Productivity
Last updated
Last updated
How Can We Live In Constant Productive Bliss?
Big question.
Explore the planning system I created called Atomic Planner that will support your use of cognition for managing big ambitions.
An operating system for the human psyche, the Flower of Being has 7 petals reflecting all aspects of our intent.
An open-ended sevenfold platform for creating harmony and fullness of being, represented as 7 petals on a flower…
The Flower of Being combines spiritual and personal growth with creative expression and human nature.
Our moment to moment CHOICES underpin the DIRECTION of our life which we ORDER to PRIORITIZE our activities in achieving HARMONY upon which we add SYNERGY through collaboration to CONTRIBUTE value.
First, Make A Fundamental Choice
A fundamental choice to focus on reality, honesty, opportunity, responsibility… versus irrationality, negativity and laziness. Truth be told, it’s a hard choice that each of us must face every single day, in almost every moment. Should I or shouldn’t I? Will I or won’t I?
Second, Move In A Clear Direction With Conviction
Clarify your life's meaning, purpose and direction and move in lock-step with your dreams for maximum fulfillment and Productive Bliss. Opening ever more to the wonder and authentic expression of personal value, meaning and significance as you guide your life direction.
Third, Bring Sufficient Order To Any Chaos
Get organized and prepared in all areas of life to capture every opportunity that supports your life direction. Bring order out of the daily chaos of modern life, your computer files, your project ideas, your living space — all ordered appropriately for maximum positive living experience.
Fourth, Pursue Priorities With Passion
Prioritize your self, life, responsibilities, ideas and desires into sensible-sized projects so you can focus on the right things and get them done fast. Identifying the movements and rhythms of life for a natural approach to time management that fullfils your quest to manifest your hearts desires into reality.
Fifth, Bring Harmony To Mind, Body And Spirit
Develop ever more clarity, mindfullness and creative willingness. Control your mind to break through limitations and purify your mind-body connection for creative flow throughout your life. Harmonising mind, body and spirit to eliminate procrastination and confusion while building your capacity for higher performance and success.
Sixth, Synergize With Like-Minds
Achieve and experience more than you can by yourself through collaboration with like-minded people to leverage your own efforts and create a shared experience greater than the individual parts. Feel gratitude and build empathy as we all transition from old world restriction to collectively creating new world freedom.
Seventh, Give Your Gift
Having built up your capacity in each of the previous petals, petal 7 is about giving your gift to the world in whatever field suits you best: science, arts, and/or business. Contribute maximum value in full absorption of pleasurable creativity, achievable only through a strong self-responsible integrity that is developed through all 7 petals.
On grasping this Flower of Being concept, the observant few find themselves opening to a more deeply grounded self.
Nothing is taught here. Only reminded. Everything becomes revealed: from broad basics to piercing specifics, about life, you and the universe.
All principles and techniques you learned before become filtered through your own balance of mind, body and spirit.
Our fundamental focus of CHOICE (Petal 1)) leads to everything that we act, think and feel in order to shape our DIRECTION (Petal 2) of lifestyle, mission and values.
Through ORDER (Petal 3) we shape the landscape of our life and our responsibilities to decide among the available options of experience through PRIORITY (Petal 4) in pursuit of HARMONY (Petal 5 ) to achieve balance that brings us vitality.
Through collaboration and governance we thrive together in SYNERGY (Petal 6), empowered to co-create our CONTRIBUTION (Petal 7) towards improving all human experience.
Let the words of this little book help you gather focus and harmonize thought, feeling and action forever more.
Stress, pressure, disappointments, boredom, or frustration consumes our energy. Not without a certain amount of resentment.
The price of admission includes authenticity and a purity of intention to follow your bliss.
These are heavy thoughts to some. Inspiring to others. Challenging to few.
Wrestle through the contents of this book to unravel your own deepest truths and
Use it like a manual. Building the foundations of productive bliss for yourself. They work.
Put pen to paper.
Reading a book about it is not the same as living it. The real learning is in the doing.
Manifestation requires outward action. You have to be the change you want to see in the world.
The core message of this little book is simple to put in words:
Follow your bliss by living true to yourself in every moment — to the best of your current circumstances.
Work to align and harmonize (a) your values with (b) your priorities and (c) your daily activities.
Reflect on the rightness of your results. Recognise your results as rewards.
You WILL then experience oodles of sustainable productive bliss.
We even have specific, unique, powerful tools and techniques to make it happen. The 7 Ingredients, 6 Life Categories and 10 Daily Habits. And so much more.
However: Stating it does not make it so. Words used to describe an experience are not the experience its self. Reading a book about sky diving is not the same as jumping out of that plane!
The danger of capturing ideas in a book is that they become trapped on your Kindle or on a bookshelf, buried amongst a sea of other ideas.
"Wow, have you read Productive Bliss by Gavriel Shaw?"
"Yeh, I read that one last year. Great isn't it!”
"Oh, did it work for you?"
“Well, I didn’t get round to doing the exercises yet…”
If that happens to you with this book, then I will have failed in my goal of publishing it.
So allow me to speak with you through the pages of this book with directness. I'm not aiming to preach to the choir of self-help junkies. I don't aim to make you feel comfortable about your current life. I don’t want to leave you lethargically inspired. I'm not here to reassure you that everything happens for a good reason... as if that somehow removes your responsibility to act on making things better, and better, and better.
When I first began exploring ways to improve my self and my life, I read all the books, listened to cassette tapes (before the days of mp3) and attended live seminars — fooling myself into believing that information was the best way to create change in my life. How wrong I was.
It took more time than I care to admit until I understood that change entirely depends on action. Deep, patient, mindful, gradual, experimental action.
Productive Bliss has the same requirement.
Treat this book like a manual of actions that build bliss. Not a collection of ideas to inspire. And here’s the biggest tip of all: Don’t just think in your head. That’s the worse place to think! Instead… Think On Paper.
Change and success do not happen by keeping ideas in your head. Writing things down acts as a bridge between the mental world and the physical world. If you’re not used to writing your thoughts on paper, that alone will be a mega-game-changer for you.
Write responses to the topics and questions we cover. Only then will you reap the rewards. A fast-track to sustainable productive bliss.
And I don’t use the word bliss lightly. Nothing less than real productive bliss should be acceptable. I mean it. Sheer, unbridled, exuberant bliss.
So will you pay the price of admission?
Call it journaling or call it brainstorming. Either way: Think. On. Paper.
I discovered productive bliss in my early 20s. The natural bliss of childhood had faded. Life felt complicated in many ways. Then after a big change of circumstances I suddenly felt free and able to pursue my passions. I felt the support of a healthier and happier environment. My mind felt clear. I felt exhilarated… for no specific reason. Colours were brighter. Sounds were richer. Air was fresher. People seemed happier. I felt positive about the future… thankful for the present… free of the past. I felt almost completely stress free. Oblivious to the negativity of the world beyond my walls, yet somehow attuned to the influence I could later have on the world at large.
This episode of productive bliss lasted a full 14 days. What brought me down from those 'natural highs' was a certain negative experience with someone important in my life.
Years later, I realised there was a pattern to the cycles of 'natural highs'. When enough parts of life were sufficiently 'flying in formation' I accessed that zone of bliss. I learned what could sustain it for longer periods of time. And this little book gives you the formula, 20 years in the making.
Step 1: Use this little book like a manual for taking action. Use the questions to reflect and do a bunch of writing. After completing the book, step outside and breathe in some fresh air. Feel the ground rumble beneath your feet, see a shooting star streak across the sky, and recognise the power of your mind to conquer modern life through playful imagination, keen focus, and optimistic action.
Step 2: Use your notes to create your very own customized LifeBinder document. This will give you a modern system for managing productive bliss throughout your life.
Step 3: Participate in the LifeBinder.club network. Exchange best practice tips, encouragement and accountability. The synergy you gain from a support network can exponentially increase your results.
Sustainable productive bliss is up for grabs. May it be yours eternal.
Gavriel Shaw
31st December 2018
You. Deserve. Bliss. Not just temporary pockets of bliss through sex, drugs, or fleeting summer vacations. I mean a bliss that runs deepest to your core. Waking up each morning with a blissful buzz that propels you out of bed like an excited child ready for a day of play. All that enthusiasm for life. That energy, optimism and vitality.
Alas, that childhood bliss fades with age. We settle into the practicalities of every day life and accept circumstances less than our ideal.
Perhaps you focus on a handful of ‘realistic’ hopes, dreams, and chores that get you through each day, each month, each year.
A promotion at work. A new business contract. A relationship challenge. A slightly higher exercise weight. Or a slightly slimmer waist.
It might not be a bad life — but what about bliss?!
Why should we lose even one ounce of childlike enthusiasm as we age? Can we restore our magnificent capacity for life, laughter, and love? Somewhere along the way… and for various reasons… we lose connection between our productivity and our pleasure.
How can productivity be compatible with bliss? Isn't bliss what we hope to experience during down-time… away from the humdrum of work?
Being productive is NOT about ‘getting stuff done’. That’s so dry. Real productivity is doing things that matter! And the more those things matter to us, the more productive we are.
If you spend the entire day with a special family member, making them feel happy, which feels really good to you… that’s a highly productive day! Because it matters to you! It was a valuable, beneficial, good use of your time.
The trick to sustainable productive bliss is getting the right balance between ALL of the various opportunities and responsibilities you have in life, across all of life’s categories. Get that balance right, and life feels really good. Fulfilling. Satisfying. Rewarding. Blissful.
In that way, productivity and bliss are mutually supportive. Progressing towards our big ambitions… serving our core values… and pursuing our purpose. That’s real productivity! And that brings us the most amount of bliss.
Creating bliss becomes our highest form of productivity!
Many people do not feel connection to their deep and meaningful ambitions. Or they feel too much pressure, overwhelm, or disappointment and lose some of their zest for life. They feel unproductive in any really meaningful way. And that's how bliss fades into oblivion.
Taking full responsibility for your bliss may be hard at first. So many things in life are 'unfair'. Bad, uncaring and destructive people do exist. Accidents do happen.
Regardless… over time, through diligence and intention, you can become ever more productive, able to invest more time on whatever matters most to you, thereby expanding your bliss.
What it requires is structure and focus. This book and the LifeBinder System provides structure. The focus will have to come from you. Give yourself permission to wrestle with the material. Tune your mind. Switch off from distractions. Take a deep look at your thoughts, feelings, and actions. This little book can open the floodgates of productive bliss. If you let it.
For some, it's a fun reminder for staying mindful of the positive life direction they're already on.
For others, it requires a certain amount of stress to face certain truths in order to re-adjust life's direction, rekindle the spark of true ambition, and re-awaken the thirst for bliss.
Don’t accept bliss as mere wishful thinking. We need to demand it. Of ourselves, our cultures, our religions. Of our technologies, our politicians, our communities. Our families, our neighbours and friends.
"Either contribute towards my bliss, or get out of my way!"
This book needed to be written because collectively we are avoiding the greatest gift of our modern era. Yes, that gift is Productive Bliss. It's possible. It's entirely practical. It wouldn’t take much change in social focus to bring productive bliss to every man, woman and child. And it begins at home with you.
A bliss that fills your entire being with authentic fulfilment, in reflection of the many wonders of the world — and your place in it.
In the first few chapters you'll learn the seven ingredients of productive bliss and 6 key life categories to plan for.
In later chapters you'll learn the steps and habits for creating and maintaining productive bliss.
Chapter 8 is my favorite chapter. You'll learn the art of 'stretching your emotions' to expand your capacity for bliss.
First, you need to lay the groundwork from all the other chapters before Chapter 8 can be fully understood — so don't you dare skip ahead.
This book asks a lot of questions. Questions take up quite a bit of energy to process. I can't apologise for that. Persist! Your reward for the effort of thinking deeply about your life is real sustainable bliss. Do it right, and you will feel the impact of this little book for many years to come.
Let's get started in Chapter 1 with the 7 ingredients of productive bliss.
Introduction: Why This Book Needed To Be Written
If you’re looking for ‘quick tips and tricks’, this chapter will not satisfy.
We need to go down to the essence of life management. To the level of permanent principles by which to build lifelong productive bliss.
We’ll lay firm foundations on which you can then build your own tailored set of techniques to suit your unique style, needs, and circumstances.
No rigid rules, like ‘wake up at 5am every day’. No simple techniques like ‘write down 5 things you’re grateful for each evening’. No. The 7 ingredients of productive bliss go deeper than tips and tricks. These are principles that give you an almost magical power. Seven essential ingredients by which to create and maintain productive bliss.
Each ingredient is weak on its own. Mix them together successfully and you get a power reactor explosion. Are you ready to experiment? Let’s do this!
Choice is the most fundamental ingredient we have.
Through choice you gain clarity and control on whatever you want to do, have, and become. Choices on what to think about, prepare for, learn, experience, act on and feel. Choices about relationships to nurture, how and when to indulge, how to prepare for the future, how to live in the moment.
Your choices either propel you forward or pin you down. A continuous stream of many choices, both big and small, to reduce negative influence and empower you with positive experience.
Your life experience (for the most part) ultimately depends on that constant stream of choices. To learn, to create, to understand, to contribute, to share, to let go, to enjoy.
What choices have you made recently that support and suppress your productive bliss? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
From choice comes direction. The direction of your life based on your vision for the future. This includes your big dreams, meaningful ambitions, and truest desires that align with your core values.
Ingredient 2 is about clarity of direction across all areas of life. Knowing what way your life needs to go for sustainable productive bliss. To confidently and courageously head in the life direction that you decide is best for you.
And to continuously make micro-adjustments along the way, staying on track with the best opportunities for success, both now and in the future.
Describe the direction your life has taken until now. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Describe the direction you want your life to take for the medium-term future. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
With clarity on the direction you want life to take, the next ingredient towards productive bliss is bringing order to your environment.
This relates to organizing anything necessary to confidently and blissfully move in your chosen direction.
In modern life, we live with pockets of chaos all around us, surrounded by chaotic minds and chaotic hearts, navigating chaotic lives. Your mission is to maintain an orderly environment. This includes both your tangible environment (living space, work area, etc) and intangible environment (relationships, mental attitude, etc). Everything in your environment should exist to help you build sustainable productive bliss.
What do you keep well organized? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What needs to be better organized? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
With a clear sense of direction and an orderly environment, the next ingredient for productive bliss is priority.
This includes managing time, chores, interruptions, project plans, daily schedule, ritual habits, and so on, to allow you maximum concentration on priorities that build bliss.
Disappointments, failures and distractions can lead us to abandon our true priorities. Many people drift through life. They achieve little productive bliss.
Clarifying your priorities and sequencing your activities in time according to priority is vital for sustainable productive bliss.
What are your current priorities? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Which of those priorities are the most productive? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Ingredient 5 for productive bliss is harmony. Mental and emotional harmony built on the ingredients of choice, direction, order and priority.
This is the state of productive bliss.
A deep feeling of harmony with flexible control of your daily experience and a deepening sense of fulfilment.
Similar to the joyous care-free feelings and larger-than-life experiences of early childhood. Harmony comes from re-kindling childhood joys. Nurturing curiosity, wonder, enthusiasm, and openness to the adventure of life. Exploring, learning, striving and creating.
Achieving harmony involves your mind, body and spirit. It's an adventure with risks. You may lose faith,How To Dodge Dogma, and beliefs. You may become alienated from current relationships. You may feel many moments of uncertainty. All this as you become more open to change, opportunity and possibility. Free of narrow-minded bias or old negative beliefs or patterns.
An ongoing process of personal evolution, with your truest sense of identity at the core of everything you do.
Your capacity will get tested. Your ability’s forced to grow. You’ll go through ups and downs as you seek authentic harmony as you build towards sustainable productive bliss.
What could you do that you haven't been doing enough of recently that will make you feel more harmony? For Mind? For Body? For Spirit? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Have you ever been part of a winning team? The thrill of success shared amongst fellow achievers… People who share your values and chosen direction.
Ingredient 6 is about synergising with others to build positive shared experience. Leveraging your own productivity through collaboration with others on a similar path. This may include shared projects, or as a support network or MasterMind Group.
Community projects, business initiatives, entrepreneurial spirits…. each passionate individual benefiting from the synergy of collaborating together in unity. A synergy that spreads out to the collective experience amongst strangers: from the shop keeper to the candle stick maker.
This is productive bliss. Collaborating in different forms to different degrees depending on the situation and your own needs.
These synergies of shared experience give us emotional fuel. Emotional fuel that drives us to become better, contribute more and inspires us to make the most of each day.
This becomes a positive feedback loop of productive bliss. In turn, we achieve greater synergy with people of a similar mindset, wavelength or ‘vibration’.
This can bring us infinite opportunities for a joyful life of friendship, romance, and camaraderie. Crucial for sustainable productive bliss.
Who have you worked well with in the past? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Who do you feel good synergy with in your life at the moment? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What areas in your life are lacking synergy? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
The pinnacle of productive bliss comes not from what we possess, but what we create. Creating things that contribute to our chosen direction, to our loved ones, and to our community at large.
This final ingredient for productive bliss is about your positive influence on the world. Whatever you do to create experiences that people value. This may include:
• Personal services like writing, coaching, or therapy.
• Professional services like sales, business management, or training.
• Physical services such as done by builders, chef’s, drivers, and carpenters.
• The Arts such as design, architecture, or music.
• Science involving robotics, technology, or health.
Whatever it is for you, giving your gift of creation will bring you maximum productive bliss.
What things do you most enjoy contributing to other people? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
How often do you currently do those things? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Take each of those 7 ingredients: choice, direction, order, priority, harmony, synergy and creation. Mix them up. Try different amounts of each. Do taste tests. Find the best combination for you and you will build sustainable productive bliss.
What choices do you need to make, both easy ones and hard ones, that will boost your productivity and bliss? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What new direction do you need to consider or move towards? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What do you need to organise or bring more order to? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What are your current priorities that will build and sustain productive bliss? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What can you do more of and less of to feel greater harmony of mind, body and spirit? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What collaborations will you pursue to achieve synergy’s that elevate productive bliss? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What values can you create for self and others, now and in future, that will bring you bliss? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Back in 1999 I conducted an Internet survey to find out the top frustrations that people felt about their life.
I was surprised to discover that so many issues were repeated from person to person. Could it be that most people are troubled by very similar things?
I sorted all of the lists and grouped everything into general topics:
Spiritual / Creative Contribution: Disorganization, Failures, and Stuckness.
Emotional: Relationships with Others and Self Relationship.
Mental: Intelligence and Character.
Physical: Career, People, Health, Resources (Time and Money), Lifestyle, andSuppression.
You'll find the complete lists of people's life frustrations, along with a visual mind-map of the results, inside the free mini-course via www.lifebinder.club/courses
Since that time I've had the fortune of traveling many parts of the world. Over 35 countries to date. About 8 years total time away from my home town of London. And I came to realize that different cultures share very common ground. Similar hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears and frustrations.
Do a Google search for 'categories of life' and click on 'images'. The variety of what you find is not surprising.
One image shows Maslow's 'Hierarchy of Needs': Physiological > Safety > Belonging > Esteem > Self-Actualisation.
Another shows Career, Health, Personal Development, Friends/Family, Environment, Finance, Romance, Fun/Recreation.
In BlissBinder we use 6 pairs of life category. 2 pairs for each of three realms of life: physical, mental, and emotional.
For the physical realm: Lifestyle/Environment and Health/Hobby.
For the mental realm: Business/Creativity and Intelligence/Awareness.
For the emotional realm: Relationships/Family and Spiritual/Harmony.
Each item of each pair closely relates to the other item, but they are not the same. Similar but not synonymous. Such as 'intelligence' and 'awareness'.
Descriptions are below. Take this as an opportunity to reflect on how they apply to your current life experience. For each topic, consider:
• Do you spend much time thinking about it? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
• How do you currently feel about it? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
• Are you productive in that area? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
• Are you blissful in that area? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
This is the category of your general living conditions. Lifestyle is how you live. Environment is the surrounding circumstances in which you live your lifestyle. This can include your home, your town, your cultural community, and the gadgets you have or the hangouts you frequent.
What do you surround yourself with from day to day?
Do you enjoy your space? Your bedroom? Your kitchen?
Have you made it homely enough to feel it's contribution towards both your productivity and your bliss?
Are there things that need to change?
How much effort or time or money is required to make those changes?
Under what circumstances could you or would you make those changes?
Are there any changes to act on now?
Make Notes: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
A combination of physical health and practical hobbies that serve our overall wellbeing. Any hobby could fit into this category. Baking. Biking. Bungee Jumping.
What hobbies can you maintain that will support your overall health and wellbeing?
Make Notes: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Your form ofCreativity may or may not have anything to do with ‘business’ per se. Some of your creativity may happen through your work. Some may happen at the weekends home alone in your garage. The connection between ‘business’ and ‘creativity’ is value. Building something of value for your self, or contributing something of value to others.
What is your creative drive?
What interests you enough to invest a large portion of your time into, either to earn a living, or contribute to other people through your efforts?
Where does your art become your gift?
Where does your work become your play?
Where does your hard-nosed business focus give you the chance to learn, explore, build and provide?
What activities do you do, or would you do, for business and/or creativity?
Make Notes: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
This is the category of 'thoughtfulness'. It includes sensitivity and empathy towards others. It includes mindfulness of your own behaviour, choices, and habits. It includes your beliefs, views and perspectives about how the world works. It includes learning and reflection.
What are the things you do that aid your intelligence and awareness towards greater productivity and bliss?
What are the possible gaps in your intelligence and awareness?
What are you curious to learn more about?
Make Notes: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
This includes relationships that are part of your emotional environment despite physical distance.
Productive Bliss without relationships to share it with is unsustainable. We need people to share with. It's vital that we build and maintain the types of relationship that add emotional fuel to the fire of our pursuits. Choose your friends wisely. Invest time sharing with them.
What do you like and dislike about your current relationships?
In what ways do your current relationships affect your productivity and bliss? (both positively and negatively).
What kinds of relationship would best support your productive bliss?
Make Notes: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
This category is about your assertiveness towards living true to yourself, and your level of harmony between mind, body, and spirit.
What do you do to nurture harmony?
How harmonious are you from day to day at this phase of your life?
What reduces your harmony?
What could you do, both easy things and more challenging things, that would increase your degree of harmony?
What are your spiritual pursuits and activities?
Make Notes: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Pairing life categories together in this way will help you manage your lifestyle to more easily and efficiently support productive bliss.
And of course, all experiences are connected. Our physical sensations connect to the experience of our mind and emotions. Every mental experience has a physical and emotional component. And so on.
Printable templates are available inside Module 2 of the free mini-course at www.lifebinder.club/courses. Print it, fill in the activities you want to stay mindful of for each category, and stick it up on your wall.
Your templates will help you stay mindful of your priorities, hobbies, interests and pursuits. Be sure to update it from time to time so it remains fresh and relevant to the evolution of your life.
It was only a week since passing the basic motorcycle road test that I started out on a winter road-trip in late 2014. I was new to the bike. New to long-distance road-trips. New to central European roads. Truth be told, I was new to biking and not skilled in any way for a long-term trip.
Biking involves a lot of new habits to learn. Bike maintenance. Luggage packing. Riding skills. It became easier and easier as each day of my 3-month road trip around France, Belgium and Germany progressed. Good habits had to be learned quickly. Conscious efforts soon became automatic habits. Bad habits had to be stamped out. On a bike trip; safety and comfort are paramount.
Plenty has been written elsewhere on the subject of habit formation. In short, building the automatic habits of productive bliss needs a fair bit of commitment. You really have to want it. You need to reach with discipline and passion.
Before we explore the 10 habits of productive bliss, here’s a nice exercise to start on the right foot of reviewing current habits. Jot down a list of both your good and bad habits for each of the six life category pairs:
My good habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current bad habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
My good habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current bad habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
My good habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current bad habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
My good habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current bad habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
My good habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current bad habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
My good habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current bad habits __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Well done for doing that exercise. It's easier to just skim-read it and think 'yeh ok I get the idea'. You won't build the disciplines, focus, sensitivity, or neural circuitry for productive bliss that way.
By doing the exercises you are building the mental muscles needed to create and sustain productive bliss. Mull over the nuances of your current life experience by thinking on paper to ferret out all details.
Now let's explore the 10 habits that contribute to sustainable productive bliss.
Get up on the right side of bed
The way you wake up impacts your entire day. Choose rituals that give you the best possible start. It may include meditation, morning walks, a healthy breakfast, reviewing your schedule, getting up at a specific time, or journaling positive affirmations for the day. Taking control of your productive bliss depends on how well you control the start of your day.
Be clear on key milestones at all times
Having a really easy way to review all of your key project milestones will be the lubricant of sustainable productive bliss. Having site of your targets adds motivation and makes progress easier.
How I currently start my day: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
How I could start my day: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
You'll only feel fulfilled when you make space for awesomely positive emotions. Multiple times each day, take pause from your busy schedule to recognize and reflect on progress you make.
Even go so far as to schedule times when you'll tune into your positive emotions based on the flow of productivity. Perhaps at the very start of your day. During a mid-morning break. At the start of lunch. And so on. All the way through your day. Micro-moments to recognize your progress with a moment to feel good about it. Do the same on longer time frames. Social events. Birthdays. New Years Eve. Etc.
Add the conscious intention to enjoy your achievements in multiple ways throughout your life. This builds the experience of sustained productive bliss.
I currently recognise myself for progress made by: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Every day you'll need a way to give yourself a firm but fair kick up the backside when you find your self getting lazy. This needs to become an automatic habit to help stop your old patterns of laziness from sabotaging your long-term success.
Step 1: As a first step, when you realise you’re doing something lazy, simply state it out loud. Recognise it. Feel guilty about it. Feel disgusted by it. That negative emotional fuel will help propel you into positive intention and action.
Step 2: The second step is to simply ask yourself what you could do to break this moment of laziness. Visualize yourself taking that action.
Perhaps standing up would be enough of a trigger to break the lazy spell. Perhaps it would be putting on your running shoes. Perhaps it would be spreading out the ingredients of a healthier meal across the kitchen top. Perhaps it would be closing the laptop lid so you can regain mindfulness of your body and environment to move and do something different.
What forms of laziness do you need to manage? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Ask friends, family, colleagues or even loose acquaintances for feedback. Other people’s feedback may often irritate the heck out of you. Feedback is food for thought. It can help you discover opportunity’s for change. Be tolerant enough to receive feedback. Be graceful and grateful for input. Sometimes someone will have very valid and helpful feedback.
More important than the feedback you get, is the shift in attitude you develop by being open. Stop hiding, being defensive or thinking that other people can't relate. Confiding in others will help you feel more connected to your own priorities and choices.
If confiding in people feels like a struggle, that's all the more reason to develop it as a habit. Experiment to see how it impacts your productivity and bliss over time.
What opportunities for getting feedback can you make better use of? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Distractions are a subtle negative force that restrict the flow of both productivity and bliss. Bringing strong emotion to bare on the habits of distraction will help create new habits of focus and control.
Step 1: First, make a list of things that distract you from productive bliss.
Step 2: Then, find appropriate ways to get mad at the distractions. Make it a kind of game. Speak to the distractions. Tell them you're going to eliminate their negative influence.
Find ways to get angry with distractions and it becomes easier to avoid those distractions in the future.
What distractions do you need to get mad at? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Modern life has so many sources of input. Our obsession with communication devices has consequences. We become susceptible to habits of hyper-active flitting from one input to another. TV. Social Media. Music. Circles of superficial friends. All this affects our ability to focus and concentrate on our own priorities for long periods of time.
Productive bliss depends on rugged focus. Therefore, focus needs to become a trained habit.
What do you do to be productive that requires a good ability to focus? My productive activities that require good focus: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What do you do for bliss that requires good focus? My bliss-inducing activities that require good focus: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Make a list of exercises to train your ability to focus. This may include ‘closing your eyes and imagining the shape of a triangle’. Do a google search for ‘techniques to improve focus’.
My focus-training exercises: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Practice. Develop. Get better. Improve. If you are distracted, see habit number 6 above!
Productive Bliss depends on copious amounts of good energy. Exercise energizes the body. Therefore, exercise directly contributes to your capacity for productive bliss. Exercise every day. No excuses! Just 20 minutes per day can be incredibly invigorating. 10 minutes per day can keep you healthy.
Two of my favorite types of exercise are weighted bag routines, and jumps.
Weight bag exercises train the whole upper body. They're versatile, very effective, and fun.
Jumping exercises work the lower body. Tuck Jumps are my favorite because they get the job done fast. 10 tuck jumps with a break, repeated a few times and you will definitely be ‘in the zone’. Strengthening legs stimulates testosterone, a vital hormone for productive bliss.
Search for instructional videos on YouTube for both weighted bag exercises and jumping exercises. Spend a while reviewing different videos for instruction and inspiration.
I can do a very good full body workout in as little as 10 minutes. Seriously. Do this daily and you will definitely feel better in your body, leading to more productive bliss.
By the way, do not over exert yourself! Seek medical advice if you want clarification on suitable exercises for your condition. Build up slowly. Learn how to stretch your body before and after exercise. Aim to feel stimulated by exercise, not exhausted.
Make a list of exercises to train your ability to focus. This may include ‘closing your eyes and imagining the shape of a triangle’. Do a google search for ‘techniques to improve focus’.
My energising exercise repertoire can include: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Like stretching out your legs before exercise, or warming up your voice before singing, your emotions also need to be stretched. This is a huge topic which we'll cover in Chapter 8.
The final habit of building productive bliss is also a vital one. The way you go to bed affects your experience the next day.
Get to bed at a good time. Don't eat too close to bed time. Give yourself a chance to unwind. Take the opportunity to tune in to your sense of bliss and reflect on the positives of the day. Find peace and breathe gratitude throughout your body.
Practice balanced breathing for a few minutes: 5 seconds inhale, 5 seconds exhale.
Acknowledge yourself for the efforts and progress made in the day.
If something negative is on your mind, note it down in a journal for future processing. If anything often disturbs your thoughts at night time, it's an obvious sign you need to work on it. Invest extra time focusing on that issue to resolve it or find peace with it. Schedule that as part of your day.
Going to bed correctly is about harmonizing mind, body and emotions to close off the current day. It will prepare you for getting up on the right side of bed in the morning.
What’s your best approach to going to bed correctly? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Develop all 10 of these habits in your own unique way and you'll soon begin to feel command of your destiny for sustainable productive bliss.
In your notebook, on paper or in your LifeBinder document, identify your current challenge with each habit and what you do to win.
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Current challenge: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What I can do to win: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Cut the crap. That's right. That's the secret sauce to productive bliss. You know exactly what I mean. All the excuses. All the laziness. Accepting less than you can do, less than you can be, less than you are. Allowing circumstances, past or present, to get the better of you. There is no substitute for occasionally giving yourself a firm motivating kick up the back side.
If you do not have a clear plan of projects, defined key milestones and clear next action steps, there is one very simple solution. Just do it! It doesn’t matter if you use a notebook, scrap paper, or a computer text file — or some fancy mind-mapping software.
Give yourself time and space to focus and write out a long wishlist of projects, milestones and steps. Project lists can include:
• Ideas for the future.
• Currently active projects.
• Things started but unfinished.
Identify key milestones for each project you deem worthy of investing your time and attention on. Milestones are significant points of progress. They help clarify the big picture of what a project will involve.
Next, break down each milestone into specific physical action steps required to achieve them.
Because clarity is power. Clearly defining project details empowers you to make progress effectively and efficiently.
If you haven't had that experience in your life as yet, give it a whirl. Chances are you already know what I mean. Plan your work. And work your plan. Don't accept the laziness of not having clarity on important projects.
Treat ‘sustainable productive bliss’ as your most important project. It is. Plan your approach to achieving productive bliss. Major milestones. Physical action steps. Don’t settle for less.
Let's take an example of a simple project. Oh I don't know… how about; writing a book like this one. My project is: 'write and publish the book Productive Bliss'.
• Write
• Edit
• Design
• Publish
• Promote
Identifying the key milesones of a project involves strategic thinking. Identifying the action steps are the nitty-gritty details that actually get the job done.
Consider some of the action steps required to fulfil the 5 milestones for producing this book:
Write:
• Write the contents list.
• Write first draft ideas for each chapter.
• Write the Introduction
Edit:
• Edit each chapter draft including research to add details, facts, and references.
• Get critiques from non-fiction writers.
• Get an editor to help tidy it up.
Design:
• Get a designer to do cover art.
Publish:
• Use writing software to prepare and compile the Kindle ebook file.
• Do a final proofread.
• Publish to Kindle (and consider other platforms).
Promote:
• Find book review groups to introduce the book to.
• Write a press release.
• Outreach to journalists with the press release.
You get the idea. Within just a few minutes I have a fairly reasonable plan for a very significant project.
By building a project outline you'll work through any areas of doubt or confusion. Identify them for further research and consideration. You'll end up with a quality check-list that will help you get the project done effectively and efficiently.
Projects can feel daunting, and thus block bliss. Take a moment to plan and clarify the details of important projects. Excuses not accepted.
What are the major milestones of building productive bliss?
They’re right here in this book:
Absorb the 7 ingredients into your general awareness.
Use the 6 life-category pairs to create templates for lifestyle management.
Develop and strengthen the 10 habits of productive bliss.
Take the Productive Bliss mini-course (available at www.lifebinder.club/courses) to help consolidate the learnings from this book
Progress on to the Full Access course and create your LifeBinder document.
Participate in the LifeBinder network.
Get used to ‘thinking on paper’
In my professional work as a marketer, I worked freelance, as a consultant, and been employed by companies both large and small. I noticed two trait in many people that help define their success. Patience and Diligence.
Unfortunately, many of us become so pressured to succeed that we cut corners in so many ways. Or we somehow fool ourselves into thinking that we already know enough details to make quality progress. There is definitely a fine art to balancing quality preparation vs getting stuck with analysis paralysis. Those who prepare well with patience and diligence are far more likely to succeed in a big way.
I’m reminded of this age old nugget of wisdom. “Measure twice. Cut once.”
It means, take time to accurately determine the best way to do something to ensure you do not have to re-do the work. Measure what you intend to do twice to double check accuracy. Then you’ll hopefully only have to do the cutting one time to get it right.
Often this requires looking outside of our current bubble. Taking in fresh input from external sources.
We can also see things the other way. Perfectionism kills progress. Trying too hard to get things perfect the first time means that we may procrastinate, or delay our progress.
That’s why the secret sauce of this chapter is ‘cut the crap’. It’s not ‘make a plan’. It’s not ‘try harder’. It’s not any one of a hundred possible nuggets of wisdom.
While all that wisdom is useful, a deeper wisdom comes from discernment. A rugged willingness to recognise truth from fiction, reality from fantasy.
Learn to ‘cut the crap’ by staying focused, asking lots of questions, and working towards an effective and efficient plan of action.
Cutting the crap is the only way to sustain productive bliss.
Some people set New Year Resolutions. Some do Previous Year Reviews. Many take up journaling. Yet most people lack a structured overview of their values, ambitions, achievements, and influences. They have no way to review priorities, statuses, reminders, or motivators in a truly comprehensive way.
The ultra-successful go the extra mile. They take LOTS of time out from a normal schedule to craft a grand master plan covering all categories of life. They attend retreats, mastermind groups, or escape someplace in solitude. And they do it regularly.
Not just a daily to-do list. Not just a list of active projects. Life Reviews of various kinds that help energize, prioritize and harmonize all parts of life. Doing regular reviews are vital for sustainable productive bliss.
This is the role of the REVIEWS section of the LifeBinder system. It contains 5 sections: Journal, Daily Achievements, Life Compass, Mood, and Life Line.
Let’s take a peak.
Since the late 90s when I began publishing programs on productivity I gave one very strong, no-compromise tip: Think On Paper.
If you ever feel ‘stuck’ about something, or want to plan something out, think about it ‘on paper’ — meaning: ‘write out your thoughts’.
Thinking 'in your head' has limitations. Thinking on paper, or in a computer file, frees up the minds capacity for focus and creativity.
It helps with everything. From personal problems, to professional projects, to finding the meaning of life, and healing old traumas.
I’ve seen people transform in a matter of hours simply by getting them to sit down, open up, and write out what’s on their mind. They resist, they say it’s silly, they think they have nothing much to write down. But once they begin, the floodgates open and out it all comes from the deepest recesses of their mind.
I highly, highly recommend that you Think On Paper as part of your tool-kit for productive bliss. As recommended in the Foreword of the book. Call it journaling.
I like to do both paper and computer journaling. I find it a rewarding and centring exercise whenever I do.
The LifeBinder document contains a section for Journaling.
Whenever you feel the urge, jot down thoughts that are currently on your mind. Note the current date.
Try not to filter. You're not writing it for public view. It can be a disjointed ramble of deep dark secrets that are in the back of your mind. It's helpful to get them written down. Pen and paper or a notebook works very well. Or use the section provided in the LifeBinder document.
Next section…
One of the nicest ways to add some bliss to your day is keeping a record of your daily achievements. Not only does it serve as a moment to reflect on success, but you can refer to it in the future to behold the long string of achievements you’ve made.
It may seem a little silly at first, like giving yourself a ’gold star’ for good work, but it works. Your brain benefits from the frequent experience of recognition and reward.
Keep a section in a notebook special for the daily ritual of recording a key achievement for the day. Best yet, use the section in your LifeBinder document.
Recognise your achievements by noting them down. Aim for at least one worthy achievement each day. First prize if you aim for making a noteworthy achievement before noon each day.
Record it. Feel good about it.
Review your achievements list from time to time. It will help inspire and motivate you.
Next…
Imagine setting sail on a voyage with no compass onboard the ship. Or driving without a GPS system.
In the future the same question will be asked about the direction of people’s lives…
They’ll say: “Imagine a time when people didn’t have a reliable life compass. Just think how aimless some people were, and how difficult it was to successfully navigate all of the opportunities of life”.
Use the Life Compass to create a long-range vision of sustainable productive bliss. Build a vision of your future across all 6 life categories we explored in Chapter 2. Kind of like long-range goal planning.
How do you want things to be in the future for each life category pair?
Lifestyle/Environment: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Health/Hobby: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Business/Creativity: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Intelligence/Awareness: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Relationship/Family: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Spiritual/Emotional: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
I also recommend categorising them as 'do', 'have, 'be'. Things you want to do. Things you want to have. Things you want to be.
Your LifeBinder document helps make it easy, and beautiful, and records it all for future use.
Maintain your LifeCompass by adding to it or removing from it as your life evolves.
Every so often (I suggest weekly at first, then monthly) review your Life Compass while asking yourself questions like these:
What experiences do I envision for my future that would give me the most amount of sustainable productive bliss?
What changes would exist in my future experience compared to my current circumstances that would add to my productive bliss?
Does my current Life Compass reflect my best vision of sustainable productive bliss across all six categories of life?
What’s missing? What else can I add? What other experiences should be here? What have I dreamed of doing, having or being in the past that still align with my best vision for the future?
Use the 3 templates for The Categories of Life as mentioned in Chapter 2 for your LifeCompass. The PDF’s are available for print inside the free mini-course on Productive Bliss available at www.lifebinder.club/courses.
Use one set of printouts for your current activities, and use another set of printouts for your future vision (the LifeCompass). I also highly recommend using the LifeCompass section of your LifeBinder document.
This might seem like quite a bit of work. As soon as you print out the templates you’ll see how easy it is. Just go for it. Give yourself the gift of a Life Compass.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your general mood?
1 being ‘moody’ (miserable, irritable, anxious) and 10 being a really, really good mood (joyful, light-hearted, optimistic).
My current mood is __ out of 10. __
My general day to day mood is __ out of 10. __
In the LifeBinder System we use 8 groups of emotion to help define the parameters of mood.
• Negative emotional groups: Pressure, Overwhelm, Frustration, Disappointment
• Positive emotional groups: Equanimity, Wonder, Exhilaration, Love
Note: Equanimity is defined as ‘steadiness, calmness and composure’.
This grouping isn’t meant to be pin-point accurate, as each persons emotional experience is different. Here is a list of emotions that may tend to fit into the 8 given categories. For you, some of the emotions may fit better under a different category.
Equanimity
Wonder
Exhilaration
Love
Compassion
Confident
Comfortable
Contentment
Fulfilled
Freedom
Harmony
Peaceful
Safety
Satisfied
Relaxed
Serenity
Abundant
Joy
Interested
Optimistic
Anticipation
Awe
Euphoria
Inspired
Wise
Aroused
Enthusiasm
Hopeful
Energized
Excited
Motivated
Entertained
Ecstasy
Passionate
Productive
Powerful
Proud
Strong
Successful
Wealthy
Attractive
Love
Happy
Connected
Grateful
Pressure
Overwhelm
Disappointment
Frustration
Anxious
Fearful
Guilty
Intimidated
Pressure
Uncertain
Unfulfilled
Unworthy
Worried
Abused
Ashamed
Confused
Drained
Dread
Embarrassed
Helpless
Hopeless
Humiliated
Inadequate
Inferior
Insecure
Overwhelmed
Demotivated
Unsupported
Vulnerable
Worthless
Worn Out
Alone
Bored
Depressed
Deceived
Disappointed
Disconnected
Discouraged
Empty
Exhausted
Grief
Lonely
Numb
Hurt
Passive
Rejected
Remorse
Sad
Unloved
Unsatisfied
Annoyed
Angry
Concerned
Disgust
Envy
Frustration
Greed
Impatient
Hate
Loathing
Moody
Rage
Resentment
Revenge
There are many good and bad emotion lists to be found on Google. Reading a few can help you get in touch with your current emotional patterns.
Monitoring your mood will help replace bad emotions with good emotions.
To get started, make a list of experiences that currently, regularly or intensely make you feel each of those 8 types of emotion:
What makes me feel:
Equanimity? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Wonder? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Exhilaration? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Love? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Pressure? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Overwhelm? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Frustration? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Disappointment? __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
If you struggle to list any experiences in your life for all 4 positive emotions, you definitely have some work to do. Dig deep. Research those emotions. Find articles or YouTube videos about them.
Same for the 4 negative emotions. You should be able to find at least one experience for each of the 4 negative emotions. Even if they have a very low intensity or minimal effect on your mood. To sustain productive bliss its important to understand your emotional composition.
Once you’ve listed out the experiences you relate to for each emotion, give each experience a rating from 1 to 5 for the intensity of the emotion it gives you.
For example: I love chocolate cake. I also love snowboarding. I would rate chocolate cake as a 2 for the intensity of love it gives me. I would rate snowboarding a 6. I feel wonder about the technological future we seem to be approaching (I score that right now at a 7). You get the idea.
Next, reflect on the overall net effect that ALL of the listed experiences are currently having on your life. That summary should indicate your general current mood.
Your general mood is a direct reflection of sustainable productive bliss. If you score a 3 or 4, chances are you are not feeling productively blissful. Score a 6 or 7 on the mood scale, and chances are you do relate to feeling productively blissful.
To help change your mood, identify experiences to repeat or do more often. Identify experiences to replace or eliminate by making changes in your life.
LifeBinder makes all this easy.
How long do you want to live?
A bit of a strange question perhaps. Not something we generally like to think about.
I was first asked that question at 16. I discovered that scientific advancements could expand our lifetimes by hundreds of years. Wow!
There are many hurdles to overcome and this book isn’t the place to discuss radical life extension. However, a long and healthy life gives us the most opportunity for productive bliss.
Make a note of how many years of age you currently think it would be good to live for.
.
Use that number and your current age to work out how many more years you have until you reach that age.
.
Use the following formula to determine what percentage of that projected lifespan you have lived so far.
Current Age / Projected Age __ 100__
For example: If your current age is 40 and your projected lifespan is 130, the calculation would be:
40 / 130 __ 100 = 30.8%__
The % figure you calculate represents the portion of your projected life expectancy you have lived so far.
The point of doing this is to help appreciate how short life is to help motivate you to make the most of it. Feeling the preciousness of life expands our capacity for sustainable productive bliss.
Let’s take this a step further.
Make a long list of all the years of your life. One row per year. You might do that on a spreadsheet. Best yet, use your LifeBinder document in the LifeSpan section.
Next, note down key highlights and important memories from every single one of the years you have lived so far. As each year passes, add a few more highlights to each years row.
And there you have it. Five ways to review your life. Each one will help you develop clarity and control. Work on it and you'll grow your capacity for sustainable productive bliss.
Let me guess…
The 5 exercises above seem like hard work, a little confusing, and very time consuming? Something to do 'some day', but not urgent... given everything on your plate right now. Would you prefer to read on to the next chapter to absorb yet more ideas and information?
If that's how you feel, please stop right there. Go back and re-read the Foreword and the Introduction. Then come back here and actually make the effort to do these 5 reviews.
On paper, in a computer text file, or using your LifeBinder document.
These 5 reviews WILL make you feel a buzz of curiosity and accomplishment. And they are very important for building sustainable productive bliss.
Don't let the little demons of distraction tell you to skip the exercises. Conquer those little critters and go grab a piece of paper or pen right now. Give yourself a chance to experiment. Make those lists for Daily Achievements, Life Compass, Mood and LifeLine.
Why 'productivity' and 'bliss' are not contradictory states of experience — and you deserve the best of both
I'm writing this from seat 11E before takeoff on a flight to London. It's New Years Eve 31st December 2018. Time to reflect on 2018 and work on my vision for 2019. To save the world or savour it...
One of my favorite quotes comes from E B White: "I wake up each morning not knowing whether to savour the world, or save it. This makes it hard to plan the day".
'Savouring' (tasting, indulging, experiencing) versus 'saving' (protecting, fighting for, standing up for).
Those two experiences may seem very far apart.
Just like productivity might seem very far apart from bliss.
Yet, if you've ever felt really passionate about a project or fulfilled by your work, you know that productivity and bliss go hand in hand.
In fact, you can never feel fulfilled if you do not feel productive. Similarly, you will never live up to your productive capacity if you do not feel bliss from life.
I've seen it countless times. People slave away at careers yet feel isolated, vulnerable, dissatisfied or bored both in and out of work. While others live a life of materialism, hedonism, indulgence... yet remain unfulfilled.
So to E B White I would say: Do both, my friend! Save the world and Savour it.
Find the connection between a struggle to improve life and indulgence to enjoy life. That's the formula for sustainable productive bliss in a nutshell. Improve life while enjoying the journey. Put maximum effort into both. Find the right balance as suitable for your authentic self and circumstances.
Productivity and bliss. Saving the world and savouring it. Working and playing. Two sides of the same coin.
They may happen at different moments however. Moments of absolute selfless concentration... and fully ego-centric self-indulgence.
Productive Bliss isn't a single static experience. It's a spectrum of experiences that span a range of momentary possibilities.
From left to right we have a range of experiences relating to bliss, low to high. From bottom to top we move from low productivity to high. In this way we have boxes of different levels of both productivity and bliss.
I've filled in a few examples. For you it may be different.
High Productivity with low bliss includes 'Deep Creative Concentration'. Why is this located in the 'low' bliss box? In our creative state we can become so absorbed that we lose awareness of our self. Thus we are not aware of any sense of bliss. We 'become' the task at hand. Ego or I-ness disappears. We are fully immersed in the creative process.
Once our concentration breaks and we are aware of our self again, we may get back to a state of bliss. This may happen because we reflect on progress made. Perhaps while editing or putting finishing touches on good work.
When we complete significant goals or hit major milestones. Our productivity in those moments is 'high' and we're aware of how great our accomplishment is. Hence the High Bliss boxes of Shared Reviews, Key Milestone Achievements, and Reaching Big Goals.
Don't expect to feel super productive and super blissful at the same time — all the time. Don't burn yourself out 'being productive'. Find your rhythm. A mix of work, rest and play.
In 2018 I realised I had fallen into the trap of being a workaholic. Too much striving for contribution and success. Too little time invested on my own sense of harmony and bliss. Things had to change.
And so I set about regrouping all of my own previous programs on productivity that I first began publishing in 1998. I reviewed notes gleaned from various experts of productivity, books I have benefitted from over the years. Permanent principles and temporary techniques for life improvement.
Once I got into it, the LifeBinder system began to take shape.
It was a time mixed with a lot of personal anguish, frustration, stress and strain. Reminding myself of past successes and failures. Feeling disappointed at myself for previous bouts of laziness and lost opportunity. Sorting through all my old notes.
I needed the LifeBinder technique for my self! A new modernised approach to productivity that could help bring me back into harmony. Finding balance between saving the world and savouring it.
I discovered a new software platform for highly flexible document creation. It works a bit like a Word file with data management features (like an Excel spreadsheet). Combining them together in an easy-to-use tool.
And so LifeBinder was born.
It contains 4 areas:
• Projects
• Bliss Hacks
• Ideal Day
• Reviews
Each area has 4 or 5 sections.
To manage your approach to productive bliss, you could try using any document software such as Google Docs. But I recommend not missing out on the power of LifeBinder. It has many features that make it unique and effective beyond any other approach to productivity management. It's available via www.lifebinder.club/system
NOTE: There is a LOT of work involved with each of these areas. Trying to do this on paper or with normal computer files will probably feel overwhelming, messy and frustrating. For the time being, just read over them to get the idea of how they work. Then hopefully you’ll make the decision to build it all the easy way using your own LifeBinder document.
Let’s take a look inside.
Here’s where to record a full list of project ideas you want to work on.
You’ll need sections for Milestones
And Actions.
I also recommend some form of KanBan tool. Trello is very popular. The official LifeBinder document has all this built into it ready for use.
Specify each milestone with the following types of ‘mental movement’ that each requires:
Plan — brainstorming ideas and preparing your approach to tackle a project or milestone.
Create — this ‘mental movement’ is when you are most creative. Such as writing, building, or producing whatever the outcome of your project is.
Operate — this is a catch all category for anything that does not fit best in the other four categories.
Learn — here’s where you specify time required to learn new things or practice new skills.
Reflect — This can include general mulling things over, or nit-picky data analysis. Anything for your project or milestone that requires assessment to help guide it to a fruitful outcome.
If you have a hard time managing all of the many project ideas you wish you could control, chances are you will love using the new LifeBinder document.
It includes an easy way to record, adjust, filter and visualise all of your projects, milestones and activities.
Inside this area are 4 sections:
Keep a short list of positive daily habits that will increase your productive bliss. You may find it useful to use it as a daily checklist to stay mindful by tracking progress as the habit gradually becomes easy and automatic.
Delta means change. In this section we capture experiences that are negatively affecting our sense of productive bliss. Things we need to change for the better.
Step 1: Record the experience that feels negative.
Step 2: Categorize each negative experience as either FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt), Vice or Distraction.
Step 3: Specify what triggers each negative experience.
Step 4: Identify what change is required mentally or physically to reduce or eliminate each experience
Step 5: Pinpoint some key actions (enablers) that would help you move towards that change.
Step 6: Measure the progress over time until the negative experience on productive bliss is eliminated.
Easier said than done. The LifeBinder document helps make it as easy as possible.
For each life category pair (as per Chapter 2) write out meaningful positive affirmations that feel believable and achievable.
Read over them from time to time and feel the rightness of each one. This can act as a gradual motivation booster if nothing else.
At best, your commitment to each positive affirmation will help accelerate productive bliss.
Rituals are patterns of behaviour or processes that we can use to create desired outcomes.
Step 1: Identify the ritual, such as ‘exercise routine’, ‘meditative routine’, ‘life review’, ‘monthly banking’.
Step 2: Specify the physical action steps required for each ritual.
Step 3: Identify the triggers of each ritual for when the ritual becomes relevant. For example. Perhaps your meditative routine ritual is best done after your morning tea. Morning tea is therefore the trigger for that ritual.
Step 4: Identify the frequency for each ritual. Some may be daily. Some may be monthly. Some may be ‘ad hoc’ depending on whatever triggers them. Such as an invitation to an event like business conferences or birthday parties.
Step 5: Note which realm (physical, mental or emotional) each ritual belongs to. This will help you balance out the type of rituals you include.
In this area of LifeBinder we map out activities that represent your ideal daily experience, from morning to night.
Without it, you won’t have a near enough aim for achieving productive bliss.
Step 1: List a whole bunch of activities you want to include in your daily mix.
Step 2: For each item, choose the segment of the day that would generally best suit it: morning, afternoon, evening, night.
Step 3: Select what type of ‘quest’ each item aligns with: Connection, Liberation, Vitality, or Empowerment.
Step 4: Select the general life goal that each item contributes to: Happier, Healthier, Wealthier.
Step 5: Write out the general steps involved with each item.
The LifeBinder document includes sections that will automatically filter and organise your list of ideal daily activities. You can view them ‘by Goal’, ‘by Quest’, or ‘by Detail’.
This area of LifeBinder serves as a good way to stay aligned with your short-term priorities. It will help you schedule each day for maximum productive bliss.
This area relates to what we covered in Chapter 5 on Life Reviews, including:
• Journaling
• Daily Achievements
• Life Compass
• Mood
• LifeLine
Now…
I know reading all this in book format will make all this seem highly time consuming and complex.
Remember: The book is giving you the details of the system. But knowing the details are not going to give you productive bliss. The real breakthrough comes from how easy it all becomes by using your own custom LifeBinder document.
I built the LifeBinder document for myself. I wanted a comprehensive way to manage all areas of my life for genuinely sustainable productive bliss.
That's how the idea of LifeBinder.club came about. A chance to network and share in our quest for productive bliss.
We aim to hire a team of developers who can take LifeBinder to the next level. The small monthly fee for LifeBinder Full Access is a crowdfunding initiative that will give us the necessary funds.
Full details of LifeBinder Club and the LifeBinder System are available via www.lifebinder.club
Congratulations for making it this far into the book.
In this chapter, my favorite part of the book, you'll learn how to super-charge your success for maximum productive bliss.
We’ll cover three concepts:
• Emotional Stretching
• Bliss Binding, and
• Future Pacing
Let’s dive right in.
If you are not experiencing regular bouts of bliss, you MAY need to do some emotional stretching.
Events, hormones and attitude all trigger your emotions. Emotions are also managed by familiarity. That is, our emotions can become stuck in familiar grooves. That's why we crave variety of experience. Novelty helps us feel!
This understanding of emotions is crucial to achieving sustainable productive bliss.
You must stretch your daily emotional range to include a wider variety of more positive emotions. This will help create neural and hormonal circuitry to sustain states of bliss.
Imagine visiting the gym after months of not exercising. Think of how stiff and weak your legs would be if you attempt weighted squats. And how sore your legs would be for days after that workout.
Emotions like bliss work in a similar way. If you don't use them, your body loses the ease of doing them.
Create space in your daily schedule to explore a range of positive emotions. Don't just wait for those positive emotions to happen to you.
Calmness. Wonder. Love. Enthusiasm. Gratitude. Exhilaration.
These are core emotions that support the bliss experience.
Take each one at a time and practice them. And try combinations of them together.
First, remember a time when you felt really, really calm. Recall that time, try to bring back the similar sensations. The environment. The time of day. The activity. Your thoughts at the time. Any of the nuance details that make up that memory of calmness.
Then, stretch into that sense of calmness. See how much of it you can draw into your self just by thinking about it. Breath that calmness into your body. Feel it expand. Emphasise the sensations.
Once you've experimented with calmness, try on a different positive emotion.
Think of a past time when you felt strong exhilaration. Perhaps during a sport event, or perhaps deep in conversation with a valued friend. Perhaps while reading an important book, or writing some kind of plan.
When you have a specific memory, bring back as much of that sense of exhilaration as you can into your body right now. Emphasise it. Dial it up. Play act it. Breathe it in. Give yourself a few moments to experiment. Chances are you can very easily begin to re-experience that awesomely positive emotion simply by reflecting on it.
This reveals how powerful we can become to guide our emotional experience. Imagine how much better you can do through regular practice. Like strengthening muscles of emotional intensity and variety.
Next, try a combo. Take calmness and exhilaration as example. They kind of seem contradictory. But let's try to stretch into it. What does it feel like to draw calmness into your body and then layer on some exhilaration? Approaching bliss?
You might get quite a buzz out of playing with emotional combinations. This is excellent exercise for your nervous sytem to activate and build states of positive emotion towards bliss.
By stretching your emotions, bliss becomes a controllable result of your nervous system. Remember: You can guide your nervous system by what you choose to focus on. Amazing.
Bliss Binding involves 'locking in' moments of bliss.
Whenever you feel blissful, imagine taking a kind of 'body scan photograph' of the bliss. Lock it in. Spread your awareness around it. Imagine a 'volume control' for it and dial it up. This will help train your nervous system to save the sensations into memory.
Each morning take a moment to imagine pockets of productive bliss throughout the day.
Take a moment to do the same thing at lunch, or during breaks.
Each evening, take a moment to reflect on moments during that day where you felt some degree of productive bliss. And do some emotional stretching to create that moment of bliss right then and there. Dial it up. Lock it in. Train your brain for bliss.
Take note of whatever triggers blissful experience. Does it happen most often with certain types of interaction? Does it happen most often and easily when you are physically active such as walking or preparing food? Etc, etc.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Explore those nuances of productive bliss, build them into your LifeBinder and bind bliss to as many parts of your life as possible. You deserve bliss. Capitalize on every opportunity.
One of the most powerful extensions of bliss-binding is future pacing.
This is a technique from NLP (neuro linguistic programming).
It's a way of forming future patterns of experience by binding emotional states from the present into your vision of the future.
Think of it like this: Imagine a day of productive bliss, where you use all 10 positive habits described in Chapter 3:
You get up on the right side of bed
Your clear on key milestones
You recognize yourself for progress made
You call out your own laziness
You confide in key people about your current limitations (and take their advice to heart)
You get angry with distractions
You replace 'ADHD' with pockets of hyper-focus
You ensure a sufficient amount of energizing exercise daily
You stretch your emotions
You go to bed correctly
Future Pacing happens when you imagine yourself in future scenarios, adding willpower from your present into those future experiences. It’s like weight training at the gym inside a time-machine. You get the benefits of the exercise both now and in the future!
Here’s how to do future pacing for productive bliss.
• Write out an ideal scenario of a day filled with productive bliss.
• Try including all of the 10 habits.
• And then meditate on that future positive experience. Feel the vibes.
• Then, bliss-bind them into your current self by amplifying those vibes in your body to motivate you for action today.
This is an incredibly powerful exercise IF and only if you give yourself permission to indulge in the details. It works at the level of your central nervous system. It can’t be done by giving it a quick thought. You have to embody those positive vibes.
Practice and you’ll get stronger, just like going to the gym. Repeat this exercise regularly to help increase sustainable productive bliss by future pacing positive experience.
Here’s a brief demonstration version to help get you started. I’ve based this on the list of 10 productive bliss habits from chapter 3. Feel free to play with ideal daily scenarios in creative ways without having to fit in the 10 productive bliss habits.
Note: There’s not much personal detail here, it’s pretty dry. I’m sure you can do much better to make the experience entirely tailored to your lifestyle and personal to you.
I wake up early after going to bed correctly the night before. As consciousness returns, I feel comfort in my body. I absorb physical sensations of warmth, and sense the internal emotional state of peacefulness.
Sitting up in bed I tune into my intentions for a bright and beautiful day. Reflecting on the LifeBinder posters on my bedroom wall, I'm reminded of my passions and pursuits. I feel encouraged, expectant, positive.
Thinking back to yesterday I quickly reflect on progress made, and the pockets of bliss I felt.
As I rise from bed and begin my morning routine, I give myself a commitment to discipline, allowing no break in positive momentum to derail me. No laziness to bring down my natural highs of productive bliss.
I send a few messages to people who I currently feel within my realm of progress. Encouraging them. Acknowledging them. Or simply connecting with them. I reflect on the 'advice' people have given me recently and feel gratitude for the thoughts it stimulated.
As the day progresses, I notice myself getting distracted by things that do not best serve my aspirations for productive bliss. I take pause and allow a certain sense of anger to swell inside me, directed at the way distractions vie for my precious attention. I reject their effect and make a physical action of punching at the air in their direction. This demonstrates to my nervous system that I do not tolerate negative distractions.
Using the Ideal Day area of my LifeBinder document, my calendar and notebook, I remain focused. I stay in the zone of productive bliss. I avoid the urge to flit from one thing to another. I progress towards specific outcomes and urgent goals.
By mid-day I have made some noteworthy achievements and feel good. Before getting hungry I know now is the time for my daily exercise routine. I hop to it. Stretching out slowly at first. Doing whatever I can to get the process started. Then as my breathing accelerates I feel exhilaration and increase the intensity of my workout.
As part of my lunch routine, I play with stretching my emotions. I access different areas of emotional fulfilment, including love, equanimity, wonder and curiosity.
Night time arrives and I go to bed correctly. I read a little, reflect a little, do some balanced breathing, and rest easy with positive expectation for a good day tomorrow. Being mindful of the time helps me sleep early, giving me the best possible start tomorrow.
Do this for different types of day, such as regular work days, weekend days, special event days, travel days, and so on. Get really personal and specific about the nuances of your own life.
If a little extra creative inspiration might help, try this:
Imagine you are on vacation with a best friend. You made a commitment to each other that you would practice habit 5 (confiding) and share some of your current passions and ideal scenarios for daily life. Imagine the conversations you would have.
I'm super principled, with a very strong sense of life mission, and very ambitious — yet I procrastinate, stress, and fail often.
During a coaching event in my early 20s, the coach asked the group "why don't you do what you know you're meant to do?"
He said the only reasonable answer is "I don't know". Everything else is just an excuse, a rationalization.
That stuck in my mind. I was full of self-belief... for the future. I felt I could overcome any obstacle... given enough time. And come to think of it... I still do. However, delays are lost opportunities. And sometimes it really sucks to think about ‘what could have been, if only I would have **’. **
We have to get the right balance. It’s not worth beating yourself up about the past. But learning from the past and present to build the future. That can be done painfully slow or we can find ways to accelerate. Time is precious.
I realised I could not fill in every gap for myself on my own. When I worked with a coach, I often made very fast progress. I also realised that when coaching others I could help them achieve shifts in their results they had struggled with for a very long time.
Coaching is definitely an activity that belongs on your short-list of priorities. It will improve your results with productive bliss tremendously.
Coaching applies to all areas of life. And the types of coaching available are varied. Heart-to-heart conversations with close friends and colleagues are also a form of coaching.
Yet, it's definitely a fine art, with lots of technical skills, and improves with experience. Some people are far more suited to coaching than others. It takes coaches years of practice and experience to develop various nuaned coaching skills. Sometimes one coach will have the right chemistry for you with your current circumstances.
Bottom line: I fully recommend making use of coaching services on a regular basis. They are investments of time and money that can pay back many, many times over.
And my suggestion is to simply commit a portion of your income to a coaching budget. Have short coaching engagements with a number of different coaches.
As an idea: Work with each coach for 3 weeks. Take a week off to mull things over. Then start with a new coach in the next calendar month. After 6 months you'll have worked with 6 coaches. You'll have a very good appreciation for their style and the chemistry you felt. You could then go back to any one of them and do a deeper engagement over 6 weeks.
Then start the process all over again, or by then, you'll have a good sense of how to best continue your coaching schedule.
Use your LifeBinder document to help form the basis of coaching conversations. Your coach will appreciate the depth and clarity of your preparation work before the coaching begins. It will provide a solid foundation on which to build very powerful coaching conversations that help move you to the next level.
Perhaps for you it's about resolving internal conflicts. Maybe it's about motivation. Perhaps you need to clarify some key decisions or options. Maybe your inner child simply needs to be heard.
There really is no way of knowing before hand. You have to go through the process.
LifeBinder.club does not directly provide coaching services. But we do maintain a Coach Recommendation Program available free to all club members. A directory of coaches who are familiar with the LifeBinder System.
The amount of progress I and others make by investing in coaches is huge. It will reduce your learning curve tremendously, helps you to see your blind spots, and can accelerate your success beyond measure.
Here are a few of the testimonials I personally received when I have coached people in the past:
“It's ironic how I discovered myself on a deeper level. I always thought I was a better person and understood my self. Boy! I was wrong. I was a bit skeptical about someone coaching me. I wondered “how can someone from a distance understand me and help me.
What happened next was extraordinary and beyond what I was expecting. Beyond all my complaining I discovered something about myself on a deeper level. Now that I feel I’m accomplishing some part of my life, I am thrilled to work on my next step.”
Mandy, Librarian
"I really feel the difference in how I see men and women in a lot of type of relations between now and before our 4 month communication. It was SO helpful!"
Esther, Lighting Consultant
"You are really effective at getting my friend to think about things that she needs to work on. I have been trying that for 20 years ;-P"
Tracy, Massage Therapist
“I met a transformational Life Coach in Bali. After 5 coaching sessions with him, I came home a completely different person in ways I could never explain and many that I can.
After years of therapy and years of Landmark, Gavriel’s coaching filled in the missing gaps for me! I never thought I would meet a Life coach who could make the kind of difference that he did, nor did I expect I would recommend someone like this to my friends."
Jennifer, CEO
(Shared on Facebook)
There you have it. A new concept: Sustainable Productive Bliss. It’s possible, achievable, sustainable. Why should we settle for less?
In Joseph Campbell's famous work 'The Hero With A Thousand Faces', he explores human history and the archetypes of experience. A famous quote from the book reads: "Follow Your Bliss and doors will be opened".
Here's the full quote:
“Follow your bliss. - If you do follow your bliss, - you put yourself on a kind of track - that has been there all the while waiting for you, - and the life you ought to be living - is the one you are living. - When you can see that, - you begin to meet people - who are in the field of your bliss, - and they open the doors to you. - I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, - and doors will open - where you didn't know they were going to be. - If you follow your bliss, - doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.” - ― Joseph Campbell
I sincerely hope this little book of words carries you to a new phase of life. Where colours feel brighter, sounds feel richer, tastes feel more delicious, friends feel more connected, days feel more full of promise, seconds feel more precious, opportunities feel more promising, challenges feel more worthwhile, and life feels more magical.
Give yourself permission to authentically explore the many questions given in this book. Repeat the exercises from time to time. Maintain your connection to the various elements of reflection. Use it to guide your personal and professional projects. And I'm absolutely certain you will feel more bliss and achieve more success as a result.
Follow your bliss. And may all the right doors be opened to you.
