The wealth that money can't buy
Many years ago, I read The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and really enjoyed Robin Sharma’s writing. So did 15 million other people, and that’s just one of the books that he’s written! Anyway, suffice it to say that I was thrilled to go and hear him talk about his new book ‘The Wealth That Money Can’t Buy’.
It’s fair to say that I feel a kind of affinity to a man who started life as a litigation lawyer, then focussed his efforts on wellbeing and loves writing! I wondered what more he could possibly have to say. Quite a lot, it transpires, judging by the size of his latest volume.
It was listening to Robin that inspired me to write a list of things that I wanted to stop doing that I was talking about in the last blog, and which has led to some great new habits for me.
He also talked about our primal genius, the inner wisdom that sits within all of us and connects us to an innate universal wisdom. It is this genius or wisdom that has enabled me to grow and learn in a way that has unlocked my enthusiasm for life, given me a shine that can’t be dulled and constantly reminds me to dive into my own aliveness. Something to be celebrated. In every. Single. Moment.
Photo Credit Chang Duong
This is what meditation has taught me. To have your own primal genius revealed is a special moment, and one that is truly unforgettable. I often talk about my experiences on the 64-hour Intensive Retreat, which is all about making this connection with yourself. Once made, our intuition is easier to follow. Robin mentioned that instinct is far more powerful than intellect and I totally agree. This inner wisdom is not about solving maths equations or being ‘clever’. It’s about coming home to our true nature. And that place is positively life-affirming.
Some other snippets from Robin included maintaining a daily gratitude practice as it’s a fantastic antidote to fear. We all have so much fear lurking, and whilst I swear by daily gratitude’s, I hadn’t thought of it like this before.
Deep meaningful rest is hugely beneficial for the body and brain. Robin spoke about this in terms of forging memories but also explained why this is where ideas incubate. It’s a bit of a cliché to say that I don’t have to think of ideas for my fiction stories, they simply arrive, but it’s true. Give the mind space to rest and it percolates and composts of its own accord and is then able to present you with some of your best ideas, without you really trying.
Robin, author of the 5am Club, is very keen on intention setting. He says that vague plans lead to vague results and lower productivity. I agree. He suggests these five journal prompts for the morning. I have adapted mine slightly and you can do the same, but here’s a starter for ten:
1. What am I grateful for today?
2. Where am I winning?
3. What will I let go of today?
4. What does my ideal day look like?
5. What needs to be said at the end of the day?
I really like this last question. In a gentle tone, what words of encouragement do you need to say to yourself? Maybe it’s a ‘well done, you’ve got this’. Or maybe it’s ‘you are loved’, ‘this will pass, you are doing your best’, or ‘you showed up today and gave it your all. Good for you.’
Whilst I don’t refer to my journal at the end of the day, it’s the first thing I read when I set about my questions the following day, and you don’t need to spend a long time over it. Try it, you might be surprised at the results.
There’s an abundance of wealth that money can’t buy. If you’re ready to take your meditation journey to the next level, I have two spaces remaining on the Intensive this July. Are you ready?
In the meantime, bring your awareness to the fore in the busy times and the quiet times. Let your own practices evolve. The places they can take you are worth the effort, and you deserve to have the wealth that money can’t buy.