(Damn, just lost my original post...wasn't logged in!)

What struck me the most in this Note is this notion that our thoughts to a huge extent create our reality. It is something I have been toying with in the back of my mind these last few months that, instead of beating myself up constantly for all the ways I fall short, fail to rise to the tasks I've set before me, all the ways I've failed over the years, I could just rewrite my storyline. Which sort of sounds like cheating...but it means instead, giving myself credit for what I have managed, for what is, for all the positive ways I've changed and evolved. So there's still a lot of growth to take place - what would I do without those items to strive for in my life? To someone else in my shoes, my life might seem pretty perfect!

I like what Pema Chodron says, too, about "just dropping our storylines," ceasing to cling to them. But I think I might like, for right now, the idea of rewriting my storyline to see all the positive in it, rather than only the negative. As Esther & Jerry say, we can choose how to look at the world and how to interpret events.

My Eureka moment? Well, I'm hearing the same noisy message as yesterday - the "It's time NOW to DO IT, to put these mind shifts into practice" message. So for me the part about 'Breakthroughs, Stabilization & Integration' really struck a chord. It's all well and fine to have these nice conceptual moments of inspiration and clear perspective, but until these conceptual shifts are used to "create structures which integrate these into our lives," the work is not complete. And - not coincidentally - the way to deal with fear and worry is......surprise! by "getting busy" and by "taking positive action right away." Nike was really onto something with "Just do it," huh?

So, how do I plan to integrate this into my life? My big hurdle right now is that, although I go to yoga and exercise classes regularly, it's long been time for me to take up the reins and direct my own practice. I've had a yearning, a personal directive, to do this for awhile now - to learn more, go deeper, play, explore and most of all, to lead and trust MYSELF in my own practice. It's crazy - I've even got a separate little space of my own just down the driveway, all emptied out and waiting for me to come and play in it! But I just can't seem to get there...I will, though. The question is, when? I can just hear Brian..."now, now, NOW! Now is always a good time!"

The irony is I'd rather sit down at my desk each morning and do the PhilosophersNote of the day first! Hmmm....

That's excellent advice: just focus on ONE thing (as opposed to ALL the things I'm not doing, stressed about, etc.), and also this notion I've often heard you talk about of RITUALS - doing something consistently, on a daily basis, building a habit, creating a practice - "developing a relationship with it," as Christine Kane, another of my favorite 'optimal living' gurus, says. Coming from a yogic and Buddhist perspective, this idea of engaging our 'action items' as a PRACTICE is really useful to me...they're not just items we check off and do and forget about, they are an expression of how we want to live our lives on a daily basis...which ultimately leads us deeper into learning to be present in each moment.

Thanks again for the wonderful advice...I'll let you know how it goes!

My biggest takeaway: Well, there are tons of gems in this Note, but the biggest ones for me are all the ones that have to do with JUST DOING IT: "Start immediately"..."Get Busy and Keep Busy!"..."Knowledge isn't power until it is applied." I've come a long way this past year in releasing myself from old, negative patterns, but I've been stuck on the same 'action items' I say I want to do in my life and yet never seem to get around to doing.....hm.

How can I start implementing this wisdom? I guess by making my 'DOING' item on any given day my very first priority. I seem to have a lot of trouble with this one...moving to ACTION. Any tricks people would like to share?

The #1 thing I got out of today's Note? The lesson regarding EFFECTIVENESS vs. EFFICIENCY with regard to people. Save the efficiency for use with my time & my schedule, but don't subject the people in my life to it in the same manner. This is a good reminder when dealing with my 6-year-old son, to whom I find myself saying more than I like, 'c'mon, we don't have time!' Ditto my husband.

What can I do in my life to implement it? By dropping my personal agenda and priorities on a regular basis just to hang with them.

Thanks for this Note!

Posting a day late here...The two things that really stuck with me throughout the day about this note were 'No apologies!' with regard to "Being Impeccable with my Word," and that 'Sometimes just doing it is enough' with regard to "Doing my Best." I'll start with the second one here...

As a recovering Perfectionist (ha, ha), it's really important for me to let go of quality so this Agreement really freaked me out. In fact, it's probably a problem (or challenge) I face with a lot of the self-help/optimal living literature - this calling to do the best, be your best, be the best, make lots of money, be a success, live out loud. It makes me want to curl up in a ball (so obviously there's something here to work on!). However, I found a lot of the more Buddhist-slanted literature (vs. Western ideas of success, etc.) helped me find a path through this. It's important most days for me just to "do" and not worry about "best." I'm not ready for warrior-status yet! Interesting that another Eastern idea, that of Kaizen, has one focus on small, consistent steps rather than big leaps of greatness. Baby steps, I can handle!

The other thought of "No apologies!" was really big for me last year. This came up with "Be impeccable with your word" in terms of not blaming and judging MYSELF. Seems I always feel guilty and apologetic about what I do/don't do and what I really want. So reminding myself, "No apologies!" helped get me out of that flustered mindset. Just be clear and concise, say no more than what you're willing to live up to, end of story.

I'm putting this book down on my list of ones to read the full version of. I'm really intrigued by 'Toltec wisdom' and this notion that most parenting and socialization is a somewhat regrettable process of 'domestication' - especially as a grapple with issues of how to raise my own son (who is 6-going-on-16 right now). I'll definitely check it out! Thanks, Brian!