchanging email addies and information. I’d rather we wait until we’re done with the challenge, though, so as to not create a distraction.
That makes sense, Mark.
Awesome idea SomaSoma!
i would love that… how does that happen?
Nice suggestion.…I thought about the “aftermath” myself. There are always lots of artciles on here so the group may even be able to continue through Finerminds some how. I agree with mark, as well, and see what happens when we are through with these fifty days. BTW, there are another fifty notes to ponder when we’re done
Nice to look forward to,
Nice to see you back John!
Thanks, Peter.
Welcome back John — I missed reading your posts!
Yes…glad to see you back! Reminds me of the fall of 2008, when we had no power for a week. I was able to plug in when I needed — I worked from my 1/2 mile away neighbor’s house, who had power, or at Starbucks, but when I was at home, no internet, no humming from appliances, just quiet. Temperatures were mostly in the 60s/70s, so we were fine, and we still had running water and hot water…the only inconvenience was no electricity, and really…I loved the peace. My neighbors daughter cried when the lights came back on…she was so sad to miss the candlelit evenings.
Post #2 Here is what I LOVE about Dan’s thinking. Actually, the first quote on the page captures it all for me: “When people ask me abstract questions about time, or space, or reincarnation, I may respond by asking whether they exercise regularly, eat a wholesome diet, get enough sleep, show kindness to others, and remember to take a slow, deep breath on occasion—because it seems important to bring our spiritual quest down to earth.” This to me is simple brilliance. Yes. Keeping my conduit clean, clear, open and humming along is my spiritual responsibility. If all I did was be a steward to this body and mind and spirit – tending to it as I would garden soil, the rest would take care of itself. There is so little striving in this, such simplicity, such honor and grace.
I found a resting place in Dan’s reminder to treat myself as an honored guest. It had me reflecting on Rumi’s words; “This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” This is an idea that is becoming more and more a way of being for me. And the payoff has been huge. This doesn’t mean it’s always easy to host me because let’s face it, sometimes I show up as that sulking, dramatic teenager sucking the very energy out of the room or the know-it-all uncle that has everything figured out (ugh) but with consistent practice, I am learning to live form the energy of a gracious host allowing my guests to simply be who they are while I busy myself with what needs to be done.
isnt it cool to let people be themselves and sit back and watch yourself and honor yourself at the same time?
i do that all the time… my ugg moments are those in real life.. not here on PN with all of you.… i feel so alone..as if i am the only one on this path for the people i work with do not do as i do.. hey that dosent stop me, it makes me work even harder at forgiveness but it does get lonely and often times i just dont fit in..
yet i am married to a wonderful guy and have 2 fabulous children and i honor where they are in life.… but none of them are where i am in consciousnesses and how i wish they were…
You can’t make them see, PSue…you can SHOW them, though, with your ways. Most of what you learn will menifest itself in how you share with them and enjoy their ways. Nothing has changed but the awareness.
very true.… thanks..
i work on this daily..yet there is still the “mountain top idea” that wants me to be surrounded with more of like minded thinkers..
then again we are all on a path of our own meeting on some levels and not on others…
what is more and more relevant in my life these days is those seeking what i have… and they want to share with me all their STUFF and complaints and i tread lightly with my advice…“dont cast pearls before swine” and I witness their behavior that remains the same yet i dont judge i understand the process.… and they come again wanting my approaches but continue their behaviors and it gets tired for me to say the least…
thats why here we get to share and perform our lives on the levels we are have in common and there is an understanding and guidance that is well given and taken..
i am grateful for this and for your time and care… again thanks
Puresue,
It sounds from what you’re writing like you have a lot of difficulty with some of the people around you… Isn’t it interesting how our families and close friends can provoke us or do things that are just difficult for us to be around…
Puresue, I hope you can continue working with all of the wonderful ideas we are working with and figure everything out somehow. Recently, when visiting my family, I’ve been trying to remember the words of Chogyam Trungpa, the Tibetan teacher. He said that when you spend time with your family, you shouldn’t try to change them or show them some kind of Path. Instead, you should just be there with them, present to what they like to do. So, if what they like to do is sit around and watch TV, you sit around and watch TV with them. That kind of approach is going to make them feel more loved than any suggestion of a Path. And love is what they really need to feel from you.
I really don’t know if any of that rings true for you, but it’s been helping me be around my family in a more present/loving way recently.
I get it. You know, this can be a bit of a solitary path. It doesn’t have to be “lonely” but it can be solitary. You just keep doing your work and showing up for your family in your new and expanded ways and some day they might get interested in how you’re changing, wanting some of it for themselves. Model by simply honoring who you are becoming and remember every single one of us has the potential to awaken. Also, keep your eyes open for fellow travelers on the path. They’re all around. A bit disguised to the untrained eye but all around none the less. Expect to find them and you will.
thanks john for your obvious understanding and attention it means a lot to me..
i do expect to find them and honestly live my life in an up and conscious..with eyes open
some say too happy and naive they call me.… yet i travel alone more than i wish and they do not seem to show up very often…
i sound so negative!!!!! … not a me way at all !!!!!! i dont even like to see the words written down.….i just find a freedom here on PN and ability to voice some of the inner unsettled feelings i do occasionally get..
puresue
Pursue,
Also, I don’t think you sound negative at all. I think you’re just expressing what you feel. Life is no bed of roses, you know? What would be the point of a forum like this if we couldn’t tell each other our difficulties and our struggles? And then inspire each other to keep walking?
Hello puresue…I have read your comment and the replies, and I do relate to what you are saying about feeling alone, and I can relate to the replies, too. The further we get along in this challenge, the more I have been wanting to have these types of discussions with people I see in my day-to-day life, and for the most part that is not happening. I have been making a mental list of people I have not seen in awhile who might fill this space. And, I have been considering ways I might venture out locally to find people of like mind — in local meditation groups, perhaps. And, the more I am comfortable as me, the more I am surprised at the conversations that spark up with unlikely people or in unlikely places. And, in my family of one husband and two children, I am looked upon as a bit of an oddball. Loved and loving, but between my husband and our almost teenager…well, at least I have my young meditator to keep me company.
Stephanie.…you have no idea how your comment soothed me.. i felt peace and a kindred spirit even while i slept as i was unable to answer you last nite..
how does the young mediator assist you? and how old is he/she?
yes I too am surprised at the conversations that spark up with unlikely people or in unlikely places..it is finding the time to build on them that would be most wonderful..
so please lets keep chatting with each other ..
enjoy the day… it is most beautiful wherever we are…
Hi puresue…so glad that you felt a connection…and, yes, I am looking forward to maintaining connections with you and others through the challenge and after. My younger daughter is 7, and she just recently started meditating with me…if you click on my name, you will see I have posted a couple times previously about it. She and I sit together every night, now. We mediate together for about 20 minutes. Sometimes she falls asleep. I love that she said about meditation, “It’s the number one thing on the close to sleeping list.”! I think before she tried it that she thought I was sleeping when I meditated.
Have a wonderful day!
We are hollow bones, John. The energy of the Divine works through us and we are the only ones obstructing that flow. “Flow down and down in always widening rings of being.” ~ Rumi
“Hollow bones,” grrr.….… I like.
John…I see you have inspired a lot of discussion! As for the first quote, that is a powerful one for me, too. For a long time I thought this journey was about the abstract questions, and I wanted answer. Now, as the years go by, I am understanding what he means by the importance of bringing “our spiritual quest down to earth.”
Yes … “In this moment, how can I practice?” That has been one of the biggest take aways from the PN challenge. Dan reminds me to just keep my feet on the ground and be here, now. Thank you for your reflection, Stephanie.
Post #3 “Carpe Punctum, creating positive habits and the difference between pain and suffering” are each a portal into a worlds of possibility; secret, simple doorways into other lands where I can walk in freedom, liberated from habituated small ways of thinking and being. There is a simple and gentle unfolding happening in me as a result of the repetition of these ideas. Each time my mind bumps up against one it goes in further opening my heart more and more and more. Each time, my ego relaxes a little more, my breath goes a little deeper, and I smile a little bigger.
john thats beautiful…
Yes!
WOW John! Thank you for sharing your powerful words with us all — a lovely metaphor for the journey we are all taking and the experiences we are having through this PN Challenge. A portal into a world of possibilities.…..I feel exactly that when I sit down to complete the notes each day and read everyone’s comments. It’s a secret world of possibility and inspiring people and ideas.
Have an amazing day John
Aw, thanks, Jayne. Yours was the first email I read this morning. Nice timing.
I needed a little TLC today.
Illuminate the world and live with Everyday Enlightenment!! Switch on the lights and enjoy the surroundings with peace and wisdom.
Bring our spiritual quest down to earth! Your sense of worth grows by doing what is worthy. Just do it!
Positive and negative behavior for convenience and inconvenience.
Seize this moment. It deserves your full attention, for it will not pass your way again!
Face Your Fears!! The never ending fear…
Pain and sufferings – depends on perception!!
The most constructive way to influence your emotions is to do something.
No one feels the same way all the time, yes it is.
What you believe about money will determine in large part your effectiveness in acquiring it.
Awaken Your Heart and Enlighten the World.
Amazing thoughts, simply defining the reality for a true potential life.
i love this quote
“you are not here to contact your highest self; you are here to become it.”
it is true making contact is powerful and i believe a very important phase in our finding that higher self within.. …
BUT.. living what we find is what we are here for each and every moment..
delightfully hard work ..so powerful and i must admit i am not the same person as i was before…and hey… i was pretty damn good before.. lol
i love climbing the ladder of me and reaching higher and higher and catching myself when i am about to descend a few rungs…
thanks brian for all of this and all of you inspiring people who are connected with PN..
Hiya PSue…I loved that quote too. It ties in perfectly with our discussions of full self-actualization and the other mentions of our higher purpose. Perhaps too many of us may have gone through life denting the ceilings of our zones of excellence, only briefly inhabiting our zones of genius. I know I, after a lifetime already, am no longer satisfied being ruled by mediocrity. That’s just not my style. I miss the old outrageous self, and introspection here is making me more and more conscious of that.
Keep climbing…I’ve got my ladder burning. Shades of Jacob’s Ladder!
Kind of reminds me of something someone told me a few weeks ago. We are not meant to create our life’s purpose, we are meant to discover it. I really love that line. So I intended at night before I go to bed to find my “genius” (pretty neat that we all have a spark of our own) And I love how all the notes seem to be coming together, one author reinforcing and expanding on another’s vision. I am not the same person either…and atleast now when I lose a few rungs, I don’t have to fret over the loss because of all the new tools and strength from these last few weeks. Like somasoma said earlier, it definitely won’t end after the 50 notes are up
mmm.… spark of our own so true.…
i love that ..not fretting over a loss… i’m so loving that in my life..
“next“
and somasoma is sooo right it aint over after 50.….
this just keeps leaping me over my highest height…
thanks.…
Even the daredevils are terrified. Yes, true, I never thought of it that way and yes it is. One of my favorite sport is rock climbing, every time I stand at the bottom of a face to climb the nervousness in the pit of my stomach appear, after checking all the safety are n place the harness is on the right way, the rope is secured properly, everything is set I start the climb and the nervousness disappear like magic. When I am busy climbing I don’t have time to think about nothing else but every move I need to do and progress toward the top. I find the same applies to a project I am working on, at the start everything seems blurry and I as go it all come into focus. On the rock face whenever I look back, and think about the height and what could happen if I fall the fear comes again then I decide “ no falling today” and carry on the fear is gone, until next time. My wife and I have embarked into a project to acquire a property and that project is raising havoc with our faith, the belief in ourselves, and everything we know. We have started something that for most seems totally impossible. We’ve decided that it is going to happen, this is probably the last home we will ever own and more important, is the potential and what we can accomplish with that place. So we are, at most time, in a state of creating and it is very in comfortable at time, actually most time. The way of the peaceful warrior as becomes a reminder of what it takes to accomplish anything. So we are carrying on with our project, every step of the way asking, what else can I do to make this happen? In reality we can’t make it happen, it is up to us to keep the faith and focus on the goal and do every day what we can do that day. The goal greater and bigger than anything we’ve accomplish in our life. Although we have accomplished many huge things together. The first one, the odds for us to ever get together were nil, and here we are 36years latter more in love than when we first met. Moving from France to Canada was another huge step in our life and there again, at first it seems impossible, but it happened, that was 34 years ago. Only 6 years ago, moving to one of the greatest place in North America, was only a dream , and here we are living that dream so the next step might, at time only look like a dream ‚like so many others, it’s happening. In the past we didn’t know what we know today, we did know how to “believe” or how to meditate of bread deeply, we do today no reason why this next project shouldn’t happen is here? Is it easy? No, nothing is or ever was, things we’ve accomplished were for the most part physical effort, and this one project is of another nature. Mostly mental, psychological and spiritual effort and that seems more difficult and I think it only appear that way because we are in the mist of it. Deep down inside of we know its happening.
During meditation, I had a revelation and now I am an emotional mess and need to take time to recompose myself somewhat. All together it feels real good all the same.
Hey Bernard, I’m still on the move…hopefully ending up somewhere across the ocean on the Mediterranean. I know what you mean about fear. I used to tread on the razor’s edge of fear in numerous activities…the most fun being driving fast. Barrelling down a country road at midnight at 160 mph in my 409 Impala Convertible was a real thril for a teen. They wouldn’t let me drive that fast on the NASCAR track in Vegas a few years ago. 140 mph was enough, though. My thrills are proportional to my fears nowadays. This next venture is going to get 100% of me, and it’s definitely gonna be a thrill-laden ride.
Way to go Bernard, and I’m so happy to know that your wife is treading the path right along side of you.
Thank you for sharing your happiness with us we appreciate very much. It hasn’t always been easy and it was worth it every minutes.
Thank you
Again, thanks for sharing…so nice to hear that you and your wife are so deeply committed and making your dreams come true.
Thanks Stephanie. We are traveling companions and do things together and we have for a long time now.
Take care
Hi Bernard, best to you as you reach for that next handhold and you and your wife climb joyfully onward! Good wishes to you both, Tom
Thanks Tom your support is much appreciated. Lets connect on a more personal level, I am home most time.
Take care
Congrats on your revelation! Sometimes what we discover can be shocking but in the end it is those discoveries that serve as our greatest teachers and bring us on step closer to our dreams
Hi Jeannette
Yes indeed and one of them is when jumping dimension can be hard on the body at time. Very rewarding it is.
Thank you
Bernard your posts are truly inspiring and I wish you and your wife every success with your property — live the dream Bernard!
My biggest take away is Carpe Punctum: Seize the Moment. It’s better to give your best moment by moment rather than trying to give day by day. Is it better to seize key moments in the day or the entire day? I beileive it is better to seize key moments in the day.
Absolutely, JDBear! If we look only at daily “seizures” we’re abbreviating the day, but if we look at our moment-to-moment blessings we’re getting a much greater grasp of our lives. That’s something great to build upon. If I wait to celebrate at the end of the day, some moments may go unheralded and orphaned with those voices that I’ve not yet acknowledged. Best to let it happen as it happens.
PS. I’m working on those voices, but don’t tell ‘em I said so. I want it to be a surprise!
Yes…that was my biggest take away, too…love it!
Day 27 Everyday Enlightenment16 February 2010
Dan Millman is a pleasure to read, a treasury of everyday common sense distilled in the spiritual refinery of enlightenment. He rocks with the very same essence as Gay Hendricks, Carlos Castaneda and Tal Ben-Shahar. His is a philosophy that appeals to the common soul, a veritable “do as I did” kind of application. I love the Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth…benchmarks in living as your Higher Self…on PURPOSE. Dan’s advice on loving yourself dovetails the Platinum Principle directly with looking for the blessing in the lesson and positively assimilating your emotions as you face your fears. Awesome stuff presented in a “Can Do” manner. His attitude toward fear is in keeping with the “I will face my fear” litany from Frank Herbert’s “Dune”. Let that bitch come at me, go through me and disappear. I will see only where it has been…nothing will remain!
Totally forgot that I will face my fear mediation from Dune — it’s awesome! I just remembered that I used to use it all the time… Man…
So may times when I was depressed, I did not feel worthy. If someone could have told me that it wasn’t necessary that I did, but only that I should treat myself in such a way, I think it might have saved me a lot of struggle. It’s the same “act as if” theme that has been running through the notes. Self worth is something that I have struggled with for as long as I can remember, but I’m happy to say that is higher now than it has ever been. It’s really important to have a strong sense of self worth because it gives you the inner strength to move into the unknown, to take leaps of faith, and the ability to believe in your dreams.
The #1 positive habit that I want to create in my life is meditation. I have been doing it for about a week now, and I told myself that is was compulsory. Even telling myself that it was not up for debate as to whether I would do it, I still find myself being faced with the #1 negative habit that I am changing.…procrastination. I often find myself thinking that I can meditate after my shower, after cleaning the house, after doing errands, etc. But as many people throughout the ages have said, there is no time like the present. On the one or two days that I have allowed procrastination to come in play, it has been late in the evening before I managed to create space and time for meditation, but so far, so good, in not missing day, now I just need to work on doing it when I want
Somewhere, I once read that you can not truly love another until you can love yourself, and for me, it’s 100% true. In the past, I looked to others to show me the love that I couldn’t or didn’t give to myself and it never worked very well. Once I started loving myself, all sorts of people came into my life to love me back in the ways I had always wanted. So for me, the issue was that because I didn’t love and accept myself, I had a difficult time seeing it in others. Being true to yourself in all moments, is a very important step in having your life unfold as you would like it to. For me it was a struggle, and a difficult one at that, but the rewards from doing so well outweighed the option of staying how I was.
I find it amusing that Brian offered picking up trash as a way to serve. When I was in India last year, I picked up a lot of trash. Many times people would look at me like I must be crazy. One day, my boyfriend and I were at a public gardens, where there were trash cans placed about every 10 meters or so, but there was still trash laying all around on the ground. So I began picking up trash in between the cans, and after a few moments, so did my bf. A family that was at the park stopped and asked my bf why he was picking up trash. They said, we see white people picking up trash all the time, but we never see another Indian picking up trash. My bf told them that he couldn’t stand to see me being the only one picking up trash and that he guessed that some of my ideals had rubbed off on him (:P) then they invited us to dinner and offered us gifts…lol…I was really surprised, but it’s a good example of how when you choose to do what’s important to you, that the world opens up and shows and gives you things it never would have before. Sometimes what seems like the smallest act on our parts, creates a world of difference to others.
Re: Sometimes what seems like the smallest act on our parts, creates a world of difference to others.
Cool! .… so true ..
Really like that story about picking up trash, 33’s.
You said. “Somewhere, I once read that you can not truly love another until you can love yourself, and for me, it’s 100% true.“
It isn’t just true for you. It is true for everyone. No doubt.
This a beautiful story
And so right on about loving yourself before you can truly love another. I feel the more we love ourselves, the more we live in alignment and the more we live in alignment the more we inspire others to do the same. Lovely 
Very nice…thanks for sharing.
Threethrees I really enjoyed reading your post — you’ve come a long way and should be proud of yourself for achieving so much. I also struggle with procrastination but what I do now is accept it as it is, be fully aware of it and think to myself, ‘now what?’. This simple strategy usually kick-starts me to take action!
Small acts of kindness go a long way in this world and it’s a shame that more people don’t do it.
Have a great day
These notes are making me a big Dan Millman fan. The biggest idea that I hadn’t heard before was making positive habits as easy to do as possible and making negative ones as difficult as possible. That really is simple and genius, time to put that one to work.
Carpe Punctum – very cool. Another surprising benefit of this 50 Day Challenge, I’m getting lots of tattoo ideas from PN.
We can only have more enlightened moments; there are no enlightened beings. That twist makes any spiritual goal seem more attainable.
This resonated strongly, “fear shape-shifts into subtle guises such as self-doubt, insecurity, lack of confidence, shyness, inhibition, timidity—a reluctance to assert, express, or even be yourself. Whatever form fear takes, your willingness to face it squarely will determine your fate in the high country of human potential.”
When I examine the subtleties, I see I still have plenty of fear to work on.
More gold — “The most constructive way to influence your emotions is to do something.”
Plus a shout out for Louise Hay – love her!
Great note, more books for the reading list.
Hiya Andy! Great observation about Dan…he’s definitely an author I plan to collect and follow. I particularly like his attributing chameleonic qualities to fear. At first read I saw wise guide vs. T Rex (terrible tyrant). Funny, ’cause they’re ALL lizards, and we gotta watch ‘em carefully. Carlos Castenada’s Don Juan also used lizards for divining. The first book, I believe, where he sewed one’s eyes shut and the other’s mouth shut. The mute one was sent on a fact-finding mission and the blind one reported what was seen.
Ha! I do a lot of traveling with a certain lizard. Wonder if he’s been spreading fear all this time?
http://www.LarryTheLizard.com
Ahh…regarding the shap-shifting fear…me, too…me, too…but, more and more I have been facing it.
Everyday Enlightenment by Dan Millman
It is difficult to add to what has been posted.
My ” AHA moment ” was the Quote: “Carpe Punctum: Seize the moment.”
Many of my daily practices can be considered as just going through the motions. It helps to concentrate on what is happening NOW and give each moment my full attention so that the outcome of the day is the sum of well attended moments in the activities I’ve done.
Thanks for enlightening my dark corner.
“Life without emotions would be calm as death,” flows in a vein similar to Tony Robbins’ “The only people without problems are in cemeteries.” Numbness. I’ve been on antidepressants for four years now, and wish I weren’t. I plan to not be. I kicked the stress/anxiety drug habit about two years ago (after a lifetime). I can’t fully feel the valleys of depression, but I can’t enjoy the spikes of delirium either. I have a few more fears/emotions to work through and I can then toss that veneer that covers the abyss of emotions. Medication served its purpose, but Meditation (as per Uncle Rush/Russell Simmons) is becoming my salvation. I’m firing up the tapas to burn away obstacles and moving forward with a new attitude toward money and a desire to serve as I did when I was “at my peak” in the entertainment field(s). There’s never a greater feeling than creating an environment that brings smiles to others and encourages them to interact. Nothing in the world like it.
As another that used medication for years, I totally understand that you feel you are finished with it. And that’s the first step in moving away form it, deciding that you don’t need or want it anymore. What a great place to be looking outwards from, and what a great step you took in taking this challenge… the roads less traveled are the ones with some of the greatest scenery…Kudos to you Mark.
Thanks, Andy and 33s. I am working on full extrication from medication. I’d been forced off of the anti-D’s twice and really am not wishing to do it again just now. As Frank Herbert’s Muad Dib said in another Dune litany, “A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.” I’m taking small steps in every facet of my life right now. I will get there.
Add me to that list of those who have been on and off…and, like Andy, I think meditation replaced the medication. Yes…small steps is the key…I did a* very* slow wean off. Many asked why, but it is possible…I always struggled most in winter, and this year I am fine…I feel the highs and the lows, but the lows are doable, now that I have the tools to address them and bring them back up. It’s nice to have all the feelings again.
I replaced medication with meditation three years ago. Doctors and family said it coudln’t and shouldn’t be done. I’ve never felt better. Wish you the same Mark.
Hi Mark!
I have not met you but based on your comments during this challenge so far I believe in you and your wish to get off medication. I send you prayers filled with love and positive vibes
Hi Mark, I totally relate to your challenge. My father suffered from bi-polar and the rest of my family have a tendency towards depression. Seeing how it affects them made me vow never to let depressve thoughts into my head (often easier said than done) and I have battled hard to keep depression away from my door. This was the catalyst for me starting my business about thinking to inspire others to think their way to success. I fully empathise how hard it is but small baby steps and a big decision followed by commitment is how I did it. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you travel along the path of enlightenment — all the best to you
LEARNINGS
Hello, all! Carpe punctum really jumped out at me … and this associated quote: “The quality of your moments produces the quality of your life. So, as thoughts come and go and the waves of mind rush on, Carpe punctum—Seize this moment. It deserves your full attention, for it will not pass your way again.”
EXPERIMENT
Happy Tuesday! ~ Tom
I’m going to contemplate “carpe punctum” after my meditation session tomorrow. I think there’s a lesson in here for me
The “ah ha” for me was: “Your sense of worth grows by doing what is worthy. But you do not have to feel worthy; you need only treat yourself as you would a loved one or honored guest, ending self-destructive behaviors or cycles of self-sabotage, opening to life’s opportunities.”
The key for me is the phrase, “You do not have to FEEL worthy.” What a great notion! You just have to treat yourself as you would any loved one or honored guest.
I thought about a an artist I made a documentary film about. She was prolific as well as successful. But for twenty years before I made the film, she listened to other people’s opinions and tried to fit into the mostly male artist mold. All this amazing talent…but she wasn’t true to herself. She said it only led to twenty years of conflict. What made the big change for her was making the choice to think of herself as her own child and treating that child with all the love and encouragement a mother could bestow. That’s when it all turned around for her.
As Dan Millman wrote, she didn’t feel worthy; not at first. But making that shift made all the difference.
thanks for that story. love it.
My post didn’t appear again today but I’m sure it’s out there in the Universe circulating to whomever needs to read it! I’ve been so proud of myself for posting every day so I’ve found it quite frustrating that some of the posts didn’t make it through. However, I accept things as they are and continue merrily posting anyway!!
yes weird things happen online… it happened to mee too on soem over site…! Accepting is good
This is not a very pretty writing… skip if you don’t want badvibe sadvibes…
Gosh, I think I hate myself. Last night I rubbed muscle relaxant into my face to try and erase the frown lines. I smile into the mirror for exercise.… it hurts. Why? Why can’t I just relax and enjoy myself? I’m so joyless to my loved ones. My mind is out of control with yuckiness, judgings, self doubt — ugly in, ugly out. (Thank you mr Bernard-Shaw … at least I can feel intelligent). But somehow I would rather be dumb and happy.
So for me — “Love begins with You”. I so want to have fun with my family and I so know they want to see sparkle in my eyes. I think it has to do with self-worth.
Actually I had an fresh clear inkling of my self worth today — like a sudden breeze. I attribute that to this pnote guidance, thank you And my purpose is becoming clearer every day. I’m receiving universal flow and guidance — an amazing studio for free, instruments coming at me, financials starting up, lovely students, and music in my mind. I Am gaining confidence. I wonder if, once I tackle my wavering will, and create what is developing in my mind, if my laughter will ring and my eyes sparkle. Will I be magnanimous with open arms? Will my heart be light? Will I be happy?
Love the Somerset Maugham quote — found it it to be true — reflecting on what “the best” would be in my life and claiming it…
Emphasis on action is important — talent and intelligence aren’t enough…
Make positive habits easy / bad habits hard — easy to say…hard to do.. But the answer lies in the will (“when motivation lags willpower takes over…”)
“The quality of your moments produces the quality of your life.” and “carpe punctum” — powerful, and an important reminder that years / months / weeks / days are too big to impact — they aren’t the NOW.
Recognizing emotions you feel are hiding fear — insightful
Money as neutral energy we can use to circulate our values — that is empowering
Dan Millman is GREAT, his discussion about self worth is important. I love th concept that we are human beings in training. My next book will be The Way of the Peaceful Warrior” cant wait! My favorite thoughts are “Carpe Diem” so seize the day moment by moment as you will not have another opportunity to learn and grow from this moment..
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Hi! So excited to get a tast of Everyday Enlightenment. I love Dan Milman and this is one book that I have not yet had a chance to read. Love the idea of bringing our spiritual quest down to Earth. It’s funny b/c one thing that has been coming up a lot for me during this challenge is taking all the years I’ve spent transforming my mindset and putting into action. Over the course of the last 4 weeks or so I have been doing that with small actions however have not been very consistent in them (still working on time management!). In any case the days I spend engaging in life in ways that align with my Spirit I feel on a whole new level. It’s a process making it an everyday way of being and I am getting there! Definitely needed this opening quote to remind me how important taking Action is (not that I really need it since it is mentioned in nearly every PN!).
Discover Your Worth..something I am definitely working on within myself. I forget which note is was that mentioned compassion (it was in the beginning) but have compassion for myself and others is helping me tremendously in owning and expressing my own worth.
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It’s so crazy to me how we can value others so much more than our own self, especially when does others can let us down and hurt us. Definitely doesn’t serve either myself or others to not respect and honor my own worth. Same goes for others…with compassion I can see the worth of others, even strangers.
LOVED the concept of Carpe Punctum!! One thing this challenge has definitely helped me do is live more in the moment and really take in life as it is right now. The more I practice the more my senses are more keen to the moment and the less my mind is somewhere else. I gaining more confidence in closing the gap b/n what I am capable of doing and what I am actually doing. It’s a thrilling and liberating experience and so grateful to be in a place where it’s all about the moment
Emotional Meterology…something very critical I learned this past weekend and somethning I am getting comfortable with. Many times my emotions are mental based so I am learning to get the mind chatter out and go with my initial response.
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I respect my emotions and I know that by allowing them to takeover I will never ever be able to live my dreams fully. The best way I can honor them is to continue living in the moment and give myself the opportunity to prove them wrong if need be.
And hello…the money & enlightenment idea. This is big time HUGE!! I am happy to say that I have never viewed goodness with having less money however I have had some feelings of shame/guilt with having more money. I imagine that others will judge me as snobby for having more which is totally not real! Also I am afraid to ask for what I know if my worth. First off I am not snobby and second I want to help others with my money, not shop like a maniac on 5th Avenue! Third, I have so much to offer that if I can see the value in others and support them than clearly others will see the value in me and support me. I need to let go of these false judgements as it is seriously stopping me from moving forward.
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And the last idea of LOVE…something I am working so hard on right now. I hold back a lot in many ways with fully embracing love and not only is it detrimental on some levels but it also takes away from creating and being fully engaged in relationships with the people who I value most and look up to. So crazy how this theme of LOVE keeps coming up for me. Definitely a clear sign to let down the wall and let LOVE in!
Thank You again for an incredible note. Love it!!
Hi, I’ve been away from the notes again and man does1 it show up in my life! I started a new job and I’ve been doing “job” stuff when what I really need is PN to help me get through my new job. Today’s note has some really good ideas that can help. negative habits/positive habits, I find myself doing unproductive stuff like emails too when I really need to be creating things for my classroom to run smoothly. Feeling of worth, man oh man. this new job is crating feelings of inadequacy in me like crazy. I feel much better when I take the time to reflect and realize that “hey, my learning curve is going to feel uncomfortable for awhile, working with a severely aggressive, non-verbal, autistic, 180 pound boy IS a challenge and stress IS going to happen”. Take time to be OK with the feelings and not let them freeze me into not moving on and being productive in the rest of my day!
I sieze the moment and enjoy the funny things that happen, applaud the growth I do see in the other students, and say“that was a great lesson I just taught”.
THANK YOU THANK YOU HOW AMAZING!!! EXACTLY what I needed to hear/confirm RIGHT NOW!!
it’s about living on this PLANET!! ACCEPTING & LOVING our bodies our incarnation<3
I realize today how I have been not accepting for TOOO long! THANK YOU for saying how the most sensitive souls often have the lowest self worth! THat’s EXACTLY it! I am discovering how I need to BE GENTLE with MYSELF<3 but still boost myself and TAKE ACTIONS!!
And how FUN to see the synchronicity always, Love this GROUNDED & ENLIGHTENED words! GREAT BALANCE! Dan Millman has SO much WISDOM & very SIMPLY put! I LOVE IT!!
THANK YOU<3 JUST DO IT , STEP FORWARD INTO GROWTH! YES!! I AM WILLING TO<3 GENTLY
LIFE is just a series of MOMENTS!! and ITS ALWAYS HERE <3 humm pressure , just enough, not too much!<3
If spiritual life begins on the ground, MONEY forms a foundation on which to BUILD!! that’s a good one!
and of course SELF LOVE again<3
GREAT NOTES, GREAT IDEAS, THANK YOU <3
Everyday Enlightenment
Dan Millman
Bringing your spiritual quest down to earth. Great to see the 12 Gateways to Personal Growth.
Interesting — the most sensitive, self reflective souls among us — those of us with the highest vision ideals and standards often have the lowest sense of self worth, because we constantly fail to meet our idealized standards.
The ignorant are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt
Our sense of worth grows by doing what is worthy
Live our truth.
Make any positive habit as easy as possible and visa versa with negative ones.
Carpe Punctum — Seize the moment
Every moment is an opportunity to step forward into growth or backward into safety
Close the gap between what we are capable of doing and actually doing.
Whatever form fear takes, your willingness to face it squarely will determine your fate in the high country of human potential.
Resistance creates suffering. Stress happens when your mind resists what is.
It’s all your perception and that you can change.
Do what you need to do despite they way you are feeling — remain productive.
Live a simple, functional, ordinary life without clinging, craving, or holding on.
For the heart to awaken it can not exclude a single soul including yourself.
Find a form of service that calls to you, suits your abilities, aptitudes, qualities, interests, that makes time fly, that draws forth your best, that tells you you’ve arrived home and found yourself.
You are not here to contact your higher self you are here to become it.
Great note. Really enjoyed this one.
Christina
Too true, SSoma. I liked your Tibetan teaching. When I am with my family now I just be. They know me well enough to know, and see, that I have changed. For me, for them, it is enough.
THANKS!
you are inspiring
more than you can know!
So true SomaSoma. I need to remember this when I’m around my extended family and friends.
Thanks for the words of Trungpa.…that is what I try to do when I am with family. I like being reminded of it, in case I forget
i do do this soma and it is rewarding and the gift i can offer to those who dont follow my path.…
thanks for reminding me again though
Yeah, isn’t that great? Trungpa is so awesome.
I’m so glad, Puresue!
Awesome.