Comments on: Rediscovering the Magic http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/ Happiness As a Spiritual Practice Tue, 22 May 2012 01:59:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: tammy http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-17490 tammy Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:56:23 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-17490 bhb... one day my husband came home unexpectedly for lunch. i had everything out... everywhere! it's how i used to clean house. i would start in one room, get distracted, start on something else... you get the picture. but you know what? it always got put magically and neatly back before by the time i was through. must say, being minimalist helps in that. there wasn't 'that much' stuff. but i supposed it was a bit disconcerting to someone more focussed. monk... you make me want to start something creative! i used to do pencil portraits of children. i would completely lose all track of time. that was in another lifetime in another galaxy long ago and far away. i'd like to try photography or pottery next. bhb… one day my husband came home unexpectedly for lunch. i had everything out… everywhere! it’s how i used to clean house. i would start in one room, get distracted, start on something else… you get the picture. but you know what? it always got put magically and neatly back before by the time i was through. must say, being minimalist helps in that. there wasn’t ‘that much’ stuff. but i supposed it was a bit disconcerting to someone more focussed.
monk… you make me want to start something creative!
i used to do pencil portraits of children. i would completely lose all track of time. that was in another lifetime in another galaxy long ago and far away. i’d like to try photography or pottery next.

]]> By: cheerfulmonk.com » Stay Curious and Open to Life http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-502 cheerfulmonk.com » Stay Curious and Open to Life Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:21:21 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-502 [...] just gotten back from a vacation…without even leaving home. As I mentioned in Rediscovering the Magic, I took an exercise break over the holidays. That meant buying/renting some DVDs to watch while I [...] [...] just gotten back from a vacation…without even leaving home. As I mentioned in Rediscovering the Magic, I took an exercise break over the holidays. That meant buying/renting some DVDs to watch while I [...]

]]> By: Jean http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-494 Jean Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:52:13 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-494 <strong>Not Yet a Bodhisattva</strong>, I agree. It does feel good to have less clutter now. But it was the right decision for me to just ignore it while I was setting up my blogs. There's such a thing as "resumption time", which means when I'm immersed in a project and am interrupted, it takes a while to get back in the flow. The more complicated the project, the better it works for me to give it large chunks of time. It sounds as if you need to give yourself permission to take some reflection time. The best boss I ever had kept saying, "Don't fall into the activity trap!" He kept reminding us if we didn't keep abreast of what was happening in our field, hard work wouldn't do us any good. We would soon be obsolete. Timothy Ferris had different values from me, but he has some good ideas for free lancers. Have you read his book or looked at his site? <strong>Shamelle</strong>, I have a loose schedule. There are some chores I do regularly, and I go to the Y every other day and get at least a half hour of exercise here. But I do work better if I have some leeway on other things. I don't have trouble getting things done if I want to do them. The main thing is we have to figure out what works best for us. And it sounds as if you've done that. <strong>Robert</strong>, I like that idea, that one form of wealth is adventure. Thanks. :)   Not Yet a Bodhisattva,
I agree. It does feel good to have less clutter now. But it was the right decision for me to just ignore it while I was setting up my blogs. There’s such a thing as “resumption time”, which means when I’m immersed in a project and am interrupted, it takes a while to get back in the flow. The more complicated the project, the better it works for me to give it large chunks of time.

It sounds as if you need to give yourself permission to take some reflection time. The best boss I ever had kept saying, “Don’t fall into the activity trap!” He kept reminding us if we didn’t keep abreast of what was happening in our field, hard work wouldn’t do us any good. We would soon be obsolete.

Timothy Ferris had different values from me, but he has some good ideas for free lancers. Have you read his book or looked at his site?

Shamelle,
I have a loose schedule. There are some chores I do regularly, and I go to the Y every other day and get at least a half hour of exercise here. But I do work better if I have some leeway on other things. I don’t have trouble getting things done if I want to do them. The main thing is we have to figure out what works best for us. And it sounds as if you’ve done that.

Robert,
I like that idea, that one form of wealth is adventure. Thanks. :)
 

]]> By: Robert @ reason4smile http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-493 Robert @ reason4smile Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:55:51 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-493 Heheh, I guess we all need adventure, Robin Sharma has ever mentioned that one form of wealth is adventure. I guess I'll need more adventure! =) Keep adventurous and keep being curious, that I got most from your blog! Thanks Jean! Heheh, I guess we all need adventure, Robin Sharma has ever mentioned that one form of wealth is adventure. I guess I’ll need more adventure! =)
Keep adventurous and keep being curious, that I got most from your blog! Thanks Jean!

]]> By: Shamelle @ Enhance Life http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-492 Shamelle @ Enhance Life Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:35:57 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-492 Seems like you are off to a great start for the year. I am also going to try out watching DVDs while exercising. What has worked for me in the past is keeping to a schedule. I try as much as possible to discipline my self to sick to it :-) Seems like you are off to a great start for the year.
I am also going to try out watching DVDs while exercising.

What has worked for me in the past is keeping to a schedule. I try as much as possible to discipline my self to sick to it :-)

]]> By: Not Yet a Bodhisattva http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-491 Not Yet a Bodhisattva Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:53:47 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-491 We did some cleaning, which makes me feel so much better. Everything in the apartment is less crowded and more peaceful. I would like to spend more time this year just sitting. As someone who doesn't work 9 to 5 but freelances and works several small jobs as well, it's hard to set aside the same time every day or create a routine. Any time is potentially work time. We did some cleaning, which makes me feel so much better. Everything in the apartment is less crowded and more peaceful.

I would like to spend more time this year just sitting. As someone who doesn’t work 9 to 5 but freelances and works several small jobs as well, it’s hard to set aside the same time every day or create a routine. Any time is potentially work time.

]]> By: Jean http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-488 Jean Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:09:06 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-488 <strong>Robert</strong>, Giving and sharing is important to me, too. I need more than that to feel the magic, but it's a necessary part of it. <strong>Sterling</strong>, Thanks for sharing your experience. That's what this blog is all about. Your childhood was very different from mine. Mine was extremely boring for a few years, especially in the summertime...we were fairly isolated and there wasn't much to explore. I still remember my father telling me to play and enjoy being a child, because when you're an adult you have cares and responsibilities and life is no longer fun. Since I was bored out of my mind at the time, I decided there must be more to life than that. It was great motivation. <strong>tNb</strong>, Yes! I purposely get into situations that challenge me, then I take a break for a while. I can tell when I need to challenge myself again, because I start feeling restless. My challenges are more of the public speaking type rather than physical adventure, but it doesn't matter. It's what works for us as individuals. It helps once we realize that the challenges are necessary for that joy of being alive. <strong>Adam</strong>, I agree, incubation time, that time away from the task, is an important part of the process. For me doing routine chores is one way I get that time. And lying in bed for a while in the morning is a great time for the ideas to come. <strong>bikehikebabe</strong>, I'm a great one for starting one job and then switching to another around the house. I figure it doesn't matter, as long as something gets done. Housework is not my top priority, so the best thing is to do what seems the most fun at the moment. I have plenty of focus for the things that matter to me. <strong>Life Reflection</strong>, I can't quite tell if you think being lost in work is being fully aware and alive. For me it is. You write, "Now I constantly remind myself to focus on what I am doing NOW, the rest have to wait, or write it down and come back later." That's the line that resonates with me. The main thing that keeps me from being in that flow state is when part of my mind is being distracted by all the other things "I should" be doing. Writing them down on the Possibility List helps a lot, because then I can forget them until later. But I also try to keep my life simple enough so my Possibility List is short. <strong> Thank you all for commenting. </strong> :)   Robert,
Giving and sharing is important to me, too. I need more than that to feel the magic, but it’s a necessary part of it.

Sterling,
Thanks for sharing your experience. That’s what this blog is all about.

Your childhood was very different from mine. Mine was extremely boring for a few years, especially in the summertime…we were fairly isolated and there wasn’t much to explore. I still remember my father telling me to play and enjoy being a child, because when you’re an adult you have cares and responsibilities and life is no longer fun. Since I was bored out of my mind at the time, I decided there must be more to life than that. It was great motivation.

tNb,
Yes! I purposely get into situations that challenge me, then I take a break for a while. I can tell when I need to challenge myself again, because I start feeling restless. My challenges are more of the public speaking type rather than physical adventure, but it doesn’t matter. It’s what works for us as individuals. It helps once we realize that the challenges are necessary for that joy of being alive.

Adam,
I agree, incubation time, that time away from the task, is an important part of the process. For me doing routine chores is one way I get that time. And lying in bed for a while in the morning is a great time for the ideas to come.

bikehikebabe,
I’m a great one for starting one job and then switching to another around the house. I figure it doesn’t matter, as long as something gets done. Housework is not my top priority, so the best thing is to do what seems the most fun at the moment. I have plenty of focus for the things that matter to me.

Life Reflection,
I can’t quite tell if you think being lost in work is being fully aware and alive. For me it is. You write, “Now I constantly remind myself to focus on what I am doing NOW, the rest have to wait, or write it down and come back later.” That’s the line that resonates with me. The main thing that keeps me from being in that flow state is when part of my mind is being distracted by all the other things “I should” be doing. Writing them down on the Possibility List helps a lot, because then I can forget them until later. But I also try to keep my life simple enough so my Possibility List is short.


Thank you all for commenting. :)
 

]]> By: Life Reflection http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Life Reflection Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:15:29 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-487 I totally understand being lost in work and other stuff. I too am struggling to keep the awareness, to be fully alive. Now I constantly remind myself to focus on what I am doing NOW, the rest have to wait, or write it down and come back later. I totally understand being lost in work and other stuff. I too am struggling to keep the awareness, to be fully alive. Now I constantly remind myself to focus on what I am doing NOW, the rest have to wait, or write it down and come back later.

]]> By: bikehikebabe http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-486 bikehikebabe Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:19:21 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-486 1) On sunny days I'm sunny & on gloomy days I'm gloomy. (Our house is mainly windows.) 2) I start a house job & drop it when I see another that needs attention. Fun but confusing. I'm reading The Power of Focusing by Ann Cornell, suggested in a former Post. It's helping with 1) & 2). tNb-Your motorcycle trip from Rome to Sahara Desert really turns me on. Oh, to be young & make that a bicycle trip. (I'd take a boat across the Mediterranean though.) 1) On sunny days I’m sunny & on gloomy days I’m gloomy. (Our house is mainly windows.)
2) I start a house job & drop it when I see another that needs attention. Fun but confusing. I’m reading The Power of Focusing by Ann Cornell, suggested in a former Post. It’s helping with 1) & 2).
tNb-Your motorcycle trip from Rome to Sahara Desert really turns me on. Oh, to be young & make that a bicycle trip. (I’d take a boat across the Mediterranean though.)

]]> By: Adam Kamerer - JoyChaser.com http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-484 Adam Kamerer - JoyChaser.com Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:33:32 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/01/07/rediscovering-the-magic/#comment-484 I know what you mean about getting lost in a project. I do the same thing. I love being fully involved in a project, but I've also found that being forced to pull away from it for a bit helps too. If something else calls me away from my blog (most recently, the start of a new semester of college, for example), I find that pushing it to the back of my mind causes my subconscious to come up with all sorts of nifty ideas for blog posts. I just make sure I keep a notebook around to jot them all down in until I have time to blog again. I know what you mean about getting lost in a project. I do the same thing. I love being fully involved in a project, but I’ve also found that being forced to pull away from it for a bit helps too. If something else calls me away from my blog (most recently, the start of a new semester of college, for example), I find that pushing it to the back of my mind causes my subconscious to come up with all sorts of nifty ideas for blog posts. I just make sure I keep a notebook around to jot them all down in until I have time to blog again.

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