Archives for May 2014

Happiness is a Universal Desire

May 9, 2014 by costaricaguy Leave a Comment

There’s a lot separating us as humans…

like…

borders…
language…
race…
culture…
religion…
politics…
economic status…
anger…
envy…
jealousy…
fear…

and a whole lotta other fucked-up shit (pardon my french).

But one thing we have in common is…

the desire to be HAPPY!

And that has recently been melodically represented in Pharrell’s new super-hit by the same name…

Happy

Yesterday I woke up feeling a little blue. Oh yea, I got lots of reasons to feel that way, or at least I can conjure up a few if I strain that muscle hard enough.

But then I stumbled upon an Oprah clip where she’s interviewing Pharrell. They are discussing the phenomenon that has taken place with respect to this song.

That is folks all over the world, getting really friggin happy and making videos of it.

And these videos have become perhaps even more popular than the song itself.

Pharrell’s song has been co-opted by the universe.

Imagine that!

Oprah played a video for Pharrell that was an amalgamation of these happy videos from around the globe…

and Pharrell just broke down, right on the set.

How embarrassing!

No, not really…it was a beautiful moment. The dude created something that has resonated to the far ends of the globe and it was just too much to take in.

That’s what I call…IMPACT!

And why would Pharrell’s tune have had such a reaction?

Because it helps people experience an emotion that we all desire…

happiness!

And not just happiness…but connection too!

I know I felt connected to the crazies in those videos…and it made me happy.

Who doesn’t want to be happy?

Putin perhaps?

The Taliban?

I bet secretly even they couldn’t help but get their groves on a little if ever exposed to Pharrell’s little dose of happiness.

So, I played the song repeatedly throughout the day and man did I ever get happy.

In fact, Pharrell has even created a web site with a 24 hour video of people getting happy.

In this day and age, when you turn on the news and see anything but happiness, what a refreshment this not-so-young-anymore dude has offered to the world.

Gracias Mr. Pharrell…thanks for reminding us that happiness is a universal desire…

oh, and I love your cool hats.

So…

Clap along if you feel that happiness is the truth!

Because it is.

Deep down, we all know that.

One of my favorite Happy videos…this one from Slovokia.

image credit: AbiiMedia via Compfight cc

The Body Mind Connection

May 7, 2014 by costaricaguy 2 Comments

You can’t change the world if you feel like shit…

from sticky note on CRG’s bathroom mirror

Impact mindfulness is about changing the world…

I mean that’s the objective, right?

I listened to an interesting Unmistakable Creative podcast episode this morning. Srini was interviewing Meg Worden. Now, you probably don’t know this, but Meg spent 2 years in Federal prison for dealing ecstasy…that’s an “awful” drug that’s possibly the best cure for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). But, even so, taking it and certainly selling it, can still get you in a whole lot of trouble…as Meg found out.

Meg talks a lot about the connection between the body and the mind. Meg called it the “mind-body” connection, but I like to think of the concept more in terms of the body mind connection.

That is, how what we do to and with our bodies affects our mind…the core of our creative capacity.

In the interview, she made the point that this connection is especially important when it comes to creative types…those crazies who want to create something that is going to have an impact on the world…

or, folks like…me!

Problem is, I’m often NOT cognizant of it.

Or, willfully inattentive, perhaps?

It’s part and parcel of my rebellious nature, I think.

I have written in the past about how self-indulgence is my creativity kryptonite.

That’s sort of exactly what Meg’s getting at.

To be mindful of what it is you’re consuming into your body…physically and mentally…

garbage in…garbage out…so to speak.

Her message resonated with me because from my own experience I can attest and say right on Meg!

Even though I don’t always take her extremely wise advice.

I am considering a new book (on the heels of my soon to be published Revolutionary Misfit Manifesto) about Practical Impacts…

That is, practical ways to put impact mindfulness into practice in your actual day-to-day lives.

Most of what we talk about here are remote impacts…that is, how we can put these concepts into practice to make life better for others…for people and planet…

but how about for ourselves?

If what we are doing is self-destruction, maybe in subtle ways, but destructive nonetheless, then our ability to have an impact will probably fizzle and flop…

in other words, as the opening quote suggests…

it’s extremely hard to change the world when you feel like shit.

So, my point this morning is about a practice of impact mindfulness that starts with ourselves…

that is, being mindful about how we treat our own bodies…

and minds.

I don’t always do so well in that regard.

How about you?

Are you mindful about what you eat, drink, listen to, look at, take in, ingest, digest, soak up and consume?

It’s really important to the overall concept of impact mindfulness because the ability to be a change agent starts right here…

with me.

And I’m the one with 100% control here.

So, really there are no excuses in this case.

Because if I’m less than a whole, integrated and healthy human…I am a far less effective change agent.

So, what you put in your mouth and ultimately what slides down into the stomach and gradually filters through the blood stream and becomes a part of you…

does matter.

As does what enters the portal of consciousness called the eyes and filters its way into that muscle of creative capacity called the brain.

Be more careful…and mindful about those things…

and ultimately become a more impact-full human being.

Let’s do this together, hold each other accountable…

I need that!

OK?

image credit: RHiNO NEAL via Compfight cc

Letting Go – Redux

May 1, 2014 by costaricaguy Leave a Comment

Here’s a post from the past that might be relevant to something going on in your life (or mine).

Letting go…

I have the hardest time doing that.

I would rather ride my problems into submission like a bronco-buster on the back of a wild mustang.

Sometimes that approach can leave you with a few broken bones, or an extremely bruised ego.

Hanging on for dear life is the surest way to assure that the suffering will last just a little longer than it really needs to.

So why not just let go?

The future might just be a brighter place if you do. Oh sure, there will be more, but different, problems to come.

That’s just the ebb and flow of life…

one day you’re up, the next day you’re down…

sounds a bit manic, but it is what it is.

Life is anything but permanent…

so get used to it!

Of course letting go can be a scary thing.

What will happen to me if I do?

Where will the shifting winds of life blow me?

Will I like it there?

Well, do you like it here?

Then why not give it a try?

I guess life becomes a cyclical series of attempts to hang on to the good and let go of the bad.

Problem comes when we can’t seem to distinguish one from the other (good from bad, that is).

That’s been my case at many points throughout my five decades of earthbound existence.

Often trying valiantly to convince myself that what was bad and unhealthy, was good and worth hanging onto.

Better to make the decision to just let go…

Para bien o para mal, se terminó, as Arjona sings.

Letting go allows the cycle of life to continue its proper course.

When we try to upset that course by hanging on too long, guess what happens…

depression.

Extend that a bit longer…

disillusion.

And just a bit longer…

insane asylum.

And I really don’t want to go to any of those places.

Oh for sure, there will be that lingering doubt that keeps nagging.

Are you sure?

Or, that sentimental hogwash that keeps reminding us of all the “good” times.

But the reality of the situation is that those times are history (as in, NO MORE) and living in the past does not generally make for a compelling future.

Letting go can be refreshing if we can just adopt a bit of an adventurous spirit.

What lies around the corner might just be pretty nice. Maybe ever better than what you’re so desperately holding onto.

Imagine that!

Could the universe be preparing something really good for you and it was just waiting for you to take the bold step forward into the dark void of the unknown?

Here’s my advice: Go ahead, take it and don’t look back.

Looking for some great advice on actually doing that?

Leo Babauta, one of my all-time favorite righteous bloggers, out of his abundant generosity, today (his birthday by the way) offered up this free little eBook, about…

wouldn’t you know it…

Letting Go

But don’t just read it…

do it.

Archives for May 2014

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