a better life, abdominals, accountability, action, adaptation, adequate sleep, ageing, asking questions, attitude, authenticness, awareness, balance, beauty, belief, belief systems, Beliefs, better choices, body, Body shape, body weight, caring, change, change management, chaos, choices, compassion, consciousness, courage, decisions, desire, diet, eating, Energy, examined life, fairness, faith, fat, Fitness, forgiveness, fundamentals, game of life, Goals, goals, God, gratitude, gym, habits, happiness, hope, Imagination, intimacy, leaders, leadership, life, long-term perspective, long-term strategy, love, muscle building, muscles, needs, patience, perseverance, perspective, planning, respect, responsibility, risk, safe training, self, self discipline, self love, self-image, self-respect, significance, spirit, Strength training, strengths, success, symmetry, synergy, taking action, time, Timing, training, truths, Vitality, wisdom, workouts, you, your life

HABITS are like WATER 💦. Here’s why ….

One ☝️ of my “soul” places…. Where the grass meets the sand meets the water meters the sky … we’re all walking, talking capsules of predominantly water.

I believe habit is like water (I’ll come back to why later).

Have you set your goals for the year? How are you progressing towards it? How are your physical goals?

Right about now, for some, is a “sticking point “ as far as adopting new/good habits towards a healthier & fitter you.

is Your will power 💥challenged?

What is “Will-Power?”

Well, there are various forms of Power – military power, horse power, financial power, political power, wind power etc

The most relevant to each of us is WILL POWER, the strength to do more than we thought we were capable of doing.

The ability to go that extra step, that is what Willpower is and everyone has a personal limit to how far their willpower will be pushed until it breaks.

Remember, to modify a habit, you must DECIDE to change…. and the most important ingredient in creating belief in change is the WILL to BELIEVE.

… so, you’ve got to keep going…. and build a powerful weapon- “momentum”.

We are affected by what we feel, certainly.

You need to start with education not motivation and letting go bad habits in replacing with good habits isn’t necessarily easy or quick.

It isn’t always simple.

Learn not only to ask questions but more importantly… to ask the RIGHT questions. Not to know the answers…. No. Simply because you have a why(s)?

There is Power in Habit.

There is power 💥in habit.

Yes, there is.

How do I know? Well….

Consistent & persistence application of habits took me to two consecutive world natural physique championships.

Being one of the best in the world in my chosen sport (or anything for that matter) requires many inputs and the adoption of relevant habits. Talent alone is not enough.

You must also have DEDICATION to the DELIBERATE PRACTISE of the DISCIPLINE you’re in.

In effect you must be DISCIPLINED WITH DISCIPLINE. This, my readers, is a beautiful definition of “love”.

Now, anyone that lifts weights (grandfathers & mothers to teens), aiming to build muscle, improve strength & health & transform their body is, by definition – a “bodybuilder”.

The competition for this physical activity is “physique contests”.

Representing Australia 🇦🇺, & competing against the best from nations around the world, I made the Finals (the top 5) in the world at natural physique contest) two years in a row. This was staged in NY, USA.

There is Power in Habit.

Feel your emotions. Think through and with your heart. Listen to your íntuition We are not ‘thinking creatures who feel’ … but instead we are ‘Feeling creatures that think”. We need to always remind ourselves of this.

With curiosity & education, I learned the half dozen (6) key habits that make 80% of the difference in reaching body re-engineering goals (for me, being in the top 5 in the world).

Working “with my body” (increasing awareness of how the body/mind/spirit works) and the amazing machine that is the human body allowed me to achieve efficient & effective results, safely.

One of the things I see after almost 3 decades of training with bodybuilding principles is many people “work against their bodies”, instead of WORKING WITH THEIR BODIES.

For example, each individual cell of the 75 million cells that make up your body is made up of 75% water. So, give it more of what it needs. Thirst should never be an indicator to drink (generally too late).

One (out of the 6 key habits) habit that was a key contribution to achieving a world class physique is:

– adequate (1 litre : 25kg of body weight) daily intake of water (h2o)

Try this one habit for 7 days – 1 week!

(Even if you didn’t change any other existing habit). Your body snd brain/mind will love you for it.

Your energy will go through the roof and you will feel fantastic!

Remember this:

The REAL power in habit is the realisation that your habits are what You CHOOSE them to be.

Brings me back to my first point I made in the beginning of this post, that habit is like water.

Water 💦 creates channels, which grows deeper & broader over time… and even when it stops flowing, it begins when it flows again, the channel/path traced by itself before.

These are the new neural pathways in your brain 🧠!

So, even if you haven’t started, that’s ok, it’s never too late to BEGIN. Just decide to begin.

Besides, LIFE is truly a constant BEGINNING. We are all just at different stages of beginnings

All the very best to you … you can do it.

I’ll share with you the other 5 key habits over the next 5 weeks that makes up 80% of your results. (Simply applying one of nature’s principles: the 80-20 principle).

Cheers 🍻!

The old man –

P.

🌺🌴💥

Changing habits – releasing bad eating habits and adopting some good ones is like facing an internal Predator. You need to ‘face the Lion’ within you. Having a conversation with a lion.
Standard
a better life, action, adaptation, asking questions, attitude, awareness, balance sheets, beauty, belief, better choices, caring, change, choices, compassion, consciousness, courage, Dying, Energy, examined life, faith, game of life, Goals, goals, God, grace, gratitude, greed, habits, happiness, honour, Imagination, Knowledge, long-term perspective, love, patience, perseverance, perspective, planning, respect, responsibility, risk, self, self discipline, self improvement, self love, significance, spiritual balance sheet, strengths, success, synergy, time, truth, Vitality, wisdom, you, your life

** MATERIALISM or THEOLOGY… on the Conveyor Belt of Birth, Death & Decay **

Enjoying lunch in my beautiful Sydney CBD recently.

Many are living a life of Materialism. 

~ With this philosophy, the individual seem to think 🤔that – if we came from no where … going no where in particular, and are here for no reason, in particular, then all ethics, morality, culture are illusions.

They are led by the idea that … we are simply here on this earth 🌍 to be active and animated, as long as breath flows through us. But, as soon as DEATH comes, that is the end of us – there is nothing more to be expected, nothing more to be hoped for. 

~ What I find quite discouraging is that at the end of life, they have no one to say THANK YOU to, for the Life they had the privilege to Live. 

Many follow this BELIEF, also referred to as the INTELLECTUAL SUPERIOR ATTITUDE. This attitude explains everything by DENYING everything. This is the foundation on which they (the believers) expect to build an enduring culture.

~ To me, This “Materialistic ” point of view is a huge part of the problem / the mess we (the world) finds ourselves in, today. You see, if there are – No PRINCIPLES … No REALITIES (or multiple realities), then each individual just lives for himself. The “selfish-gene” in them is ACTIVATED and is their compass. 

They selfishly just live for themselves and only think about what he/she can get. They think that … One day he/she will go to sleep forever, that there is very little MEANING to EXISTENCE. To them, There is no HOPE, no PURPOSE… no OUTLET into the FUTURE… no FAITH in the FULFILMENT of DREAMS or ASPIRATIONS. 

~ There is only a conveyor belt of BIRTH, DEATH & DECAY.

The (very ) weird thing is that many in modern day societies (almost the whole world 🌍, with the internet) … view this as an somewhat ELEGANT ATTITUDE.

Now … 

~ The alternative viewpoint in life is one of THEOLOGY. Generally BELIEVE that you, me, us (Mankind) have a REASON for EXISTENCE. We believe that Man was Created by a DIVINE POWER💥. We believe in a GOD… that Man is here to live a DEFINED DESTINY

And when we leave here … we will be punished or rewarded according to HOW we lived our life. Our Spiritual Balance Sheet of our time on this earth, 🌍 is reviewed and we are held to account.

~ So … which view/ boat are you in? How are you Captaining your sailing ⛵️ through the Oceans of Life… doing it with the 1st view/philosophy or one based on THEOLOGY?

ME?

I’m without a doubt… in the latter boat. I don’t “Believe “ in a God. After 3 NDEs (Near Death Experiences), I KNOW there is a GOD. 

May God continue to give you STRENGTH, COURAGE & WISDOM in all the decisions you make.”

~ Paul 💝alentine ~

I wrote something along these lines back in 2015 . Here it is if you are interested: http://i
Standard
a better life, action, adaptation, awareness, Energy

The world needs more insanity.

Here, Chris is enhancing his 'mind-muscle connection' (posing). This helps close the 'gap' between how he sees himself in the mirror and how he imagines himself to be. He dreamed it and then achieved it.

Here, Chris is enhancing his ‘mind-muscle connection’ (posing). This helps close the ‘gap’ between how he sees himself in the mirror and how he imagines himself to be.
He dreamed it and then achieved it.

Feeling to think, not thinking to feel

You may be a little shocked at such a subject heading and fair enough.

Stick with me now …. Firstly, lets attempt to define the term ‘sanity’. How would we define insanity? Possible description could be ‘that which is not sane’. So, my next question is how would you define sanity?

Do you believe that the world needs more sanity or insanity?

I believe the world needs more of the latter. Some would argue that the world is already insane and that we don’t need anymore. My question is what contributed to what got us here in the first place?

As I see it, the ugliness in the world today is the compounding effect of sane/logical thinking over the ages resulting from the brain-washing belief that everyone thought of themselves as thinking creatures that feel.

This is where the root of the problem is – because biologically we are feeling creatures that think, not the other way around!

So, if we are the latter, then most of our thoughts, actions and behaviour will be heavily influenced by the hormones running havoc within our body to make us feel a certain way. Modern neuroscience confirms this in brain scans. I have always believed that, contrary to what most of you think, you are not in control of yourself as you think you are. 

Let’s be honest, can you really stay in control of yourself when you’re in the heat of sex with your lover/partner/husband/wife? When you’re flushed with all those sexual hormones, you simply cannot do anything about it … you just have to let it ‘run its course’. That is an obvious example of why I say that those tiny little micro-scopic elements of our body – the hormones are ultimately in control of everything we think and do.

Scary thought isn’t it?

Beauty is Truth, truth – beauty. That is all there is on earth ..and all ye need to know.
Be aware of the beauty with and around you.
Don’t just look, ‘see’

One of the things that keeps people feeling sane is the illusion that they are ‘in control’ of themselves and their destiny in life. Certainly a comforting thought. To know that they are not is one of the scariest things for a human to ponder and could drive one insane.

Trust is key

One of the keys to feel your way through something is to ‘trust’.

But trust seems to be in short supply in today’s increasingly interrupted world. One of the key reasons I believe the world needs more insanity is because every one of us (you included)  experience insanity (intermittently) every single day. This is a strength, not a weakness. Let me explain….

And how do we do that (experience intermittent insanity)?” you may be thinking.

Well, every time we sleep and we ‘dream’, we technically experience intermittent insanity. Do you dream? Do you struggle to remember your dreams when you awake from your slumber? I know I do.

Everyone needs a little help, a little guidance, a few wise words of encouragement at critical points in our paths through life. With a quality plan + quality implementation (mentor/coach), you can achieve the results that you seek with a little

Everyone needs a little help, a little guidance, a few wise words of encouragement at critical points in our paths through life.
With a quality plan + quality implementation (mentor/coach), you can achieve the results that you seek with a little push like I appear to be doing here with Brad.

To dream is to experience temporary insanity

It would seem that to dream is to experience living in a fantasy world. However, in this world, things happen, emotions are felt, actions are carried out, people are present, with all the waking sensations coming and going.

So if you sleep, then it is highly likely that you dream (even though you don’t recall most of them). And if you dream, then you at several points in your sleep – you experience a temporary and intermittent form of insanity!

So, it follows that to dream is to be insane.

This is exactly what the world needs more than ever. The world needs more dreamers. Someone had to dream up the Opera House before it was built. Someone had to dream up the Empire State Building or the Sydney Harbour Bridge before it was built.

The world needs more dreamers …. More insane people.

Imagination and dreaming is key

The world needs dreamers to develop new creations, innovate new ways of doing things, inspire new technologies to help make the world a better place to live in. The world needs more people who are insane and comfortable being insane.

People need to be comfortable in their uniqueness, in the difference they bring to the world. People need to appreciate their uniqueness and celebrate it, instead of just trying ‘to be the same as everyone else’.

I couldn’t think of anything worse than that.

These individuals (including you) are not striving to ‘being different’ but instead are comfortable with ‘creating a difference’ in the world, one person at a time.

One of my many quirks …. my alter-ego: the old Captain Viking Pirate Muscle Monk

It is the dreamers, the person’s that experienced and remembered those ‘moments of insanity (dreams)’ that bring about change. The real geniuses of change started out by ‘feeling’ the real pain others’ were feeling every day in whatever area of life.

These dreaming change agents, dreaming of a better world bring about change. Positive change.

We need dreamers to offer new perspective on familiar challenges. We need dreamers to take the world we all know and create chaos and turn it around so that we (the world) can view it from a strange but strangely enlightening angle.

The world needs to learn to embrace the ideas that flow from these dreamers because they may be profound, because they are novel, because they may be clarifying, because they are contrary and because they may be outright bizarre. For all these chaotic reasons and more, dreamers will provide the jolts of energy that the world needs to move forward to a better place.

People do not want a world that is different. No, people want something to be able to create a difference. A positive difference. This is what dreamers, what all the intermittent insanity sufferers can offer.

The world needs more insanity, more dreamers to provide hope that each and every individual has the courage to create a difference. To create change. To be empowered.

One life at a time.

Ex-Australian Wallaby Rugby Captain achieving his transformation goals under my watchful eyes. Using my framework, the product was tailored and customized to him. There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to body re-engineering.

Ex-Australian Wallaby Rugby Captain achieving his transformation goals under my watchful eyes.
Using my framework, the product was tailored and customized to him.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to body re-engineering.

Keep dreaming, I say. Never stop dreaming and never stop believing in yourself.

Be comfortable being uncomfortable

On a personal level, everyone I have ever helped in the gym over the last twenty years who have successfully achieved desired results actually set goals for themselves and had clear pictures of how they imagined themselves to be. By setting goals, they have dreamed and believed in their dream (goals).

As I push them ever so gently beyond their perceived limitations in their programs, I remind them that to produce their best, to bring out their best, they’ve got to learn to be ‘comfortable being uncomfortable’. Not forever, no, just for a specific point in time for their overall goal achievement.

What is a goal anyway? It can be said to be a ‘dream with a deadline!”

There is enough evidence over time that the breaks go to the people with dreams. The breaks go to those who are a little insane (to dream). To get your ‘break’ in whatever area in your life, you need to dream, you need to set specific goals.

It is like magic because somehow, it seems, in my experience the dream itself provides the motivation and the means for its own accomplishment.

Get sufficient daily sleep and rest for the mind, body and spirit as this is key for recovery and functioning optimally. In doing so, embrace those intermittent moments of insanity (dreams) and try to harness them. Who knows, you could be the creator of a tool that may serve and help the citizens of the world become a better place.

I know, I get most of my life-changing ideas and thoughts communicated to me in my dreams, in my enhanced communication with consciousness.

Continuously helping you become the best you can be … BEGIN help by helping yourself.
Then,
Reach out and touch someone … be the light for someone who can only see darkness.
Help them see ‘beauty’ .. see their truth.
Help them manage their insanity with sanity … their chaos with order.
Pray.

So, allow yourself to be insane every now and then. I think it is healthy and I think the world needs more insanity. I believe the power rests within each and every human being as each and every one of you have talents that are just waiting to be uncovered.

Open that door to possibilities, your possibilities … through dreams. As someone once said, if you can’t dream it, you can’t achieve it!

It is through controlled chaos, that we evolve and achieve a new state of equilibrium – individually and collectively, a new order.

 

Until next time,

Side Triceps. Australian Natural Bodybuilding Championships. 2nd in Australia. "Quality Plan + Quality Implementation = Quality Results.

Side Triceps.
Australian Natural Bodybuilding Championships.
2nd in Australia.
“Quality Plan + Quality Implementation = Quality Results.

Champions practise a lot of visualisation and simulation.
To create magic, you need to fuse the worlds of sanity (where you are) with insanity (where you dream/imagine you are, before you are).
That is difficult.
That is one of the key keys.
Don’t stop. Trying. Believing.
Keep on … keeping on. You’ll get there. Everyone always does.
Especially, if you do it with your heart. and ….
with LOVE.

Standard