“Up sluggard, and waste not life: in the grave will be sleeping enough.” Said Benjamin Franklin.
How powerful a word is that, “sluggard”. In just one sentence Franklin fills us with contempt for just sitting around or sleeping in. Or watching TV - which in a sense is a kind of brain sleep. Or perhaps he was referring to the actions we take that cause us to grow - the facing of our challenges - the conquering of our fears - the domination of our goals?
Or perhaps he wasn’t.
Perhaps this statement was meant to be focused on the “waste not life” part - to enjoy the beauty and love and magnificence of our world and it’s people. Not to dwell inwardly on our mental creations of meaning that do not exist in the “real” world. Can we really be depressed while doing a silly dance or whistling a lively tune? Perhaps he was suggesting that life is best experienced through activity and movement rather than just sitting around wondering about life?
Or not.
I do know, regardless of what he meant, that a “sluggard” is not something I would care to be. And were I judgemental enough to use this quote from Franklin on say - someone who is stuck in low gear in life - someone of low energy and momentum - it might wake them from their life torpour. Or perhaps not.
Perhaps the magic effect of words on is totally individual. If I chose to lift my energy levels - is it simply a matter of creating a list of words and phrases that are high energy - and reading them? Would the same words work for anyone else?
Do you attend one of those rah-rah churches that have lots of singing and chanting with upbeat music? Songs with lots of great “up-words” - batched in easy to remember lots that making joining in almost “automatic”?
Or one of the older style versions with lots of automatic responses. Like “Peace be with you.” - Autoresponse for the conditioned is “And also with you…” If we look at the up-words in these churches - they are usually more “peaceful” or “meditational” - to give us a sense of inner calm. To get the full message on this - think about the hypnotic chanting of monks and disciples. Sit around with a group and all say the say thing together and see how you feel.
Sing rousing nationalistic anthems and feel your blood start to boil with fervour. Sing some of the slow, tortured love songs of the band Bread - and start to feel like your unrequited love is more important than living. Chant the word “OM”, and recognize each time you say it that everything in the world is connected - that nothing is seperate - for an hour so - just how “connected” do you feel?
In the catholic church growing up in a small country town I remember going almost into a trance at mass. At the time I thought it was due to the incredible stuffiness and heat in the air in the era before airconditioning. The heat may have been a factor - but now I recognize that the ritual chanting, mixed with the stand, kneel, sit, kneel, stand, sing, chant, sing… was pretty much hypnotizing me. I had no real idea what the words meant because I had never thought about it - but I knew them all perfectly.
It must have been an almost other worldly experience to undergo Mass back when it was in latin. I can understand why most of the pointy end of the church resisted changing it to English. There was a big risk that congregations might start to think about the words they were actually saying - and spot the programming. They probably needn’t have worried. Maybe people go to whichever church they choose because it gives them outcome feeling they want.
If you want connectedness - do some chanting. If you want refreshment and a revitalising - get some gospel into you. Do it in a group and you get camaraderie - sharing - connection with others - shared values - common ground - automatic trust and feeling of community.
Or stay in bed on your Sunday morning, don’t think about the word “sluggard”, or the beauty of the world outside. Definitely don’t think of words that power you up like joy, boundless enthusiasm, zesty, magnificent, vigorous, playful, dynamic, or wait for it - ferociously exhilarating! Don’t BOUNCE out of bed, or SKIP zanily around your house in your pajamas.
Don’t learn the words for YAHOOO in six languages including latin.
Instead - think of some other words. But I am not going to tell you what they are - just see if you can spot them when you are feeling a bit “FLAT” - darn sorry - bugger “SORRY” is another. Undo spell = zesty zesty awesomely magnificently vigorously YAHOO gusto EXHILARATED.
Have a DELIGHTFUL day and thank you for your smiles.
Dynamic today Jim.
If you have had any experiences - either with learning Buteyko from my products or workshops, or from others - please tell everyone about it here. Good or bad.
This applies especially for your results with children’s asthma. In case you did not know you can download a free chapter from my Buteyko Manual for Asthma which contains all you need to teach your child how to do it. The results are fast [usually within 2 days], and reliable. It is as simple as breathing like certain animals, and can be safely used regardless of the level or type of asthma your child has. Obviously don’t alter drugs or other treatment without conferring with your doctor - even if the child no longer seems to need it. [go to www.nqnet.com/buteyko] and follow the links to download.
While I’m here - I may as well let the cat out of the bag about Buteyko Method and other conditions - like sleep apnea/apnoea, emphysema, COAD, and a few other conditions. In general - the training is pretty much identical. If you do the method as described in the Asthma Manual, and fill in the forms in the Asthma Workbook - you will be very close to what you need. In the near future I will complete an mini-manual for people with exercise induced asthma, alongside specific methods for athletes and those wanting better results for their health.
There are specific protocols for athletes that will improve amongst other things - their recovery rates. This training is also suitable for those of us who are baby-boomers and are looking to optimize our “aging” processes. My own aim is to continue to improve as I get older - and this includes fitness and health.
So - past and present users of Buteyko - please leave a comment below - or a question if you have one.
Thanks
James Hooper
What is really the one thing we have the ability to have real control over?
Our thoughts? Feelings? Certainly not the weather. We can use our TV remotes to control our TV’s?
Earlier this week I was in a store with a client when a young man came in. He was tall, in reasonable shape, and he slumped around with a foot dragging energy that was like a gray cloud. Even his clothes were grayish, with a droopy shoulder bag for whatever depressing stuff he carried with him.
After he had gone I asked what had brought him into the store. It seems that despite having completed a course in an area where there was a shortage of workers - he was having trouble getting a job.
Perhaps having some enthusiasm for life gives life some enthusiasm for us?
Well - as I hold up the mirror that is life, it occurred to me that there are still times when my own enthusiasm dial could be turned up a fair bit. I could play with my children MORE enthusiastically, I could help in the kitchen MORE enthusiastically. I could charge through the projects on my list MORE enthusiastically. Would the mirror of this young man in our store be altered if he approached the goal of getting a job with greater enthusiasm? I know most probably YES. Well……. maybe I know it….. IF I really knew it then at no time would I find myself at any other level than SUPER ZESTY on the Enthusiasm Scale!
As I started this first post on my new blog, my enthusiasm was about a 6. Just thinking and talking about enthusiasm has made me feel more enthusiastic. And “zesty” - where did that word come from? I have not used it for decades? Try saying “ZESTY, ZESTY, ZESTY” out loud right NOW. Check to see if you are now smiling. Check to see if you are sitting a little straighter. If you aren’t, or even if you are - sit a little straighter, a little higher in the world - and say it out loud three times. And check again. A little more zest?
What if you said this magic word every hour on the hour - until you became known as that ’slightly irritating but ruthlessly zesty guy”? How fast would you get a new job if you needed one? How soon would the pile of projects on your list become reality? How quickly would your children arc up the power and fun in your relationship? How fast would your partner in life at wonder “what the heck are you on?” and then respond with the contagious enthusiasm?
I once heard a saying that “How you do anything is how you do everything.” It seemed a bit harsh previously, but now that I put it in this picture frame it becomes pretty cool. What if, once a week, I sat down and chose a state for the week. And once chosen - this was HOW everything was to be done. I am sure I would have some favourites.
What are yours? How about zesty, decisive, powerful, calm, impertubable, excited, joyful, loving - or even just plain unboring old ENTHUSIASTIC? Give it a whirl - let’s set a reminder. Every time you and I look at a clock or a watch [and do it right now - look at a clock - your computer clock will do] - every time you look at a clock simply reach up and gently grab your right ear and pretend to rotate it [your enthusiasm dial]. Turn it right up to DOUBLE or TRIPLE. Then say “WAHOO“.
Magically make the mundane to a great game. Dance, don’t walk. Hum, whistle or sing out loud. Put on your “Wow - what a beautiful day face” and go to it.
No matter what we must do - we have total choice in the HOW we get to do it.
Enthusiasticate your world right now.
James