This is a podcast containing dated, Saturday, June 20, 2009 that contains my thoughts about my birthday experiences at Canyon Ranch, specifically my thoughts about the Spirit Lodge experience from this past Thursday night.

It took me a little time to sort everything out and put it into words.  You can hear that I”m a little out of breath while recording it, but I was hiking uphill on a hot day, so I did the best I could.  I also included a small audio containing some typical sounds of the desert, in this case quail chirping in the background.

Below the podcast button are a few pictures I took that might help put the podcast into perspective.  You can click on any of the pictures to make them bigger.

THE CANYON RANCH LABYRINTH

THE CANYON RANCH KIVA NEAR THE LABYRINTH

THE TEEPEE NEAR THE LABYRINTH

THE SPIRIT LODGE FIREPIT

THE SPIRIT LODGE ITSELF

A VIEW OF THE CANYON RANCH SKYLINE

A VIEW OF SOME OF THE SAGUARO CACTUS ON THE PROPERTY

Well, here it is, my 50th birthday.

KEEPING ON SCHEDULE

As I’ve been saying I was going to do for about 3 months, I woke up at 4:00 AM and got ready for my LONG pool walk.  Normally, the pool doesn’t open at the Canyon Ranch Spa until 6:00 AM.  Because I’m so “focused” on my goal, I got them to open it for me at 4:30 AM.

When I first got in the pool it was cold . . .  People don’t always realize how cold it can get in the desert in the middle of the night.  Fortunately, it warmed up quickly.

When I looked up, there was a beautiful crescent moon with Venus below and to the left.  An awesome sight.  Unfortunately, it was kind of cloudy, so i didn’t get to see  many other stars.

Once I started I just zoned out and kept going and going and going.  Around 6:30 AM, a few people showed up to check out what I was doing and to wish me happy birthday.  Then it just got better and better.  More people showed up and kept me company while I was going.  When some of them found out I was going to be in the pool for 5 hours they thought I was nuts (that just added to the fun).

Sure enough, by 9:30 AM, 5 hours had passed and it was done.  I let out a loud victory yell and got out of the pool.  I was pretty darn tired, but not as worn out as I expected.   I was also proud that I went 5 hours in the pool without a bathroom break (which is tough to do considering all the water you have to driink while in the desert to stay hydrated).

Then I went back to my room and took a shower.  I then went looking for my wife who drove in for the day from Phoenix / Scottsdale, just to have lunch with me.  We had a great lunch and she got to meet some of the friends I had made while at the ranch.  BEFORE anybody thinks I’m evil, the reason I went by myself is because she’s not as big of a fan of this type of vacation as I am.  After lunch, she went into the city (Tucson) and visted some of her friends, all before going back home.

Then I took a little nap and got ready for the Sweat Lodge experience scheduled for later that night.

More on that in the next post.

This is proving to be an interesting week for me.

In 2 days, I will be turning 50 years old.  As I’m telling people, the first 25% of my life is about to be over (yes, I do want to live for 200 years – provided I’m healthy and the the world is okay).

In that regard, I have taken the entire week off from work to visit a health spa in Tucson, Arizona, known as Canyon Ranch.  This is actually not a new experience for me, as I’ve been here 5 other times over the past 20 years.  In fact, the very first time I came here was to celebrate my 20th birthday.

For those of you unfamiliar with this place, it is very “spiritual” in nature.  It’s an absolutely gorgeous, first class property that is run in a first class manner.  The accomodations are fantastic;  the food is incredible and the people you meet are nice.

It’s also an excellent place to try new experiences (more on that a little bit later).

As this birthday milestone has approached, I have been spending the past 3 to 4 months working on really getting in shape.  I’ve been eating much better and I’ve been exercising quite a bit.  Over that time period, I’ve built up to where I’m exercising 3 or more hours a day at least 25 days out of each month.

The 2 main exercises I’ve been undertaking are pool walking and walking on a treadmill.  Personally, I enjoy pool walking a lot more, as it is a highly aerobic exercise that is easier on the legs and joints than regular walking or running.  The water provides great resistance, but because of the flotation aspects of walking in the pool, it puts less stress on the body and you’re able to recover faster.

However, the treadmill is much more convenient, as I have a treadmill at my house.  While I also have a pool at my house, it is too small to do a lot of walking, so I wind up going to one of the local gyms in town.  Anyone who has ever spent much time in a community pool knows how much fun those can be.  Let’s just say you meet some interesting people.  I’ve seen these people do some pretty crazy things, some of which make me wonder about whether or not they’re “totally there” or if they’re just walking around in an unconscious state.  However, it works out to be okay in the long run if you’re willing to be a little tolerant of other people’s “habits”.

When I started my pool walking, I put together my own campaign that I have titled”  A Million Steps To Health.

Basically, I figured that if I take at least a million steps in the pool over a 3 to 5 month period, that my personal health and overall well being would improve immensely.     I started on March 17, 2009 and since then, I’ve covered approximately 372,000 steps.  The bright side is that I’ve been GREATLY increasing the duration of my workouts as I’ve started to get much stronger.

In fact, this morning, I walked for 4 hours in the outdoor pool here at Canyon Ranch.  What a beautiful morning it was.  In fact, I’m outside by the pool right now writing this post.  That walk was almost 15,000 steps in and of itself.  In fact, over the past 2 weeks, I’ve had 3 walks of 3 hours each, one for 3 1/2 hours and today’s for 4 hours.  All of this was to build up to doing a 5 hour pool walk on my 50th birthday.

At first, I was a little bit skeptical as to whether or not I’d be able to get in good enough shape fast enough to do it, but after doing 4 hours this morning, I now have no doubt about being able to do it.  In fact, I could have easily made today’s walk last for 5 hours, but I don’t want to spoil Thursday’s planned fun.

One of the things I do each time when I visit Canyon Ranch is that I make it a point to try something new.  This year, I’m going to get a chance to do something I’ve been wanting to do for probably at least 10 years.  On Thursday, after finishing my workout and having lunch with my wife, I’m going to participate in a group spirituality session in a Sweat Lodge.  I’m greatly looking forward to the experience and I will definitely blog about it afterwards.   We have a “prep” session tomorrow night where they tell us how to prepare in advance for the experience and it takes place on Thursday.

At first I wasn’t sure whether or not I should participate in the sweat lodge experience, but the fact that it happened to correspond EXACTLY with my 50th birthday and the fact that sweat lodge experiences are known for “marking transitions”, I KNEW WITH 100% CERTAINTY that I’m supposed to do it.
Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted.

Energy and Persistence Conquer All Things. (Benjamin Franklin)

Energy -The capacity for vigorous activity; available power.  The ability and capacity to do something.

Persistence – Persevering.  To continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, esp. in spite of opposition.

Conquer – To overcome.  To gain a victory over.  To master.

Gathering – To bring together or assemble from various places, sources, or people.  To bring together into one group, collection, or place.

Efficiency – Performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort.

My Recent Activities

If you notice, I haven’t been posting as often as I usually do.

The reason for this is that I have been thinking.  I’ve been thinking a lot.  I’ve been thinking about the future; what it holds and how best to prepare for it.

I also realize, that at the same time, I’ve been gathering my energies.  In effect, I’ve been bringing together and assembling all the various positive pieces of my life, in preparation for the future.

Given today’s current economic climate, I believe that’s what we should all be doing.

Gathering of Energies

So, what are some of the “items” I’ve been gathering.

Time – I have been analyzing how my time is used and have been eliminating time wasters from my life.  Some of these time wasters have been people; projects I’ve devoted time to; television, etc..

Money – I’ve analyzed the things I spend the most money on and have begun pulling back.  If it’s something you need, then it’s okay to spend money on it.  If it’s something you really don’t need, then let it go.

Work – What is it I truly want to work on?  What projects bring the most passion into my life?  Those are things I’ve been thinking about.

Health – I’ve been exercising daily.  I’ve decided to bring better health into my life by devoting more and energy to it.

People – I’ve been meeting new people; positive ones who I believe will bring value to my life and work.

The Future – I have been devoting several hours daily toward setting new projects into motion; all of which are going to make 2009 a really great year.

In effect, I’ve been gathering my energies, so that I’ll have abundant sources of energy to apply in the future.

I AM POSITIONING MYSELF TO BE READY FOR THE FUTURE.

I am doing this by making myself more efficient.

What Are Some of the Things You’re Doing To Position Yourself For The Future?

I would like to know what you’re doing to prepare for the future.  Please comment below and share your thoughts with us.

Some Recommended Reading

Laws of Positioning #30 – Position Yourself To Be Energetic

Laws of Positioning #79 – Position Yourself To Be Prepared

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

There Is Nothing Wrong With Change, If It’s In The Right Direction. (Winston Churchill)

Change – To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone. To transform or convert.

Wrong – Not correct in action, judgment, opinion, method, etc..  The opposite of right.

Right – In accordance with what is good, proper, or just.  In conformity with fact, reason, truth, or some standard or principle; correct.  The opposite of wrong.

Direction – A purpose or orientation toward a goal that serves to guide or motivate; focus.

Behavior – Manner of acting or controlling yourself. The aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by a person in any given situation.

Behavior and the Laws of Positioning

The Laws of Positioning are all about changing and controlling our behaviors, all in order to improve ourselves and to accomplish our goals and to fulfill our desires.

They are all about analyzing where are at, then deciding where it is we want to be. Once you know where you’re at and where you want to be, all you have to do is behave in a manner that is consistent with the achievement of your goals.

IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE.

This Is All About Control

Control – To exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.

The word “control” tends to have a lot of negative connotations associated with it.  I’m here to suggest otherwise.

Just because you are controlling something, you’re not necessarily harming it.

Think about it.

Parents exercise “control” over their children all the time.  When the children are young and inexperienced, that can be a good thing, as it keeps their children out of danger and steers them in the right direction.  In effect, this is guidance.

Guidance – Advice or counseling.    Supervised care or assistance.

When their children become older, too much control can be a bad thing, as it prevents their children from learning how to exercise their own self-control.

So, when dealing with others, there needs to be an appropriate balance between guidance and control.

For the rest of this post, we’re going to talk about controlling ourselves (self-control), as opposed to controlling others.

What Is “Self” – Control?

Self – Your own individuality.  A person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality.

I ask you a question here:

Who is in the best position to “control” / guide you?

The answer is simple.  You are!

I’m going to expand on this more in my next post and we’re going to talk about what we should be using our unconscious mind as a method of “self-control” to accomplish our goals.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

Be Careful What You Pretend To Be Because You Are What You Pretend To Be. (Kurt Vonnegut)

Change – To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.  To transform or convert.

Unconscious – Not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition. Not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

Behavior – Manner of acting or controlling yourself.   The aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by a person in any given situation.

Pretend – To make believe.  Simulate.

Change and the Laws of Positioning

The Laws of Positioning are all about change.

They are all about analyzing we are at, then deciding where it is we want to be.  Once you know where you’re at and where you want to be, all you have to do is change your behaviors accordingly.

Making changes in our lives is a key part of the Laws of Positioning,

Take for example the following Laws:

Law #36 – Position Yourself To Be Flexible / Tolerant

It’s hard to be flexible without being open to change.

Law #38 – Position Yourself To Be Forgiving

It’s hard to be forgiving without being open to change.

Law #52 – Position Yourself To Be Imaginative

It’s hard to be imaginative without being open to change.

Law #85 – Position Yourself To Be A Risk Taker

It’s hard to be an intelligent risk taker without being open to change.

Law #94 – Position Yourself To Be Unique

It’s hard to be unique without being open to change.

Are you starting to see my point?

The Power of Our Unconscious / Subconscious Mind

Many people often profess that being actually conscious is the highest level of consciousness. While that might be the case, i often think our unconscious or subconscious MIGHT just be the most powerful level of consciousness.

Here’s the important part.  It doesn’t matter which is more power (our conscious or unconscious mind).

What matters is that we realize BOTH are powerful and we take steps to properly regulate BOTH or conscious and unconscious minds.

My Next Post

I’m going to expand on this more in my next post and we’re going to talk about what we should be using our unconscious mind to accomplish our goals.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

Be Careful What You Wish For.  You Just Might Accidentally Get It.

Manifestation – Outward or perceptible indication; materialization. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal. To be evidence of; prove.

Unconscious – Not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition.  Not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

Careful – Cautious in one’s actions.

Wish – To want; desire; long for.

Get – To receive or come to have possession, use, or enjoyment of.

Consciousness and the Laws of Positioning

I feel so strongly about the power of consciousness (or the lack thereof – i.e. unconsciousness), that Law #14 or the 100 Laws of Positioning is based upon it.

Albert Einstein said:  No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.

Assuming we agree with Professor Einstein, then what does that say about problems that were created from our unconsciousness?

What Are The Various Levels Of Consciousness?

Rather than go into a long-winded discussion of this, I’m going to refer you to an excellent Wikipedia article on the subject.

Many people often profess that being actually conscious is the highest level of consciousness.  While that might be the case, I often think our unconscious or subconscious MIGHT just be the most powerful level of consciousness.

Subconscious – Existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond consciousness:

BUT, here’s a secondary definition; one that I find interesting and scary:

Subconscious – Imperfectly or not wholly conscious.

I don’t have a problem with the “not wholly” part, BUT I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE “IMPERFECT” PART OF THAT DEFINITION.

What Do I Mean?

I have an inherent belief that LEFT TO OUR OWN NATURAL DEVICES, we will quite often do the thing that is best for us and for those around us.  NOT ALWAYS, BUT OFTEN.

The problem is that we live in a society where we are often taught that we need to CONSTANTLY BE IN CONTROL of what we do and think.

Is That Indeed The Case?  Do We Need To Be In Control Of EVERYTHING We Think?

The answer is yes AND no.

YES, we should always TRY to be in control.

BUT

NO, because if we set things up properly in our conscious mind IN ADVANCE, our unconscious mind will wind up doing the right thing for us, MOST OF THE TIME, even if we’re not 100% in control.

More On This In My Next Post

I’m going to expand on this more in my next post.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

Every great work, every great accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement.  (Florence Scovall Shinn)

Manifestation – Outward or perceptible indication; materialization. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal. To be evidence of; prove.

Great –   Notable; remarkable; exceptionally outstanding.   Important; highly significant or consequential.

Work – Productive or operative activity.

Accomplishment –   Something done admirably or creditably.   An act or instance of carrying into effect; fulfillment.

Holding – To have or keep in the mind; think or believe.

Vision – The act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be.

Apparent – According to appearances, initial evidence, incomplete results, etc.; ostensible rather than actual.

What Manifestation Activity Am I Doing Today?

Well, right now, as we speak, I am actually walking on my treadmill.  Yes, that’s right.  I have setup my treadmill such that I can also work on  my laptop while walking.

What Is My Goal Here?

I am restarting something I started nearly 2 years ago.

Approximately 2 years ago, I started exercising daily, for at least one hour per day on my indoor treadmill at home.

Why Am I “Restarting?”  Why Did I Stop In The First Place?

I stopped because I was “forced” to stop.  The truth is, nearly one year ago, I ruptured my achilles tendon, as the result of exercising too much, with improper footwear.

Since that time, things have healed fairly well (probably about 90% of the way) and I’m feeling much better.  I have also gone out and purchased appropriate footwear and expensive, custom made, orthotics to use with that footwear; all of which are designed to prevent a repeat of the problem I had a year ago.

What Are My Intentions?

This is actually a VERY important question when it comes to manifestation.  The universe wants to know our intentions, as it is going to respond to us accordingly, based upon those intentions.

My intentions are that I am going to be the best person I can be.  I am going to help others, and myself, as much as possible.

I am going to take actions that work toward the maximization of my own potential.

2 Kinds Of Intentions

There are conscious intentions and unconscious intentions.

Conscious – Aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc..   Fully aware of or sensitive to something.

Unconscious – Not conscious; without awareness, sensation, or cognition.  Not perceived at the level of awareness; occurring below the level of conscious thought.

How Does The Universe Distinguish Between The Two?

The answer is that it doesn’t.  The universe does not care whether our intentions are conscious or unconscious.  It is going to give us whatever we intended, no matter how we asked for it.

That’s why I ruptured my achilles tendon nearly a year ago.  My body was telling me to slow down and that I was overexercising with improper footwear.  I did not listen (enough).  I knew I had a problem and I actually slowed down my exercise quite a bit, BUT I did not take the necessary corrective / preventative actions that were available to me at the time.

So, unconsciously, I told the universe it was okay to rupture my achilles tendon.

What Else Am I Telling The Universe, Both Consciously and Unconsciously?

That is a really good question; one I’m going to explore in future posts.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.

The Highest Manifestation Of Life Consists In This:  That A Being Governs Its Own Actions.  A Thing Which Is Always Subject To The Direction Of Another Is Somewhat Of A Dead Thing. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Manifestation – Outward or perceptible indication; materialization.  To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal.  To be evidence of; prove.

Govern –   To exercise a directing or restraining influence over; guide.   To hold in check; control.

Subject To – Being under domination, control, or influence.  Being under dominion, rule, or authority.       Being dependent or conditional upon something.

Direction – Management; control; guidance; supervision.     Order; command.

Shifting To A 4 Day Work Week Got Me Thinking

My recent experience has shown that many businesses (mostly governmental) are shifting to a 4 day work week.

I’m thinking “maybe” I should do a version of the same thing.

Maybe I should work on Monday through Thursday and then devote Friday to something different; something better.

That’s what I’m doing, starting today.

Friday’s, for me, are now Manifestation Day™.

Manifestation Day is a day when I sit back, relax a little bit and meditate about everything I am in the process of manifesting in my life and in the lives of those around me.

So What Have I Done So Far?

I have written 2 blog posts so far and taken a one hour walk with my wife early this morning.

I’m sitting back, I’m relaxing and I’m going to focus on my goals.  It will be a day of peace and getting in touch with the universe around me.

What Am I Suggesting For You?

I’m suggesting that you take one day out of the week (it can be whatever day YOU want it to be) and you sit back and reflect, IN YOUR OWN WAY, on what is going on around you and what it is that you want to create in your life and the lives of those around you.

Basically, this is your own personal Sabbath.  Many of you probably already do this.  Your day might be Saturday, it might be Sunday.  For me, at least for the time being, it is going to be Friday.

The important thing is that you pick a day and you devote that day TO YOURSELF.

What Do You Think?

What do you think about these thoughts? Please share your thoughts below.