The Key to Happiness from my 7 year-old Mentor

Occasionally I have one or both of my nephews around to stay with me at the weekend, they are currently aged 5 and 7. This usually gives me the opportunity to regress a bit and have a lot of fun.

I get to play games and eat unhealthily for a day or two whilst they get the freedom to do pretty much what they like. As they are not ready to own the merits of eating healthily I have adopted their mentality whilst they are staying. Meanwhile, I get to pick their brains for the pearls of wisdom that they occasionally present.

I have a habit of asking them questions that I have yet to find an answer to and indeed probably never will. "What is the key to the universe?" and "What is the secret to life?" are things I have pondered for many hours.

Over the years I have asked them such questions and have been given answers that both astound and amuse. "Doing good farts," was an old favourite of them both in response to the above questions, for a good while.

Whilst sitting down for lunch last weekend I asked "What is the secret to everlasting happiness?" My eldest nephew, Connor, looked up and said "Look after yourself."

His tone was questioning, yet his response struck a chord with me. I knew that looking after myself was a good idea but I do not always do it. I do meditate. exercise and walk a lot "but I could do more," is a well rehearsed line that soon followed.

The tyranny of the word "but" suddenly came into play. In one second I had dismissed all of the good work that I do. But dismisses all of the content that has gone before it. It is dismissive, finite and pointless in a context like this.

I know that as far as health is concerned that I am in the higher reaches of the population in looking after myself. Using the word and, instead of but, is a much more productive linguistic structure after acknowledging something positive.

It is certain that I could do more to be healthier and look after myself better but (and this is a good context to use it) when I compare myself now to where I was last year I walk more, drink more water, eat healthier and exercise more. It is about momentum and mine has been in the right direction.

Most of my changes have been slight and manageable, without causing major or immediate shifts. However (a word that is virtually the same as but!) over time major shifts occur.

So, the lesson from Connor has deeper reaches. Looking after myself is not just about taking action to feel better it's about giving myself proper credit for the changes that I have made.

Part of this process is allowing myself to venture into less healthy practices occasionally, like eating occasional junk foods with my nephews. It is important for me to realize the lessons that I learnt whilst nursing. Namely, that how I speak to myself will have much more impact on my health than what I do to myself.

Only by becoming my own best friend will I ever be a truly healthy individual. The key to happiness is indeed looking after myself, by giving myself more credit for what I have done and being less harsh for what I haven't. It also helps to play a lot, laugh a lot and let loose

Magic, Fairy's and Breaking Comfort Zones

I have just spent 11 days training with my business mentor, Clinton Swaine. This has been a vastly rewarding and beneficial experience. Many concepts are taught as he hones his students business and presentation skills.

One of the sections involved us dressing up in different costumes to add different aspects to our stage presence. We became 12 different archetypes during this 3 day section, including executive, motivator, commander, majician, majesty, channeller, pirate and fairy.

Much as the course taught us many things about breaking through our comfort zones the highlight of this section came when about 30 students, dressed as fairy's, went dancing on the lawn of the hotel where the training was based.

As we danced we were seen by a small child, no more than 3 years old. His wide-eyed expression was priceless and made the experience truly magical. Convincing this young lad that fairy's and magic aren't real may take somne doing!

Letting loose, breaking comfort zones and having fun is part of life's rich tapestry. I encourage all of you to give it a go one day!

Reach for the Sky Walker!

  Isn't it funny how the people that I seem to meet are influenced by the thoughts that I'm having at the time! I spent a lot of yesterday laughing and, sure enough, my e-mail was filled with forwarded jokes and links and the tone of the responses on my various networking sites was very light-hearted.

  Then enter the part that was slightly deeper within the realms of my subconscious - a chat with a lady who I'd met by accident at a recent event that I'd attended. Strangely, I'd been experimenting with a modeling project that I have been on. It had been suggested by a friend, who happened to be organising the event, that for one night during a workshop about financial freedom that I become "Star Barefoot Sky Walker". I took off my shoes and socks and wandered around the event gauging people's responses. They were interesting to say the least!

  The hardest thing for me that evening was stopping myself from laughing out loud as I noted the various reactions that my new identity elicited. Explaining that I was a multi-dimensional being who had no need for shoes or socks was a most interesting experiment (which on another day may well have earned me a visit by the nearest crisis team!) I sat on the front row and it was clear that I had attracted much attention!

  Stepping out of my comfort zone has been something that has been recurrent since I started modeling other people. This incident was particularly interesting. Knowing that I would be considered as an outsider by most of the individuals in the room was a strange feeling, yet there was one lady in the room who did not judge me on the fact that I was clearly different and claiming some strange talents, to say the least.

  I revealed my real identity to her at the end of the evening and we have stayed in touch since. Yesterday I spoke with her on the phone and it soon came up that I had not been playing at 100% in my life and with my life purpose. "Why haven't you stepped into your power yet?" was one of the questions that I was asked. I had no answer that made any sense.

  I know what I am here to do - spread Walk Innovation to the masses. I know that this will involve me attracting people who share my vision (to create a global community of like-minded individuals determined to achieve wealth, health and happiness through the Walk Innovation process - and have some fun along the way.) I also know that it will involve me stepping up and way outside of my comfort zone (thank you Star Barefoot Sky Walker for helping me do that).

  All of that said - why hadn't I stepped into my power? I had no answer then and all I can offer now is that I hadn't truly considered it. After all, the quality of our lives is directly proportional to the quality of the questions that we ask ourselves. It's time for me to step into my power and make things happen. This blog is a testament of my accountability to make it happen and I will.

  Fortunately, this still allows me to have fun in abundance. I have many more characters to model along the way. On 9th of May I will be donning a new outfit, adopting a new personality and going into London too meet my friends as they do the same. We will finish the evening at a roller-disco (something I've never done before.) One more challenge to keep me on my toes (or skates as will be the case.)

  What would happen if you truly stepped into your power today and believed that you were capable of anything?