Time doesn't exist really does it?  It is a way of calibrating existence and having a framework by which we can differentiate one event from another.  The interesting thing is that time is a universal language for most.  You have to then remember that there are people who live in remote areas and tribes who have never seen a wrist watch or a clock.  They have a different way of living.

For those of us who do subscribe to living our life by the clock and the calendar, you will no doubt notice that time goes by very quickly.  In fact as we are already in the 3rd quarter of November I am wondering what has happened to 2008.  It is said that as you increase in years the time 'appears' to go by quicker.  I fully intended to have my first book written by the end of 2008 and was talking to an agent back on the 10th of January of this year before I left for South America.  Needless to say he is still waiting for my proposal.  As I understand the power of commitment, I will hold good my personal promise and deliver.

The thing I have noticed over the year is that ordinarily you only really achieve about one third of what you intend to cram into a space of time.  I often adopt the 'one third rule' with my coaching clients so that they can achieve a more realistic view of what will 'actually' get done.  On the 10th of January of this year, getting a proposal out to a book agent didn't seem like a big deal.  Interestingly the months have now slipped by and life has happened.  So has death, which is of course just another part of life.  

I was fortunate enough to be coached by a guy called Bill Bailey (not the comedian) in the US a number of years ago.  I remember him saying 'don't die with the music still in you' so many people do.  I often think about that, especially at this time of year when our calendar marks the rapid approach of the end to another block of time, oh and how quickly it has slipped by.  So when you get to think about what you really want to do, I guess the message is, there is really no putting it off is there?  The realisation for today is that you can bring clarity to time illusion by looking back at what you did in the past and noticing what actually  happened and then looking forward and deciding what needs to be taken care of so that you can be sure next November that you are exactly where you want to be. 

Many moons ago when I was in further education and studying for an OND in Business Studies, I remember Economics being one of my least favourite subjects.  I don't know if that was wholly attributable to the rather dull lecturer who delivered everything in a monotone and un-enthused dimension, or if I just could not see enough practical examples of what I was being lectured on.  Nevertheless, I passed my exams and attained the necessary grades.

Of course there is no substitute for practical life experience and the laws of supply and demand soon become familiar.  When I started my working life as a travel agent, I learnt about the law of supply and demand in the holiday business and the airline world, especially when Laker Airways went bust and I had angry and anxious customers banging on the agency window before the shop was open - demanding that they get their money back. 

 The coming years are likely to provide some more interesting insights into the laws of supply and demand here in the UK.  Daily examples of shifting economics are evident.  I read yesterday that Christmas Trees are likely to be 50% more expensive this year as the UK Pound is now so weak against the Euro and the Danish Krone.  I couldn't help thinking that ethically this is most likely a good thing, given that millions of trees are felled each year, only to end up on garbage heaps somewhere.  That can't be right can it?  Then we have a surplus of flats to rent in London as 'would be' sellers have given up on trying to move their properties in favour of brining in a rental revenue.  Rents have allegedly fallen by 20% in some areas.  Again, an enquiring mind starts to think about all of the homeless people who have to sleep rough every night as they have no roof over their heads.   I wonder what could be done?  What could be done with a collective consciousness that says, let's embrace the changes and make the very best of it.

Of course I suspect that the laws of supply and demand are likely to be stretched a good deal further.  The labour government's nebulous policy on immigration means that there are now more people than ever competing for limited resources in public health care, welfare and housing.  When unemployment levels rise, this is likely to be exacerbated by those who are competing now for far fewer resources. 

If you are wondering what the point of this blog is, I guess it is really to gain insight into the value of looking at the bigger picture and learning from past events.  Would it have been useful for a government to think about the longer term effects of stretching the social system beyond capacity for the sake of votes to keep them in power?  Probably not.  Closer to home, what can you do to ensure that the decisions you make today are going to stand the test of time?  What can you learn about your own needs and your personal experience of supply and demand.  How much do you need?  What changes could you make that will help you and those around you?

Did you realise that every emotion that you experience is as result of a chemical shift in your neurology?  Every time you feel elated or deflated, you are going through a neuro chemical shift.  There are certain activities such as laughter, exercise and great sex that produce endorphins, or happy chemicals.  If you were ever looking for a good reason to ramp up, or embark upon an exercise regime, then you have just found one. 

I remember when I first discovered this startling revelation about emotional states being mere chemical reactions.  I started to think about what was making its' way into my body on a regular basis.  Things like caffeine, alcohol and then all of the additives and E numbers that are found in pre-prepared food.  I found myself scrutinising everything in supermarkets to find out what I was exposing myself to.  I was quite shocked when I realised how many additives there were in seemingly straight forward foods.  Then I got to thinking about all the environmental stuff that I was exposed to , especially living in London.  Pollution for cars, motorbikes, lorries, aircraft, trains, buses, industrial outlets, radio waves from mobile phones, microwave ovens.........and the list goes on.

It is nigh on impossible to protect yourself from all of these things, especially if you live in urban areas.  It is however possible to raise your awareness of what makes you feel good and what makes you feel bad, and also at what times of day you feel the shifts and changes.  I sometimes have my clients keep a mood diary.  It is a simple way of tracking what happens to your mood mapped against what you are doing and eating.  We often find patterns evolving when certain things are eaten or consumed or when people are exposed to environmental noises and distractions.  Avoid automatically assuming that your mood swings are something that you just have to put up with.  Start noticing what is happening right before and after a change in mood.  Pay particular attention to the stuff that makes you feel good and you might want to do more of it.   Shop more carefully, avoid consuming preservatives and additives in processed or pre-prepared foods.

Realise that you are a very powerful pharmacist and that by directing your mental state through relaxation and hypnosis, you can produce a whole series of neuro chemicals that will keep you feeling optimistic, energised and happy through the darkest of winter months. 

When I first started blogging I was attending the Master NLP Practitioner Course run by Paul McKenna training.  I thought it was great opportunity to share the journey, the insights and to re-enforce the learning by presenting the information.  One of the fascinating areas of NLP for me is something called decision strategies.  Simplistically, they are the things that happen inside our mind that cause us to take action.

I never cease to be fascinated and amazed by things that come up in my client sessions.  For example, I come across people who take on a whole new persona in the workplace.  They get stuff done, shifted, dealt with, complete...........yet in their personal lives, things don't happen.  They apply a whole new set of strategies to the things they do outside of work.  Looking at this logically, sometimes it is merely a case of some people being more motivated to do things for others, rather than for themselves, or it may be pure competition.  You want to do better than somebody else.  You want to look better than somebody else.  That is absolutely fine in my book.  You see the truth is, most people get a little uncomfortable when they disclose their egoic ambitions.  They think it is wrong or unattractive to display such traits.  I always remind my clients that I am not here to judge, I am fascinated to discover how they do what they do, i.e. the stuff that works.  For example, take a strategy that works for you in the workplace.  There is always a moment, a point, a place at which you decide to take action.  Something clicks doesn't it?  You get a green light somewhere in your mind and then comes certainty.

Examine your decision strategies.  Notice what happens when you decide to do something.  What sequence of events occur that lead up to you making the decision and then actually taking action.  Everybody can find a place in their lives where they have a decision strategy that works when stuff gets done.  All you have to do is to sift through your experience and remember what worked for you.  When the penny drops, you will discover that there are now a whole raft of things that you can handle with ease. 

What kind of life could you be living, other than the one you are living right now?  When you drift off into a daydream, what do you imagine for yourself as another possible existence?  If you knew that you couldn't fail what else would you be doing?  How often do you think about living a different life?  Would you change your job, your partner, your house, your image, your outlook, your thinking?

I ask some of my coaching clients to identify at least 5 imaginary lives that they might be living.  It is taken from a great book called "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.  It is designed to unlock creativity in thinking.  So if for example you daydream about being a racing driver, a champion figure skater or a sculptor, then I urge you to engage in at least 1 activity that will give you an authentic experience of what life might be like doing your chosen thing.  So if you would secretly like to be racing around the track at Silverstone, why not take some time to do a few circuits of the track just for fun?

Often people discover that when they take the first steps into an experience that has, up until now, been a fantasy, the 'doing' part shifts something meaningful and brings their dream a step closer to reality.  There may be some things that you try and discover that it really isn't you.  You need to do a little 'fantasy shopping' before you find something that fits.  What can you do before the year is out that will allow you to discover something new about yourself?

Do you live and inspired life or are you fearful of consequences?  When I first started coaching I Shelle Rose Charvet's 'Words That Change Minds' and discovered  the Language and Behaviour Profile (LAB) - a process often used in interviewing techniques.  Through a series of questions you are able to determine if a person is pro-active vs reactive.  You can also uncover something about motivation.  The LAB profile calls it 'toward' or 'away from' motivation.  Self explanatory really.  It is synergistic with with inspiration and fear.

Imagine that when you arrived on this earth you were pure potentiality.  A blank sheet of paper, pure in every sense.  Then as your senses developed you learned to be fearful.  Did you know that we are born with only two natural fearful instincts?  They are in-built survival mechanisms.  The first is a natural response to falling and the second of loud noises.  Everything else is then a learned fear.  When you watch small children play, they have very few inhibitions, they care not who is watching them or how loud they laugh or shout.  They are totally uninhibited.  Their play is inspired.  It comes from a creative place of inspiration.

The opposite state of inspiration is fear.  When we are fearful creativity disappears.  Our vibrational energy shifts and often thoughts, words and feelings become heavy and restricted.  How much time do you spend being fearful?  Can you understand that it is a learned behaviour?  Your physiology will always tell you when you are operating out of fear.  You will be able to feel the tension in your muscles.  On the other hand when you feel inspired, you will notice a more relaxed feeling, clearer thinking and an irresistible energy to push forward.  How do you want to live your life day to day?  Choose inspiration and let go of your fear.

If you grew up in a large family, you will no doubt be used to this concept.  If you have ever been in any kind of environment where space has been limited you will have done this.  Think back to when you were a child.  Were you the sort of kid who took what he wanted (or she) or were you the kind of kid who let everybody else have their place first and took what was left?  A lot of that will depend upon your parental indoctrination.  If you were the back of the queue kid, chances are that you might still be playing that role.  Patiently waiting for others to take their place.  Of course the problem with doing that is that you might be missing out on some great opportunities.

 I want you to start your week by making some room for yourself.  You will need to start with a little analysis.  Where are you feeling crowded right now?  Under what circumstances do you find yourself at the back of the queue?  Is your physical space encroached upon at home, work or socially?  Do you have enough psychological space or do you feel that everybody wants a piece of you and there is little if no space left for your own needs?

Take a few moments to assess your space.  Write down the places and situations where you are feeling crowded.  Start by focusing on creating some physical space, from there you can then create space in all other areas of your life.  Identify at least one area and work on it each day of the week so that you experience the 'breathing space'.  Making room for yourself is pivotal the achievement of your true desires and ambitions, the place from which creativity flows. 

You might remember a couple of blog entries ago that I talked about getting my new coaching clients to write their life story.  It is a powerful tool for reflection, insight and identification of trends.  It is a very privileged window into the worlds of extraordinary people.  The truth is, each and everyone of you reading this are also extraordinary.  No matter how mundane you might think your day has been, there are no doubt a whole series of wonderful things that you have just happened, perhaps things you might have taken for granted.   

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to write your life story, then take a couple of hours to sit down and do it.  You will discover some interesting things about you, your world and how you view things.  Most people are truly amazed at how much they have achieved without a great deal of planning.  Things just seemed to happen somehow.  Imagine then brining a new level of consciousness to your future story!  You can move from writing your life story to righting your life story.  You see the thing is this - you have an opportunity each and every day to decide what will will be written on your pages.  You are the creator of your own story.  How do you want it to be?  What do you want to read about yourself in 6 month's time or a year or in 10 years? 

Now if you have been carrying a hard-luck story round with you and it hasn't got you very far, it is time to change your fortune with something far more inspiring.  The great thing about everybody that I ever meet in a working capacity is that they know what inspiration feels like, looks like or sounds like, or they know somebody who inspires them.  Imagine that you are writing your auto biography every day.  What do you need to do each day to remind you of this exciting opportunity?  Remember, everyday you have a chance to write your story the way you want it to be told.  The future is already present in your mind - make it a great one!

As the daylight hours deplete in Europe, many people experience shifts in mood and behaviour as a result.  It is not really surprising.  If you are a gardener or spend anytime observing nature taking its' natural course, you will see that leaves drop of trees, plants lose their foliage and others go into hibernation.  The animal species also do the same.  As daylight hours reduce there is a natural tendency to 'nest'.  Levels of serotonin in the brain can become depleted and your brain chemistry can change, often resulting in feelings of being blue. 

If you or somebody you know are feeling the winter blues, you don't have to lock yourself away and suffer for the next 6 months. There are a number of things that you can do.  Light boxes work for some.  Hypnotherapy is also a great way to help adjust your internal clock so that you feel happier and more energetic.  Learning techniques that will help you to relax deeply send signals to your brain to produce the 'happy chemicals' is an effective and pr oven way of dealing with this condition.

I am also a great fan and advocate of the MindSpa.  It is a light pulsing and audio sensory unit that is pr oven to improve sleep patterns.  I have been using one of these units since May of this year.  I was introduced to it by Dr Richard Bandler during the Master NLP Practitioner Course.  He demonstrated the use of it in live sessions.  The financial investment is £175 and in my opinion worth every penny.  Check out www.avstim.com and see for yourself.  If you are interested in improving your sleep, eradicating the effects of jet lag, improving mental focus and learning deep relaxation sleep........oh and feeling much brighter and happier in the winter months, this is for you. 

I have always been interested in the fusion of science and spirituality.  If you have ever seen 'What the Bleep.....Down The Rabbit Hole' you will have an appreciation of what I am talking about.  In the past scientists made evaluations based on hard data.  The medical profession as scientists operated in a similar way.  The church played a separate role too, advocating certain principles, on the whole, designed to keep the masses 'under control' - fear orientated belief.

Recently a friend of mine introduced me to the work of Bruce Lipton PhD and the 'Biology of Belief'.  As a scientist Bruce was working on the cloning of human stem cells and after several years of research, he decided to bridge the gap between science and spirit as he ventured in the world of quantum physics.  His work is quite remarkable and I would urge you to pick up a copy of his book by the same name as this blog title.  Bruce discovered that certain myths about genetics were not as we had originally thought them to be.  For example, the belief that the nucleus of a cell was in fact the 'brain' of that cell AND that it dictated the way the cell functioned was disproved.  You can remove the nucleus of a cell and it will live on for 2 - 3 days.  Now if you removed the brain from any other living organism, it would instantly die.  So how can this be?

Consider the belief that many cancers are hereditary, passed down from generation to generation in genetic structures.  If you have had a parent who has died from cancer, heart disease or a number of other fatal conditions, you may be worried that your fate is sealed in similar way.  Now consider that the way your cellular structure works is directly influenced by your environment and your belief system, rather than a blueprint that has been passed on from generation to generation.  Consider that it is the power of perception and belief that has been passed on, not the dis-ease.