I'm so glad you're here! 

Here’s a special report to get you started on your own

playful, eyes-wide-open path to greater

awareness and creativity.

Seven Secret Steps to

Real-World Mindfulness™

Let me start by saying that I am certainly not a guru. 

I'm not a coach.  I'm not a psychotherapist. 

I'm a teacher.  I teach people how to pay attention.

And instead of working with individuals to focus inward and concentrate on watching their thoughts, I help people so that they can first learn to watch the world around them and reconnect to their innate sense of wonder.

Why bother with wonder?  Isn't that kids' stuff?

Absolutely not.  You see, wonder is what opens our eyes, our minds and our hearts to our own possibilities.  Once we're in touch with wonder, we can create our most meaningful and fulfilling relationships with ourselves, our loved ones, and the world.

Wonder makes us come alive.

Mindfulness has been shown to reduce the symptoms of everything from arthritis to depression, from panic attacks to eating disorders. It reduces our blood pressure. It makes us more patient, more compassionate, and more thoughtful. It helps us become less judgmental and more likely to connect with others in a meaningful way.

In short, it makes us healthier and happier.

We're told to meditate in order to develop greater mindfulness, and there are all kinds of ways to deepen awareness through meditation.

So…why doesn’t everyone meditate?

After all, it’s really quite easy to do, right? Just sit quietly, focus on the breath, and watch the mind as though you are an observer.  But just as we might not exercise daily even though we know it's good for us, most of us don't meditate daily despite recognizing that it may be beneficial to do so.

Oh, plenty of us want to meditate. Or, more accurately, we want to want to meditate! But we have all kinds of reasons for not doing so. Which one is your favorite?

“I don’t have any convenient place to do it.”
“I don’t have the time to practice regularly.”
“It’s hard for me to sit still for long periods.”
“I want results within weeks, not years.”
“I’m not sure it will really work for me.”
“I always get distracted.”
“It doesn’t fit with my religion.”
“I’m not the meditating type.”
“I’ve tried it, but I’m just not very good at it.”

Whew! We’ve got some serious barriers when it comes to embracing meditation.  

So, rather than force ourselves to meditate (or feel bad when we just don't get around to it), why not make mindfulness a simple, enjoyable and seamless part of every day?

 

Real-World Mindfulness Secret #1:
You can develop mindfulness WITHOUT meditating.

We’ve lumped “mindfulness” with “meditation” for so long that we’ve forgotten something very important:

Mindfulness deserves top billing. 

Meditation is simply the opening act!

Yes, people do become calm and clear when they meditate. But it’s the state of MINDFULNESS that is our destination. Meditation is simply one of the vehicles we can choose to take us there.

So far, all research about mindfulness has been focused on meditation.  The biggest reason for this is that those brain scan machines happen to be kind of bulky.  People who are sitting in meditation are good subjects—they don’t move around.

It’s just not that easy to measure our brain waves when we are, say, surfing.  Or conducting an orchestra.  Or gardening.  But these activities—and many, many others—are perfectly suited for mindfulness training.

In fact, not only can you develop greater awareness and reap many of the benefits of meditation without actually closing your eyes and sitting still, but it’s actually MORE EFFECTIVE to start with the easy stuff first!

What if you could transform ordinary tasks into mindful celebrations—while keeping your eyes wide open?

What if you could discover the power of mindfulness—in motion?

What if you could laugh your way toward greater awareness by making mindfulness an entertaining GAME?

What if you loved playing these mindfulness games so much that you couldn’t imagine a single day without them?

Real-World Mindfulness Secret #2:
The most effective way to develop mindfulness is to make it ENJOYABLE.

I know you know this intuitively. After all, this is how we learn everything that really matters to us.

We learn best when we are excited about what we’re learning.  I know this firsthand—and so do you!

You do remember kindergarten, don’t you? It was exciting! You got to sing songs, play games, paint, hear stories, and run around. And all that time, you were learning like crazy.

As humans, we are especially motivated to learn when the process is fun.

This isn’t rocket science. Fun is a huge motivator in all things. We like learning the things that are fun to learn!

What are you passionate about? Cooking? Golfing? Gardening? Knitting? Writing? No matter what you love to do, you got started by taking things step by step, and you got rewarded along the way by accomplishing certain tasks and recognizing your progress.

If you’re still doing it, it’s likely that you truly enjoy the activity for its own sake. That’s what having a passion is all about.

Are you likely to develop a passion for meditation? Well, it's possible.

But I can promise you that it is far easier to develop a passion for mindfulness.

Remember when you were a kid on long road trips? You sat in the backseat of the car, elbowing your sister and moaning about how bored you were until you both decided to play Slug Bug. This is a simple game in which you compete to see who sees the next visible Volkswagen Bug (or Beetle) first. When you see one, you shout “Slug Bug!”

Mindfulness should be like playing a giant game of Slug Bug with yourself. You want to pay attention in order to be the winner. Now, at first you might look out the window, watching intently for the next Volkswagen. After a while, you get distracted by the radio, or a cool car you see, or a truck driver waving at you, or your mom telling a story. You forget that you’re supposed to be looking for Volkswagens.

And then, while you’re listening to your dad singing a goofy song, you see it! “Slug Bug!” you shout, victorious.

You drifted, but you came back to paying attention long enough to notice that Volkswagen.

This is the key to incorporating mindfulness into your daily life:  you must learn how to pop into mindfulness mode wherever you are.  With Real-World Mindfulness Training™, you develop the ability to switch gears and go from distraction to attention—right here, right now.

Real-World Mindfulness Secret #3: 

We are more likely to become mindful if we see ourselves as someone who can pay attention.

I have a question for you:  Do you think of yourself as someone who is distracted?  Always busy? Overwhelmed?  Exhausted?

Through Real-World Mindfulness Training™, you can strengthen your ability to be mindful despite distractions.  

Better yet, you can reinforce the idea that you are SOMEONE WHO CAN PAY ATTENTION.

This is the critical sequence we follow in developing mindfulness—

--noticing something

--giving ourselves the chance to pay closer attention

--catching ourselves in the act of being mindful

--reinforcing the fact that we ARE mindful

Remember that this is how we learn every skill! We need simple prompts, chances to exhibit our skill, and reinforcement when we do so.

Unfortunately, meditation is, by its very nature, quiet, solitary and not suited to exuberant shouts of “Slug Bug!”—or anything else.

That’s a pity, really. It would really liven up those meditation sessions!  So, what we need to do is build in a way to reinforce the fact that we are paying attention so we can begin to see ourselves as being mindful.

Real-World Mindfulness Secret #4: 

We learn best in settings in which we feel comfortable.

I like to think of mindfulness as this big, wonderful house. Now, you can go up to the front door and knock politely. You will be allowed in as a guest in a serene living room where you can join plenty of other people who are quietly meditating. Good things are happening there.

Or, you can saunter to the back door, step into the kitchen, smell the freshly-baked cookies, taste the warm chocolate chips in your mouth, sip a steaming cup of tea, listen to the lively music playing, admire the leaded glass windows, dance a jig, meet some fascinating people, engage in thoughtful conversation, and finish with a round of hugs.

Same house, different rooms.

Mindfulness opportunities abound wherever you are.

But where would you rather hang out?

You learn best when you are enjoying the process. Not only is it okay to have fun while learning mindfulness—it is absolutely essential if you want to make it an integral part of your life!

Real-World Mindfulness Secret #5:         

We learn best when we tap into our own natural learning style.

Now, everyone is different.

We each have a unique combination of what is called Multiple Intelligences. You are “smart” in several different ways, and although you can certainly develop greater skill in all areas, you are naturally attracted to one or two dominant ways of learning.

Real-World Mindfulness Training™ techniques are closely tied to the concept of Multiple Intelligences first proposed by Harvard professor Dr. Howard Gardner more than 30 years ago.  Others have added to his work since then, and many educators around the world have recognized that it is possible to teach all subjects more effectively by focusing on the eight types of intelligences. 

Here’s the list of intelligences—or “smarts”—that we’re going to be playing with:

*linguistic—learning through words, both written and spoken

*logical/mathematic—learning through numbers, graphs and formulas

*musical—learning through sound, including music and natural tones

*bodily/kinesthetic—learning through movement and the use of your body

*spatial/visual—learning through aspects of visual stimuli, including shape, color, light, shadow, texture, and three-dimensional images

*naturalistic—learning through direct contact with nature/living things

*interpersonal—learning through knowing others and developing relationships

*intrapersonal—learning through contemplation and observation

We understand intuitively that people are good at different things.  We all have friends who shine in certain areas but may be weaker in others--and we're the same way.  So, not only does Multiple Intelligences theory make sense--it's something we already understand.

Take a look at this last one on the list —intrapersonal. Those who are gifted or especially developed in terms of their intrapersonal intelligence are naturally attracted to meditation.

They like to be quiet. They like to think about thinking. They enjoy working alone in their own space. They are inspired by contemplation.

That’s great. Really, it is.

But what about everybody else?

Only a small percentage of the population learns new things best by being still, alone, silent and introspective.

So why are there no “acceptable” ways to learn mindfulness other than meditation?

The good news: there are many effective ways to develop mindfulness, and you should start with the one that you are most attracted to naturally!

Real-World Mindfulness Secret #6:
We need everyday mindfulness triggers that are ABSOLUTELY UNAVOIDABLE.

It’s not hard to be mindful.

It’s just hard to remember to be mindful!

What we need are consistent triggers to remind us to be more aware and fully present.

I’m happy to admit that I am a neuroscience geek. There is nothing more fascinating to me than the human mind, and I regularly research the heck out of the latest brain news.

You see, I like a healthy dose of logic mixed in with my mindfulness. It’s fun to learn about how the brain works, and we might as well incorporate this information into our approach to mindfulness training.

The Real-World Mindfulness Training™ program is solidly planted in a patch of neuroscience and sprinkled with education theory. We focus on stimulating our brains, creating new connections, and training our minds.

This is not just another “breathe in, breathe out, chew slowly, scan your body” program. Those traditional mindfulness exercises work beautifully for those who are attracted to quiet, introspective ways of learning--those who have developed or enjoy developing their intrapersonal intelligence.

The Real-World Mindfulness Training™ program helps you develop mindfulness in the other seven areas—linguistic, spatial/visual, bodily/kinesthetic, logical/mathematical, musical, naturalistic and interpersonal.

Not only will you develop greater awareness in your dominant form of intelligence, you will start creating new skills in the other areas as well!

You see, by training your mind to pay attention to SELECTED TRIGGERS throughout the day, you will learn how to direct and expand your attention.

Looking FOR something is a different process than looking AT something.  Listening FOR a particular sound stimulates the brain in a different way than simply listening TO a sound. 

Your brain can process way more information than you are capable of absorbing consciously. Right now, your brain is picking up thousands and thousands of bits of information about your surroundings, your mind and your body, and all you’re really doing consciously is reading this special report!

By understanding how the brain selects triggers and recognizing its ability to reinforce attending behavior, you can actually program your mind to become more mindful.

Real-World Mindfulness Secret #7:               

We are far more likely to create a consistent mindfulness practice once we see that it can be simple and fun.

You’re going to laugh when you hear about the “revolutionary” concepts I’ve discovered in my years of research.

Want to know my favorite breakthrough discoveries? Here they are:

1) It’s better to start with the easy stuff FIRST.
2) The SOONER you start, the better.
3) The more FUN it is, the FASTER you will develop your mindfulness skills.

Pardon me for saying so, but, um, duh.

That all sounds fairly obvious, right?

So, why are there no programs that make mindfulness EASY, FAST and FUN?

It’s simply this:  WE ARE ATTACHED TO THE IDEA THAT MINDFULNESS REQUIRES YEARS OF MEDITATION.  This is what I like to refer to as the “dirty little secret” about meditation.

It’s kind of funny when you think about it. You see, most mindfulness meditation programs are based on Buddhist principles.

I’ve been a student of Buddhism for 30 years, and have tremendous respect for its values and philosophy.

But you don’t need to study for decades to understand the core principle of Buddhism: ATTACHMENT LEADS TO SUFFERING.

So, it seems reasonable to ask this: why be so attached to meditation? If clinging to an idea causes suffering, we should release it, right? If we find it difficult to let go of a particular belief, that’s a sign that we should explore letting go of it.

It’s time to open our eyes. 

The Real-World Mindfulness Training™ program releases you from this attachment. You’re free!

Instead of spending hours in meditation and then bringing that kind of concentration and awareness to your everyday activities, we are going to start with the everyday stuff.

That’s right. With Real-World Mindfulness Training™, you learn how to pay attention to what’s going on around you before tackling what’s going on inside you. You need to sharpen your senses and expand your awareness, and that’s a whole lot easier to do when you can use sights, sounds, scents, textures, spaces, movement, numbers and nature as triggers.

You must learn how to be a NONJUDGMENTAL OBSERVER, and believe me, it is much harder to be nonjudgmental when you are observing your own thoughts! Better to start with stimuli that aren’t so “loaded”…

I mean, doesn’t that make sense to you?

Once you’ve made Real-World Mindfulness a habit, you will actually be attracted to meditation like never before. In fact, you are far more likely to embrace meditation once you understand the appeal and value of paying attention!

How will Real-World Mindfulness improve your life?

You already know what it’s like to be mindful. In those moments that have created your clearest memories, you were fully present. That’s why you remember everything in such detail!

Whenever you experience a moment of pure joy—you are mindful.
Whenever you achieve a peak physical experience—you are in the moment.
Whenever you notice colors popping or experience a memory based on a single smell—you are paying attention.
Whenever you look at your child with awe and wonder and an overwhelming feeling of fullness—you are fully present.

Your Real-World Mindfulness practice will vastly increase the quality and quantity of your FAVORITE MOMENTS OF THE DAY.

And, when it comes right down to it, isn’t that what you want in life?

Greater joy. More laughter. A real sense of connection and fulfillment.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, what your religion is, where in the world you live, or whether or not you’ve ever meditated in your entire life.

I have been deeply rewarded by watching as this approach has healed relationships, strengthened families, inspired new life passions and even saved lives by simply reconnecting people to the wonder of the world around and within them.

Use it every day. Use it everywhere. Play with mindfulness while you are LIVING YOUR LIFE.

If you’re tired of feeling frustrated about your meditation practice (or the one you keep thinking you’ll start), I encourage you to start playing with mindfulness in order to make YOUR moments count.

It’s easy.

It’s fun.

It's FREE.

And it works.

I offer three FREE mindfulness courses on this site.

Get started here