Taking Stock.

Three Months into the year, and time to take stock again.

Most importantly, I have failed to write down my "Signposts", so there is no point in assessing where I am. Without referring to our long range outcomes on a regular basis (at least weekly), there's little point in making them.  As the year and all of it's dramas has sucked me in, I have lived from day to day, and forgotten about the things that I really want to be, do and have.  So my current assessment is:

•     Live in a Safe House and Garden, free of clutter

Currently there is a mass of junk, even if it is hiding in storage.  The Garden is full of uncut lumber, and the fences badly need attention.

• ·      Have the financial resources to cover any surprises.

I am budgeting well, and have the wherewithal to cover any emergencies.

• ·      Have enacted a financial plan to guarantee financial abundance

I know that I will be financially secure in my old age, but now need to work towards abundance.

• ·      Add maximum value to every gig I do.

"Putting in" more at gigs now, especially at work.

• ·      Have full sensory acuity.

My hearing and Sight are compromised - tints and far sightedness.

• ·      Weigh under 78kg

I weigh around 82kg, which is healthy, but I know that being a little lighter will make me faster and less prone to injury

• ·      Have a strong, flexible, energetic, freely moving body.

I have just suffered so much with two(!) abscesses in my mouth, a true indicator of being run down.

• ·      Am an elite athlete.

I have taken a running lesson, and am becoming a faster runner.

• ·      Live in a 3 dimensional, level three marriage.

I am very happy, but would like to improve the physical side, and be more aware of Lizzie's needs in all things. I need to be supportive, without being her coach or manager

• ·      Am guiding my daughter to a wonderful adulthood.

My aim at the moment is to be a good example and acknowledge her emotions, without taking them on.

• ·      Use my time to maximum effect, for play and work.

I have not been planning weeks, or referring to my goals when I do.  Just floating from thing to thing. 

• ·      Am present.

Still let my mind wander - I miss out on so much!

• ·      Am an agent of change in my workplace.

I am doing my very best to be an example of a good way to run my job.

• ·      Contribute to the society around me both financially and practically.

Still donating financially, and now becoming involved in community soccer and Music

• ·      Have effective promotional material for my band.

I want to have a package that explains the band in a matter of moments

• ·      Have found the resources to finance the things I love, whilst growing my capital.

I always seem to use capital to pay for major things, instead of using the income from the capital. Still need to find effective investments for my capital.

• ·      Have completed my Masters of Music

One thesis to go!

• ·      Am planning an overseas trip for the family.

Keep putting this to the bottom of the list.  Time to move it up!

What amazes me is that progress HAS been made, despite being off the rails.  Having said this, with constant referral to my outcome for 2014, I am sure that things can be even better.

Help

I have been trying to finish a 15000 word Thesis as part of a Masters degree for a long time (18 months).  It has been hard trying to get over the line.

Until today.

Today I asked two friends, each with far more experience in academic matters than I would ever have, for help. And the help flowed forth with such generosity.  I sometime forget that even when working on my own, it is as a result of the help of those around me, and those who went before me.  Every word that I type here today was evolved long before I used it.  Almost all of the things I do use techniques developed by others.  

I might as well keep asking for help.

New Start

Today I went to the doctors.  After lots of prodding, poking and testing, plus a procedure under general Anaesthetic, I was given a clean bill of health (finally).  The feeling was overwhelmingly of relief, and excitement that issue which had preoccupied me for so long was over.

Unfortunately, I was given no reason as to how I became unhealthy, but I can guess that demanding high performance from my body, whilst not nourishing it properly, and sometimes even poisoning it might have had something to do with it.

Yesterday I went to the chiropractor that had got me (I believe) onto a line of cure for various physical issues, using a combination of treatments in her rome, plus some supplements.  I told her that I really felt a sense that I needed to make some dietary changes, and wondered whether a detox was in order.  She muscle tested me (check out kinesiology if you want to find out more), and said that a major detox would just make me sicker.

I have always loved the radical detox in the past, such as the 10 day challenge that one does on the back of Unleash The Power Within, or the 10 day reboot recommended in "Fat , Sick & Nearly Dead", but my body was saying that it needed something else.  In the end I was told to forego gluten, sugar (yes, that includes alcohol) and dairy produce until further notice.  Coincidentally, those are the substances that I overindulged in, especially over Christmas.  I look forward to seeing the results.

I have also decided to exercise at a lower intensity for a month, to give my body some recovery time.  Most importantly, I now have the headspace to tackle other things in my life.

Assessments

As it's a month since I made my goals for theyear, I thought it best to check in on how they are going.

•     Live in a Safe House and Garden, free of clutter

Currently there is a mass of junk, even if it is hiding in storage.  The Garden is full of uncut lumber, and the fences badly need attention.

• ·      Have the financial resources to cover any surprises.

I have at this stage not had to use any debt to cover expenses, so far so good

• ·      Have enacted a financial plan to guarantee financial abundance

I have looked at my assets, and observed how they are performing. Now it is time to see how they can perform better.

• ·      Add maximum value to every gig I do.

I have only had a few gigs, but have remained sober, and prepared the best I could.

• ·      Have full sensory acuity.

My hearing and Sight are still compromised - tinitis and far sightedness.

• ·      Weigh under 78kg

I weigh around 83kg, thanks to a long holiday, but look forward to losing the weight

• ·      Have a strong, flexible, energetic, freely moving body.

My body is strong, but not as flexible as I would like.  Still recovering with my Achilles, but many of my ills have seemed to have gone away! Energy could be better - probably goes along with a diet that helps me lose weight.

• ·      Am an elite athlete.

I seem to manage to come last or second last in every event in which I compete!  Howeve, I wanted to compete so that I could see where I stand with other athletes of my age, and can now prepare for this.

• ·      Live in a 3 dimensional, level three marriage.

I am very happy, but would like to improve the physical side, and be more aware of Lizzie's needs in all things.

• ·      Am guiding my daughter to a wonderful adulthood.

My darling daughter is 12, and growing up so quickly.  It is easy for me to overreact when she acts out emotionally, owing to hormones or other reasons.  She has started High School this year, very successfully

• ·      Use my time to maximum effect, for play and work.

I have planned my week, using RPM.  Look forward to seeing the rewards!

• ·      Am present.

Still let my mind wander - but now I am more aware of it, and am aiming to reduce distractions.

• ·      Am an agent of change in my workplace.

I am making sure that I am doing my job as well as I can, and being positive with other people.

• ·      Contribute to the society around me both financially and practically.

I have already started to become more involved in my daughter's school band program as a volunteer.  Looking to make large financial contributions in general.

• ·      Have effective promotional material for my band.

I want to have a package that explains the band in a matter of moments

• ·      Have found the resources to finance the things I love, whilst growing my capital.

I always seem to use capital to pay for major things, instead of using the income from the capital.

• ·      Have completed my Masters of Music

One thesis to go! Work begins tomorrow, with March 31 as my deadline.

• ·      Am planning an overseas trip for the family.

Keep putting this to the bottom of the list.  Will look at my options this week.

Recovery

After 5 weeks off work, my first day was spent at the dentist's.  Whilst being grateful for the technology that will fix the abscess that has plagued me, I have also been keenly aware of the lack of balance in my life with regards to consumption.

I will never judge another person for their habits, whether they smoke, eat junk, couch sit all day - WHATEVER.  It all just takes away from our journey.  The best thing I can do for anyone is to be healthy, be happy, be wealthy, be helpful.  We have all heard the phrase "Be The change you want to see in the world".  It always made sense, but now it makes sense on a cellular level.

It's funny though how opportunities come our way.  As a result of staggering around being unable to run, my achilles has healed 90%.  Unbelievable.

Also, my face aches whenever I think about unhealthy food (processed, sugar etc.)

Nature is taking care of itself!

How to Achieve 10 out of 10 for Health

Without a doubt, the biggest challenge is health.  If you are unwell, and especially if you are in pain, it is extremely hard to concentrate on anything else.

Since Friday night I have had a tooth abscess, which became excruciating on Saturday.  This coincided with having to pack and drive for 3 1/2 hours back to Sydney.  By the time I got home it was straight off to a doctor for antibiotics and pain relief.  The pain was reduced to a dull roar, and I managed to sleep with a few wakeful periods.  Today the swelling is reduced and I am almost sane again.

How did it happen?

Quite simply, things got out of balance.  Holiday food, holiday drinking have taken their toll.  Despite exercising quite a bit, the ratio of good foods to bad was not good.

Lesson Learnt? This has been a lesson that I have needed to learn for quite some time.  Instead of waiting until I'm sick to adjust my behaviour, it would be better to keep my balance of good food and good habits in the black.

Otherwise its like you're a husband who neglects his wife until she thinks of leaving, or a businessman who lets his concern almost go bankrupt before taking action.

Prevention is far better than cure.

Closeness and Peer Goups

One of the things on which I am working is to have a challenging and inspiring peer group - people who inspire me, are honest with me, don't look at me blankly when I share my outrageous dreams, and who are examples of how I should conduct my life.

This task comes with obstacles.  Firstly, Australia is a large, relatively unpopulated continent, throughout which these people are finely spread (let alone throughout the world!).  Secondly, successful people always seem to be very busy leading their very exciting lives.

Then yesterday I came to the realisation that being close to someone had nothing to do with proximity or time.  It is all to do with being in the same mental and emotional sphere as someone else.  Whenever we feel close to someone it is because we are aligned in some way.  Perhaps it is a common goal.  Sometimes it is the honest sharing of feelings.  Often it is simply knowing that they are pursuing their goals with the same passion as you.

After all, you can sit next to someone on a train or a plane, and not feel close to them at all!  You can be sitting on a couch (or lying in bed) with a loved one and feel lonely.

It just means the pair of you are approximate, but not close!