Peter Baksa: How to Begin to Achieve Your Dreams Right Now
Ecclesiastes affirms that “to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
Is everything related? Does everything run in cycles? By watching the cycles in our lives we can become mindful of how our actions naturally lead to larger consequences. One can begin to see the wisdom of small actions. Cultivating healthy habits sets up self-reinforcing positive cycles. Taken individually these tiny actions don’t seem like much; however, the cumulative effect of their presence or absence is undeniable. These cycles can be ignored but they cannot be denied.
Everything in nature moves in cycles. While navigating the waters of life in the natural we must know how to blend these cycles in our lives and in our work. It can be illustrated by knowing when to speak, when to pause, when to act, when to remain silent, and when to wait. Empowered by this understanding one can anticipate and prevent problems and pave the way to a particular desire or end goal.
One of the habits of our fast-paced lives is to neglect to see the wisdom of small action. In my books I refer to this as incremental intentioning. Often times we set large goals that often seem outlandish from today’s perspective. Resolving a financial problem, saving a marriage from dissolution, healing a disease, placing yourself in a position to buy the house of your dreams, attracting the romantic partner you have always desired are all reachable goals and should be set straightaway. But that is not enough.
Rather then becoming overwhelmed by the new objective and either standing static or giving up, ask yourself the question, “What is the right reaction or action that I can take right now?” If you are attempting to lose weight and seem to always fall back into old habits of eating or physical passivity, set your intention for that moment, that day, to stay on course and eat healthy, to do research on the effects of various foods, to do something in the way of exercise. Now, rather than initiating these behaviors “when you think of it,” make them a part of your daily routine and do them every day. When you have successfully blended this pattern into the rhythm of your life, you will begin to feel the victories each day and see the synchronicities that are an out cropping of this new found life style design tool.
For more by Peter Baksa, click here (http://www NULL.huffingtonpost NULL.com/peter-baksa).
For more on mindfulness, click here (http://www NULL.huffingtonpost NULL.com/news/mindfulness).
“Think Yourself Young” (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Think-Yourself-Young-ebook/dp/B006KSM8O2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1326552540&sr=8-1) now for sale – I discuss diet and meditational techniques according to the Tibetan Monks that I was able to interview living amongst them while at the Lama Temple in Beijing China. These folks appear to be able to stop physiological time dead in it’s tracks with the net result being a high quality life beyond 120 years.
Peter Baksa (http://peterbaksa NULL.tumblr NULL.com/) has written “The Point of Power,” (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Point-Power-Change-Your-Thoughts/dp/098324720X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305558537&sr=8-1) & “It’s None of My Business What You Think of Me!” (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/None-Business-What-Think-ebook/dp/B0065OGJ6Y/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2) available now on Amazon.
Bonus: Like Peter on Facebook (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pages/Peter-Baksa/187595501290305) today and receive a free chapter of “The Point of Power.” (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pages/Peter-Baksa/187595501290305)
Follow Peter Baksa on Facebook (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pages/Peter-Baksa/187595501290305).
Follow Peter Baksa’s blog (http://peterbaksa NULL.tumblr NULL.com/).
Check out this live interview (http://answers4thefamilyblog NULL.com/the-point-of-power/). Copyright 2011.
Related Reading:
The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Intention-Experiment-Using-Thoughts-Change/dp/0743276965?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=546246187-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0743276965)
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Heaven-Real-Little-Astounding-Deluxe/dp/0849948363?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0849948363)
The Secret of Dreams (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Secret-Dreams-Yacki-Raizizun/dp/B003VS0O9U?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B003VS0O9U)
Dissolution (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Dissolution-Charles-S-Maier/dp/0691007462?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0691007462)
Consequences: A Retrieval Artist Novel (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Consequences-Retrieval-Kristine-Kathryn-Rusch/dp/0451459717?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0451459717)
12 Ways To Lose 20 Pounds
You’ve set your ideal weight goal, told your friends your plans for weight loss (http://www NULL.huffingtonpost NULL.ca/2012/01/02/health-new-years-resolutions-_n_1170066 NULL.html) and avoided those tasty temptations during dessert. But still, those extra 20 pounds don’t seem to be coming off.
If you find yourself losing motivation and falling back into old habits a few weeks into 2012, we have a cheatsheet — a 12-part system — from fitness expert and new mom Sara Haley (http://www NULL.sarafitness NULL.com/) on shaving off those last stubborn pounds.
Haley, who had a baby boy in March 2011, lost the 30 pounds she gained and was back into her pre-baby body in four months.
“The first half was easy, the second half was no joke — I really had to work,” Haley says.
So grab your mat, weights and schedule in 20 minutes — that’s all it takes, but you’ll be working your butt off — to get back into creating a new you in 2012. For Haley, the magic number this year is 20. Each exercise is performed 20 times (in sets of 10 usually) in 20 minutes. For the routines below, Haley uses a 12-pound weight, but feel free to choose a size you’re comfortable with and take as many breaks as you need.
The workout, however, will differ for every body type. Haley recommends scheduling three or four workout dates per week, depending on your schedule, and keeping in mind this workout is not for heel draggers.
“You’re going to have a lot of luck the harder you push, but you have to push to yourself to the max,” she says.
Story Continues Below: Here’s our simple math equation for the year: 12 workouts done 20 minutes in a day will equal 20 pounds lost for 2012:
1. Warm Up:
Part 1: Alternate lifting your knees to your chest four times (right, left, right, left).
Part 2: Alternate kicking your leg to your butt four times (like a hamstring curl). Make sure to use your arms like you are really running. Repeat entire sequence 20 times.
2012 Benefit: By lifting your legs high, your hips and hamstrings will mobilize and your core will activate. As you kick your butt, your quads dynamically stretch as you reach your heel towards your butt. As you pick up your pace, you’ll get your heart rate up and your body ready to work.
2. Total Body Work Out:
Part 1: Begin by squatting with hands on the floor in front of you.
Part 2: Jump your feet back to a push up position and simultaneously lower your chest to the floor.
Part 3: Using your arms to push up, return to squat position.
Part 4: Jump up and clap your hands together. Repeat 20 times.
2012 Benefit: Full body workout that will get your heart rate up quickly.
3. Chop Away:
Part 1: Holding one weight with your feet shoulder width apart, pick up your right toes and your left heel to rotate all the way to the right. As you rotate, bring your free weight up to form a diagonal line from your shoulders.
Part 2: In one motion swing it down over your left leg as you rotate into a lunge. Repeat 10 times and then repeat 10 times to the other side.
2012 Benefit: Full body workout that targets the obliques – one of the best belly blasters around!
4, Froggie:
Part 1: Rotate your hips out with your knees tracking over your toes, and squat as far to the floor as you can, putting your hands on the floor in front of you.
Part 2: Push up from the floor, jumping up in the air. Land with bent knees to protect the joints and go back into your squat to prepare for the next jump. Repeat 20 times and try not to stop in between.
2012 Benefit: Excellent cardio exercise that targets the legs and butt, and opens up the hips.
5. Plank, Jack And Row:
Part 1: Hold a 12 pound weight (or which ever weight you are comfortable with) in each hand and begin in a plank (top of a push up) with the feet wide.
Part 2: Soften the knees and squeeze the legs together (like a jumping jack).
Part 3: Jump back out to your wide plank.
Part 4: Row one weight to your rib cage, keeping your hips square to the floor. Repeat jack and then row on the other side. Repeat 20 times (10 on each side).
2012 Benefit: Better than any crunches you could ever do, a plank will help define your abs and keep your entire core strong. The jack tests the stability of your plank, especially your hips and back, so work towards keeping your hips facing the floor and your shoulder blades squeezed together. The row will also challenge your stability as it strengthens and sculpts your back and shoulders.
6. Shuffle It Off:
Staying on the balls of the feet, quickly step and touch your feet together all the way to the right (Ideally give yourself 15 feet). Shuffle back to the left. This is one rep. Repeat 20 times.
2012 Benefit: Targets the inner and outer thighs, gets your heart rate up, and burns your 2011 calories away.
7. Dip N’ Walk:
Part 1: Sit with your hands behind your butt and feet right under your knees, with your toes lifted off the floor. Hold on to your free weights (to help keep wrists comfortable and stable) and lift your butt up off the floor.
Part 2: Lower your body down by bending at the elbow working the triceps.
Part 3 & 4: After you push back up, keep your arms straight and walk your feet out and in (right, left, right, left). Lower back down into your dip. Repeat ten times leading with the right leg and then ten times leading with the left.
2012 Benefit: Get rid of flabby arms once and for all as you challenge your core, glutes and hamstrings all at the same time.
8. Speed Skaters:
Part 1: Begin with one leg crossed behind the other. Reach your opposite arm across towards the supporting leg.
Part 2: Just like a professional speed-skater, hop laterally (side to side) and cross back with the opposite leg. One rep equals one hop to the right and one hop to the left. Repeat 20 times quickly.
2012 Benefit: As you work for speed, it becomes a great cardio exercise. Targets the “saddlebag” area that is so hard to get rid of – works outer thighs, hips, glutes and abs all at the same time.
9. Tri Push ‘N Plank:
Part 1: Begin in the top of a pushup position with your hands directly underneath your shoulders.
Part 2: Lower yourself down keeping your elbows close to your sides to work the triceps and chest.
Part 3: As you return rotate your body completely to one side and stack your feet into a side plank. Hold for a count of two before returning center. Push up again and rotate to the opposite side. Repeat 20 times (10 on each side).
2012 Benefit: To perform a successful pushup and side plank (let alone 20), your entire body has to stay tight so you actually end up working every muscle in your body. Additionally, by keeping the elbows in tight you work the triceps more than a regular pushup, while finally getting rid of those turkey arms.
10. Core Control:
Part 1: Begin on all fours with your left leg extended back and your right hand behind your head.
Part 2: Round your back to the ceiling and slowly bring your opposing knee and elbow to meet into the center of your body. Repeat 10 times and then 10 times on the other side.
2012 Benefit: Strengthen and lengthen your spine and you work your entire core, especially the neglected lower back.
11. Booty Burn:
Part 1: Holding one weight at chest level, start with your legs shoulder width apart. Squat down with your chest lifted and weight in your heels. Come up quickly so your legs straighten to get full hip extension.
Part 2: Cross your right leg behind your left (enough so you see your right foot on the other side) and lunge down, lowering your weight to the floor. Bicep curl the weight to your chest as you stand back up. Repeat 10 times and then repeat on the other side.
2012 Benefit: By combining these two leg exercises together you’ll tone your entire lower body. You’ll hit up your glutes, quads and hamstrings with the squat and target your outer and inner thighs with the curtsy (remember to squeeze those inner thighs tight as you curtsy lunge).
12. Picture Perfect Bicycles:
Love to work those abs?
Part 1: Lying on your back, with your hands behind your head, pull your knees into your chest and lift your shoulders up off the floor.
Part 2: As you slowly extend one leg out, rotate your torso to the opposite leg. After you rotate, think of lifting up even higher and holding for a few seconds. Repeat on the other side. Repeat 20 times (10 on each side).
2012 Benefit: Strengthen your abs and sculpt your love handles away — the perfect look for 2012.
Related Reading:
A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Dog-Year-Twelve-Months-Four/dp/0812966902?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=546246187-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0812966902)
Ten Week Workout Plan (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Ten-Week-Workout-Plan-ebook/dp/B004GUSD4K?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B004GUSD4K)
Weight Watchers Points Plus Crock Pot Recipes Cookbook (Weight Watchers Points Plus Recipe Collection) (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Watchers-Recipes-Cookbook-Collection-ebook/dp/B006UJHQNY?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B006UJHQNY)
101 Workouts for Women: Everything You Need to Get a Lean, Strong and Fit Physique (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/101-Workouts-Women-Everything-Physique/dp/1600780237?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1600780237)
Pounds & Inches: A New Approach To Obesity (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Pounds-Inches-New-Approach-Obesity/dp/0615427553?SubscriptionId=AKIAJE7QYKLAUOEMSPJQ&tag=ebookplaza-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0615427553)
