A lot of people I talk to are scared of taking a year out - because mentally they align it with financial scarcity - i.e. they leave their jobs and they have less money.
For the most part this is true. If we stop work, we earn less.
But we need less too.
I always remind people that the purpose of taking time out is not just to stop working for a while - far from it. The purpose is to actually stop all the things that we do inside of our western existence - making plans far in advance, scheduling everything, eating out all the time, hitting the bars and clubs, or doing a 5 mile run 3 times a week. All of these things are designed to keep us 'up to speed', physically and mentally, with a life of accumulation. But taking time out is about reduction, not accumulation.
What these activities do is increase stress - the mother of all our western diseases.
Once we reward ourselves the luxury of time out, we get to see life from another point of view. We realize that although we earn less, we want less. Although our lives seem less full, we are more complete. And as we live inside of this new, revitalizing context, we realize that in our former 'luxurious' existence, we never truly grasped the concept of luxury.
I'm gonna say something radical here: Luxury has nothing to do with handbags. Or suitcases or hotel rooms.
Taking time out gives you the chance to experience luxury first hand - real luxury I mean. Real luxury is taking a long, slow walk through Central Park on a sunny Monday morning, admiring the intensity of nature, the vibrancy of every living cell on earth.
Luxury is to observe dew melting on a cobweb for ten or fifteen minutes, and marveling at the complexity and perfection of Mother Nature.
Real luxury is free.
Luxury is to view these things with a completely uncluttered mind - with not one person to answer to but your true self, to have not one aspect of your day outside of your own choice.
Real luxury is free, and priceless at the same time.
At the beginning of my year out, 11 months ago, I realized that there was nothing that required speed or freneticism any more. Flow became my natural state. I would glide around problems, saunter through my days, open my laptop and close it exactly when I felt like it, and answer to no one.
I simply moved at my natural pace - I slowed down to the pace of nature.
Ironically, what sprung from that period is one of the busiest times of my life... But here's the thing: From the pace of nature, I connected with my natural, true self. I then expressed my true self professionally, which became Cycle 4.
And as busy as I am now, it just doesn't feel like work. I just completed my fourth 18 hour day in a row and I gotta another one tomorrow, and I can't wait for it.
I am currently writing a blog and a book, developing a property, running a freelance copy writing contract for a global logistics company, training 3 nights per week to lead major personal development seminars, AND launching Cycle 4... To expedite global change.
But it's all cool.
Take a year out to slow down to the pace of nature, distinguish ego & identity from self, and automatically find what you love doing.
And never work another day again...
Luxury defined.
Thursday 29 November 2007
Tuesday 27 November 2007
Day 329 - creating our environment
'Each of us has much more hidden inside us than we have had a chance to explore. Unless we create an environment that enables us to discover the limits of our potential, we will never know what we have inside of us'.
Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus is one of my heroes. His book, Banker To The Poor, was the key inspiration behind my own work in micro philanthropy. His work in micro finance and his ability to empower communities into sustainable patterns of change won him the Nobel peace prize in 2006.
I like to apply this quote to taking time out.
What I experienced during my year out, and the subsequent year out that I am currently enjoying, was a totally new environment.
And insides of that environment, I was able to make many things possible that weren't previously.
Basically, the waking hours of our adult lives are spent at work. Usually working for someone else.
In fact, our entire western school curriculum is geared toward preparing us for employment. But Muhammad Yunus believes, as do I, that our natural state is entrepreneurialism. Context equals content - and it so with our lives. Live your life inside of 'getting to the top of your firm' ensures a life full of mediocre content. Live your life inside of 'anything is possible, let's make a billion and / or save the planet' ensures an exciting white knuckle ride at the very least.
But you'll never discover your contexts and how they might change while you are couped up in an office all hours of the day.
Taking a year out gives you time to re-connect with that inner entrepreneur. Not necessarily to make money - but to create the life that you really want to lead. The kind of entrepreneurialism it awakened in me was social - I want my work to be measured in terms of social change, not money.
By taking time out, you get to view your life from the outside in - to assess where you are at from 'outside the box'.
And what I found is that the contexts in which I was living my life were completely disempowering. My big games in life were 'make a 6 figure bonus', 'buy a Porsche before I am 30' and 'pay the mortgage off by the time I am 35'.
Confused little guy I was.
Taking my first year out gave me time to grow every day. By developing myself, and appreciating the miracles all around me every day, I started to let go of my attachments. I desired less. I loved life more.
My contexts changed to 'heroic global change', 'make poverty history' and 'increase the peace'.
And thus the content of my life changed - everything I do now, every aspect of my life, is geared towards fulfilling my dreams and following my heart.
Cycle 4 continues at pace.
Taking time out, as Yunus says, gives us time to truly explore what we are capable of - and it can be quite scary what we find.
Infinite constellations of potential, mostly...
And then much, much more.
Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus is one of my heroes. His book, Banker To The Poor, was the key inspiration behind my own work in micro philanthropy. His work in micro finance and his ability to empower communities into sustainable patterns of change won him the Nobel peace prize in 2006.
I like to apply this quote to taking time out.
What I experienced during my year out, and the subsequent year out that I am currently enjoying, was a totally new environment.
And insides of that environment, I was able to make many things possible that weren't previously.
Basically, the waking hours of our adult lives are spent at work. Usually working for someone else.
In fact, our entire western school curriculum is geared toward preparing us for employment. But Muhammad Yunus believes, as do I, that our natural state is entrepreneurialism. Context equals content - and it so with our lives. Live your life inside of 'getting to the top of your firm' ensures a life full of mediocre content. Live your life inside of 'anything is possible, let's make a billion and / or save the planet' ensures an exciting white knuckle ride at the very least.
But you'll never discover your contexts and how they might change while you are couped up in an office all hours of the day.
Taking a year out gives you time to re-connect with that inner entrepreneur. Not necessarily to make money - but to create the life that you really want to lead. The kind of entrepreneurialism it awakened in me was social - I want my work to be measured in terms of social change, not money.
By taking time out, you get to view your life from the outside in - to assess where you are at from 'outside the box'.
And what I found is that the contexts in which I was living my life were completely disempowering. My big games in life were 'make a 6 figure bonus', 'buy a Porsche before I am 30' and 'pay the mortgage off by the time I am 35'.
Confused little guy I was.
Taking my first year out gave me time to grow every day. By developing myself, and appreciating the miracles all around me every day, I started to let go of my attachments. I desired less. I loved life more.
My contexts changed to 'heroic global change', 'make poverty history' and 'increase the peace'.
And thus the content of my life changed - everything I do now, every aspect of my life, is geared towards fulfilling my dreams and following my heart.
Cycle 4 continues at pace.
Taking time out, as Yunus says, gives us time to truly explore what we are capable of - and it can be quite scary what we find.
Infinite constellations of potential, mostly...
And then much, much more.
Monday 26 November 2007
Day 328 - lovin' this clip!
Great friend of mine sent me this - Trey Parker and Matt Stone's views on enjoying the journey:
http://www.neticons.net/music_life/
It reinforces my belief that taking my foot off the accelerator in the years where the 'pedal should be on the metal', was the best thing I ever did.
Don't let this hoax happen to you - it's a music thing guys! Taking some time out will go a long way towards making your dance a good one.
BH x
http://www.neticons.net/music_life/
It reinforces my belief that taking my foot off the accelerator in the years where the 'pedal should be on the metal', was the best thing I ever did.
Don't let this hoax happen to you - it's a music thing guys! Taking some time out will go a long way towards making your dance a good one.
BH x
Sunday 25 November 2007
Day 327 - eating the elephant
Question: How do you eat an elephant?
Answer: Piece by piece.
There is a whole world out there that needs changing. Sometimes that can be daunting.
As a general rule, I consider my game around changing the world to begin the minute I wake up with prayers, affirmations and meditations. But practically, I assert one principle throughout my life that will, if practiced every day, do just as much for the human race as Cycle 4 ever will: 'Do unto others as you would have them do to you'.
This was instilled in me by my father, who used to quote Samuel Johnson: 'The true measure of a man is how he treats
someone who can do him absolutely no good.'
And it's still in me today. From the minute I see my paper guy or the milkman, or the rastafarian who smokes large joints and drinks super strength beer on my doorstep, I just love talking to people. It actually takes people aback sometimes - especially when I am in the UK. Everyone here loves being miserable - we're not up to speed as yet with the US's pursuit of happiness.
That kinda stuff - just brightening up someone else's day - ensures a magical ripple effect... As my friend said when we met for dinner on Saturday 'Man! I could smell your stuff the minute I walked in the door!'
I love that small stuff - it's all part of the big change - just tiny contributions to the shift in global consciousness.
But then there's the big stuff.
Whenever I thing about the end result - of a world of literacy, peace, prosperity and equality, I am inspired.
But when I am actually working each day to make change happen, I try not to let my mind wonder from the here and now. Thoughts around the effect are often followed by thoughts of all the work that needs to happen.
And any thoughts of the enormity of the task are completely disempowering.
It's all related to the disease that is western culture. We are addicted to the end result - the destination. The effect. And in order to get there in one piece, we need to enjoy the journey in order to love the destination. We need to love being the cause of that effect... To be the genesis of that eventuality.
Most people's biggest aim in life is retirement. Fact.
And I wish anyone well who is enjoying a retirement that they have worked hard for. But our generation has a greater opportunity. We can create lives we love out of thin air. All the books say the same thing - find what you love doing and pursue it at all costs. That way you never work another day again. You retire from struggle and strife with immediate effect.
This way, retirement is no longer on the agenda - if you love what you do you want to die on the job, no?
So my message is to enjoy being at the source of whatever you are creating - and stop wasting time procrastinating over whether it is possible.
Anything is possible.
Just don't try and eat the elephant all in one go - it ain't gonna happen!
Confucious said: 'A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step'.
Lastly - it's tough finding what you love doing when your working 12 hour days... I didn't find what I loved doing until I took the time out to find myself first...
Take a year out and let your destiny envelope you!
Answer: Piece by piece.
There is a whole world out there that needs changing. Sometimes that can be daunting.
As a general rule, I consider my game around changing the world to begin the minute I wake up with prayers, affirmations and meditations. But practically, I assert one principle throughout my life that will, if practiced every day, do just as much for the human race as Cycle 4 ever will: 'Do unto others as you would have them do to you'.
This was instilled in me by my father, who used to quote Samuel Johnson: 'The true measure of a man is how he treats
someone who can do him absolutely no good.'
And it's still in me today. From the minute I see my paper guy or the milkman, or the rastafarian who smokes large joints and drinks super strength beer on my doorstep, I just love talking to people. It actually takes people aback sometimes - especially when I am in the UK. Everyone here loves being miserable - we're not up to speed as yet with the US's pursuit of happiness.
That kinda stuff - just brightening up someone else's day - ensures a magical ripple effect... As my friend said when we met for dinner on Saturday 'Man! I could smell your stuff the minute I walked in the door!'
I love that small stuff - it's all part of the big change - just tiny contributions to the shift in global consciousness.
But then there's the big stuff.
Whenever I thing about the end result - of a world of literacy, peace, prosperity and equality, I am inspired.
But when I am actually working each day to make change happen, I try not to let my mind wonder from the here and now. Thoughts around the effect are often followed by thoughts of all the work that needs to happen.
And any thoughts of the enormity of the task are completely disempowering.
It's all related to the disease that is western culture. We are addicted to the end result - the destination. The effect. And in order to get there in one piece, we need to enjoy the journey in order to love the destination. We need to love being the cause of that effect... To be the genesis of that eventuality.
Most people's biggest aim in life is retirement. Fact.
And I wish anyone well who is enjoying a retirement that they have worked hard for. But our generation has a greater opportunity. We can create lives we love out of thin air. All the books say the same thing - find what you love doing and pursue it at all costs. That way you never work another day again. You retire from struggle and strife with immediate effect.
This way, retirement is no longer on the agenda - if you love what you do you want to die on the job, no?
So my message is to enjoy being at the source of whatever you are creating - and stop wasting time procrastinating over whether it is possible.
Anything is possible.
Just don't try and eat the elephant all in one go - it ain't gonna happen!
Confucious said: 'A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step'.
Lastly - it's tough finding what you love doing when your working 12 hour days... I didn't find what I loved doing until I took the time out to find myself first...
Take a year out and let your destiny envelope you!
Sunday 18 November 2007
Day 326 - take time out to opt in
In January of this year I chose to down tools, step off the treadmill and do exactly what I wanted to do, every day for 1 year.
On my lengthy commute across London, and in the mirrored skyscraper where I worked, the voices in my head would echo the same cliche over and over again:
'This can't be it. Surely there's more to life than this?'
So I hit the pause button, and resolved to ask myself a different question - every morning for the next 365 days:
‘If today was the last day of my life, would I do what I am about to do?’
If the answer was ‘no’, I would do something else.
The results not only had a profound effect on my life, but on the lives of many other people too.
I actually found myself - not many people can say that - and then, SHOCK HORROR! I actually did something worthwhile with my life.
Something that was solely for the benefit of other people - people that needed my help.
I chose to accept whatever came woven in the pattern of my destiny. And I have concluded that if all western professionals did the same thing - took time out to make a significant contribution - to themselves and to those they could help - the world would be in much, much better shape.
In fact, it might just start to resemble a level playing field again.
'I have just taken a year out'.
It feels so good to say that. The results were astounding - and unexpected... I am fitter than I have ever been, financially stable, involved in work that I love doing and I have total autonomy. Life is really as good as it gets.
In fact things are so good, that I am taking another year out. A little freelance work here and there is all. I need less, desire less, accumulate less... and I am thriving on it.
This blog is a campaign for other people to do the same - to Take A Year Out. Not to sit back and do yoga and meditate, or go see the world, or take strolls in the park - although all of these things are a part of taking time out.
But to Take A Year Out to actually get involved in the world - to really opt in and take a stand for something good - for the Truth.
It's not about a groovy sabbatical - it's about changing the world.
On my lengthy commute across London, and in the mirrored skyscraper where I worked, the voices in my head would echo the same cliche over and over again:
'This can't be it. Surely there's more to life than this?'
So I hit the pause button, and resolved to ask myself a different question - every morning for the next 365 days:
‘If today was the last day of my life, would I do what I am about to do?’
If the answer was ‘no’, I would do something else.
The results not only had a profound effect on my life, but on the lives of many other people too.
I actually found myself - not many people can say that - and then, SHOCK HORROR! I actually did something worthwhile with my life.
Something that was solely for the benefit of other people - people that needed my help.
I chose to accept whatever came woven in the pattern of my destiny. And I have concluded that if all western professionals did the same thing - took time out to make a significant contribution - to themselves and to those they could help - the world would be in much, much better shape.
In fact, it might just start to resemble a level playing field again.
'I have just taken a year out'.
It feels so good to say that. The results were astounding - and unexpected... I am fitter than I have ever been, financially stable, involved in work that I love doing and I have total autonomy. Life is really as good as it gets.
In fact things are so good, that I am taking another year out. A little freelance work here and there is all. I need less, desire less, accumulate less... and I am thriving on it.
This blog is a campaign for other people to do the same - to Take A Year Out. Not to sit back and do yoga and meditate, or go see the world, or take strolls in the park - although all of these things are a part of taking time out.
But to Take A Year Out to actually get involved in the world - to really opt in and take a stand for something good - for the Truth.
It's not about a groovy sabbatical - it's about changing the world.
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