Join me tomorrow evening 6.30-8.30pm for The Mind Spa at Molton House, private members club, London W1.
It’s an evening for professionals, business owners and those looking for peace and progress in all aspects of their lives.

It’s really an opportunity to connect to yourself: we have such busy minds and such busy lives. It will help you to relax, chill our and take stock. There’ll be a short relaxation meditation led by my guest and friend, yoga teacher to execs, Thierry Giunta. They’ll also be an opportunity to connect with others; many networking occasions can be soul-less. By connecting more deeply with ourselves we tend to be more open to others. The evening is an ideal space to make the kind of contacts that may be useful for us personally, professionally and business. I will also be doing a very short exercise to help you focus on personal and professional priorities.

Tomorrow is attracting a fair amount of media interest and the attendees also include a number of people from healing professions as well as some who are in corporate life or changing career. If that appeals then join me and our host Jessica Huie of JHPR for a lovely evening.

The Mind Spa

“Connect & progress”

@ Molton House,

43 South Molton Street | London W1K 5RS

6.30-8.30pm Tue 13 July 2010

Cost £15 RSVP: rasheed@rasaru.com

I was just watching BBC London News and was thrilled to hear that little Harvey Parry, whose story we featured on The Rasheed Show (my pilot TV show) is on his way back from the USA… with new prosthetic legs. This is fantastic news and is down to the tireless efforts of Harvey, his family and fiends and media support including the BBC coverage. Wonderful news and well done to the Harvey Parry Appeal Fund and everyone who has supported them

I have 5 questions for you. Four of them came to me a couple of days ago and the last yesterday. I asked them of the professionals / entrepreneurs at my new event The Mind Spa yesterday at Molton House in central London. And I invite you to ask them of yourself.

The awareness, asking of and gently acting on what emerges may be enriching and enlightening:

1) One thing about you that’s already great: Too often we overlook the magic we already have. Too often we see the imperfections and overlook our strengths and thus miss our possibilities. So many people I coach struggle with this. They have been blinded by - and bought into - the lies that they have been told about themselves throughout their lives.

2)One thing thing to let go of to create space: Perhaps there are physical things that are cluttering your home/ work space and hampering your emotional space. Let them go. Perhaps there are other issues to let go of.

3) One thing to accept and embrace: Sometimes in life there is no problem and some times the is no solution. The gift of life is simply to embrace it. Spend some time with this question gently.

4) One thing to focus on on the the coming hours and days: Too often our minds are ineffective as our attention is spit into so many areas of concern and distraction. What one thing would make the most positive impact on your life - and based on that what should your attention, earnestness and action be focused on.

5) One person who can help you along the way: No-one is an island. No one or nation is completely independent without relationship to another. We are part of one whole. The more we fight that actually re-inforces that fact. What person can help you with the personal, professional or other concerns that face you. Sit with this. It may be someone you know by name or a type of person you need to seek. Who may be able to help you find this person - where might you begin.

Go about these questions with a light heart.

Work, work, work. If you’re not careful this will be the very nature of your existence from leaving education to retirement (if ever reach it). This is the case whether you’re employed, your own boss, freelance or indeed in the arts.

The fact is that rest is essential to your growth, goals, creativity, sanity and your health. Of course we all rest and relax and recharge in different ways… which is great. But it can be wise to avoid the temptation with filling your time out, holiday or breaks with too much activity. Very often it is the space that you need in order to attain clarity, perspective and focus for the road ahead.

You may feel that you are so busy you don’t have time to take out. But without the time out you’re productivity, clarity and energy levels will be greatly affected. I remember when I worked in the media - I had a full on job and worked crazy hours without a lunch-break. Sure I worked long hours but my productivity levels dipped so significantly after lunch I would have been far wiser and far more efficient had I given my self the lunch break and trimmed back the hours.

Time after time when I’m coaching clients the first thing we address is giving them down-time, social time, free time, family time, looking-forward time. The impact is often profound.

Have a wonderful day.

Rasheed is a leading coach and author of The Gift of Inner Success

Funny how we obsess about the junk we feed our mouths and overlook that which feeds our minds.

This time of year our physically well-being is something we tend to, quite rightly, turn our attention to. Perhaps you’ve tried or considered dieting, losing weight, stopping smoking, detoxing and new habits. This can have all sorts of benefits - one of which is that it actually helps re-balance mind and body, because we tend to overly live life in the mind.

But while you may have (often) thought about what you are feeding your body, how often have you thought about what you are feeding your mind? Perhaps you are a parent and you may be quite mindful about what your child’s mind consumes, but what about your mind? What has been the mental diet you have consumed throughout your lifetime and what has the result been?

If you suffer from stress, unhappiness, anxiety, low self esteem and self-doubt, more often than not these are dis-eases of the mind. They may well, sooner or later, have an impact on your body, but the root is your mind.

The invitation is for you first to become aware of this. As you become aware of this a shift can begin to happen.
To help this shift I invite you to do nothing… That’s right, most of the time we do something: we take action, set goals, make plans, set to work etc. But by doing nothing I am inviting you to take a break from your mind.
Switching off the TV, going for a walk in the park, meditation, exercise, being silent are all ways of helping this process. Bit by bit your over-interest in an overly-noisy mind will begin.

Through this space it is possible to arrive (back) at peace of mind. You will be surprised how appealing and even healing this is. You will be surprised how many of your ‘issues’ with you and others will fall away. You will find yourself being more quiet, content, alert, compassionate. Far less interested in speculation, strife, arguing, fighting, gossiping, comparing, worrying. Your sense of self will shift and become more light and subtle.

Rasheed is a leading motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success.

2010 is underway which means back to work for billions worldwide. And that means back to work for you too - unless you’re one of the few who cannot, need not or choose not. But as you settle back at your desk, shop, factory or workplace do not forget play.

Whether you work for yourself or someone else it’s all too easy to get caught up in the serious stuff of work / business. It’s also easy to forget that lightheartedness, humour, fun, playfulness are also important aspects of not just your personal life, but your professional one too. Used aptly the spirit of fun can boost productivity, overcome negativity, help problem-solve, boost innovation … and beat off boredom. And very importantly it can charm, disarm and enchant bosses, customers, colleagues and suppliers.

But as you settle back to work and focus on your work / business objectives, do not forget your own. So here are my 3 Tips for success, progress and happiness in 2010…but ensure you build some fun into these too.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading coach, motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success.

Here are a few tricks that the mind can play to be aware of:

What happened in the past:
As valuable as this can be for learning / growth, this can keep you obsessing about the past - or your assumptions based on what you think you know about it - rather than where you are right now. You only need to look at the world political ’stage’ to see how this plays out.

What should have happened:
Haha this is an even deeper mind trap. It’s a tempting one, but it can be a difficult hole to get out of. And while you’re stuck in it life will be passing you by.

What should be happening:
This one is far more appealing and tempting. It’s related to it’s deliciously tempting friend ‘What if’. Their value is that they it can help you to explore possibilities. However, beware it can leave you at odds with what is.

Stay tuned for more potholes to beware of.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and is author if The Gift of Inner Success.

This morning I openned my email and read a note from someone desperate for my help to help them reduce the level stress in their life. They are not alone; countless people I meet have busy lives and minds. Whether you’re a manager at a multi-national who rarely sees the daylight or a mother at home who barely gets to sleep, there’ll be natural pressures in life that will arise - but very often we overcomplicate our home and working lives. However some simple steps will help you reduce your stress.

1. Know what’s important: keep your eye on your goal not the crowd - otherwise you’ll become overwhelmed and distracted. Start by asking yourself what’s most important to you in life, at work and in your relationships. Knowing this will keep you balanced and will help you keep all aspects of your life in perspective.

2. Keep it neat & tidy: Our environment plays a major part in our sense of control. Keep a clear desk and a tidy home - these things often reflect your state of mind. Create simple files, systems and process that support you. Start and end the day with a clear slate and a clear space wherever you can - it helps hugely.

3. Avoid conflict, gossip and arguments: These things take up a huge amount of energy which we store as an inner pressure in or bodies for hours, days even years. Smile, let go and walk on by.

4. Get out more: Over my years in workplace I’ve noticed we take shorter breaks, skip lunch and stay couped up for too long. Take regular breaks, book your holidays, put in you time and go for walks. We are part of nature: a stroll in the park, by the stream and even a walk round the block will help. Being in nature is a key part of our nature.

5. Get support: Whether you’re busy running a team and / or raising kids you can’t do it all by yourself. Know when to delegate, articulate and when to get help. The life you seek is largely shaped by company you keep. Avoid negative people and make room for the positive ones. Ensure that friends, families and family are on board otherwise reduce the time and energy you spend on them to that which is healthy for all.

6. Stop projecting, reflecting and protesting: Much stress is brought on by us wanting things to be other than how they are. The past is dead, the future unborn. Happiness and progress emerge by accepting yourself, others and circumstances as they are right now.

7. Less is more: Reduce the time you send watching TV, Online. This will give your time to be, breathe, be creative and become re-energised. If you write action list keep them to a maximum of 3 things per day this will force you to do what’s most important. Set shorter times for meetings and emails this helps everybody.

8. Listen to your body not everybody: If you listen your body will tell you when it’s time to work, rest, eat, sleep. Sometimes stress is telling you to take time out and to get yourself back in balance. The route of the word dis-ease is exactly what happens when we stop listening to ourselves.

9. Be thankful for what you’ve got: There’s much wisdom in the title of this ’70s song. The more you appreciate what you have the less pressure and stress you’ll feel and the more resourceful you become.

10. Be present: When pressure and stress does arive be present and alert. The positive side of such situations is that we often produce our best work, creativity and grow and develop by responding to lives challenges - wisely and calmly - as they arise.

Funnily enough we feel that stress is something that happens to us brought on by the world outside. Whilst many life events are beyond our control our relationship to them is within our gift. The more mindful you are of what you’re goals are, what’s realistic, gaining support, caring, sharing, keeping life simple and enjoying it, the more it will move from stress to progress and happiness.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a life coach, speaker and business coach. He is also author of The Gift of Inner Success

Sometimes in life there are no solutions.

Sometimes - when we are still enough - we realise there are no real problems, merely situations, stimulations and sensations that we through conditioning label ‘good’, ‘bad’ and ‘indifferent’.

Sometimes we get to a point in life where we are ready to stop fighting and embrace ourselves, life and everybody else. Sometimes we are keen to move from being caught up in the mind to mindfulness and peace of mind.

If this is true for you then you may find my new ‘Mindfulness Sessions’ very useful. The one-to-one sessions at my studio - or by phone - begin and end in 3 minutes silence and provide the space for us to look at life wholly rather from a perspective.

For more information or to book a session call me on 020 7207 1082 or email me rasheed@rasaru.com

I touch on some of these issues in the interview clip below at the launch of my book The Gift of Inner Success

Keen to explore mindfulness further, then also visit MarcusFellowes.Com

A very Happy New Year to you. Now let’s make that wish come to life.

Each year Millions of us make – only to break - New Years Resolutions within weeks. Perhaps it’s happened to you. So what is the secret to actually staying on track and moving ahead? By setting “holistic, specific goals for yourself, your health and your wealth” you can put yourself on track for progress, success and happiness for life.

The main reasons we fail to keep our resolutions or achieve success and happiness is we’re not holistic, specific and positive. We’re prone to negativity and set the goals ‘we think we should’ rather than ‘we truly want’. Resolutions to quit smoking or lose weight are great but you need to set specific goals in the context of your whole life that really motivate you. Only then are you likely to take action and succeed.

Rasheed’s Top Ten Tips for Resolutions that Stick:

1. Forget what others do – do it for you. Forget the pressure from mum, mates and gossip magazines. Set goals for you…take responsibility and follow them through. But before you do give yourself credit for all you’ve achieved / overcome in your life so far. This will put you in the best mindset to progress.

2. Think ahead …set 3 year goals instead: We often over-estimate what we can achieve in a year and underestimate what we can in 3. Set a 3 year plan – as businesses do - it gives you scope / time to set and achieve goals in all areas of your life /career. This is especially true if you’re seeking a major change.

3. Be holistic: any resolution like ‘to stop smoking’ must be set in the big picture of your life. Starting with the big picture of what you want in your whole life, career and relationships - to give you the motivation to identify and take the steps necessary. Identify what’s most important in these 3 areas and set a goal for each of these areas.

4. Start with the end in mind – when you go on holiday or make any trip you start by deciding / visualising your destination and then plan the steps and resources you’ll need. This sets your mind on success. Apply this to your life goals and you’ll fly.

5. Your self, your health and your wealth: When setting your goals in point 3, aim address and to make balance spiritual, financial and physical wellbeing - this will help satisfy mind, body and spirit.

6. Be specific – Identify the what, why, where, when, how much / many of your goals. Like shopping the clearer the list you have the quicker and easier the shopping trip.

7. Be positive – millions of people focus on what they don’t want and get it. Act on what you do instead. Let go of negative relationships and build positive ones. We are all dealt different cards the key is to accept and understand the game, adopt a positive face and play the hand you have to perfection.

8. Small, steady steps: Break each task into small steps, this helps your mind be clear on what you need to do and become confident about

9. See everything as feedback: Flowers grow through by both sun and rain. Champions become so by learning from trails and triumph in equal measure.

10. Get support – Who do you know who can help you? you can’t / needn’t do it alone.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business coach. He is also author of The Gift of Inner Success which is launched on Feb 3 2009 at The British Library.