The key to success in any area or aspect of life, personally and professionally, is simplicity. The more complicated or intricate something is the greater the potential for mistakes, misunderstandings and breakdowns. A nice example of this is given by Dr Mike Evans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo&feature=share on achieving optimum health. He clearly shows how one simple activity can over time transform the quality of our lives, physically, mentally and emotionally if practiced daily.

The idea of simple solutions can also be applied to most if not all the problems and challenges we experience in our daily lives. Such experiences can be significant sources of stress and take up much of our energy and focus trying to redress or control them. What if there was one common solution to such instances, one approach that had a positive impact regardless of the actual situation? (similar to the relationship between your overall health and that one activity detailed in the video clip above). Well there is such an approach for any challenge or difficulty you face in work, relationships, home-life etc.

This approach involves a slight shift in our awareness for it to really work. Consider the following: everything that is in your awareness right now is a fact. In other words it is existing, it is present, it is or has just happened. When we say No to what already is, then we create resistance and stress for ourselves. The sensible thing is to accept it and from that position or attitude do what we can to change it or let it go and move on. However, an even simpler approach is to forget about having to accept everything, just notice what already is in your awareness and see that it already has been accepted by life.

The fact that we see something as a problem or a nuisance is really just an ego judgement and bears nothing to the reality of life. if something is happening or is present then it is already accepted and your opinion on it is really irrelevant, so don’t bother worrying about accepting or developing the practice of acceptance, simply relax more into noticing what already is here, like it or not life accepted it into being.

Those of you celebrating Christmas with family have a wonderful opportunity to see this at work in yourself. Over the next few days, notice who shows up in your life, notice how people behave, notice little conflicts or arguments that arise between family members, and while you are noticing all this simply realise that all this is part of life and perfectly ok, whether you like it or not has no impact on its right to exist.

Such a stance helps you to really relax and enjoy more of the everyday content of life.

So if the turkey gets burnt, or you receive another pointless gift from your “favourite” aunt, or whatever pushes your buttons this time of year…just remember it is happening anyway, it is all part of the bigger picture created by life which you are a part of. Simply notice all that life brings to you regardless of your opinion of it…..and if at times you find that hard to ‘do’, then just have some more wine…… ………………….

Happy Christmas or Holidays or whatever you are doing!