Matt Clark Unplugged

Unplug, Less Stress and More Success

// May 29th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Success Tips

In the last few months I have gotten involved with something that I have always wanted to do. Have a wilderness retreat that I could go and hike and bike and spend time outdoors and unplugged. I was up this past week and began to see how this time in nature and unplugged from the noise of the city was incredible for my continued personal growth and also reducing stress.

Two years ago I unplugged the tv, and that was amazing. This freed up some much time in my daily life I was able to get more things done in less time. However, did I clear all the noise in our surroundings? No, this is almost impossiable these days.  I still had wi-fi flying around, lights on, fridge humming in the background etc. Wow, when I think about all the noise that goes on when you live in a urban environment it seems overwhelming.

For most of us we can filter the noise out and focus on the important stuff. It is important to remember that the unconscious mind does not filter it out, it takes it all in. This can tie up our mind, which can limit your ability to focus on things that matter most.

The benefits of unplugging once in awhile can be compared to a physical fitness program. It provides a time for us to calm the  mind and think, gives us more energy, reduces stress and allows us to be at peace with the moment instead of feeding our senses with future and past events.

I polled my Twitter followers and Facebook friends and was somewhat shocked at the results. Most people said they don’t unplug, or if they do it is only once or twice a year for a few days. You can follow some of the comments on Kwippy

Benefits of Unplugging

• Time to think, meditate, and free your mind. Less stress
• Building relationships and connecting with friends and loved ones through socialising and shared activities in the real world.
• A healthy body. Instead of slouching in front of the TV, unplugging encourages you to get active. Go for a walk or a run. Get outside and breathe in the beauty of nature, get out and play.
• Being able to focus on your goals and dreams, rather than using TV as an anesthetic to numb your mind into settling for less than you long for.
• Time to be creative – do something you have always wanted to do.

Create a “Unplug From it All Day”

With the proven benifits of unplugging it seems that if success is something we seek then we should take some time to unplug. Don’t get me wrong I love technology, however we should take time at least once a week to unplug and reset.  I put together some tips on how to setup a “Unplug From it All Day” and some suggestions for what to do with yourself in this free unplugged world.

1. Unplug, that is right, unplug the tv, computer, phone, anything that will distract you. This will help when the temptation hits you to maybe just check the email, answer that call or when bordem sets in because you not used to all this silence.
2. Leave the cell phone at home, yes unplugging means no cell phone!
3. Go for a hike, get out in nature. This is truly the best place to be when unplugged. Reconnect with the peace and calmness and abundance of nature.
4. Join a friend for coffee, beer whatever just make sure you are face to face and with real people.
5. Meditate, this will recharge and clear your mind. If you have never meditated before, this is a goodtime to start I have some tips on learning how to meditate here»
6. Get out and play! Go play at the park, play in the sandbox with your kids whatever just go play.

Setup a day when you can do this at least once a week and you will be recharged and cleared of stress and tension.

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Relaxation, Meditation, success from slowing down!

// April 20th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Personal Development, Success Tips

Tension Tires… Relaxation Renews!

Successful people achieve results. They are able to accomplish more in one day than most people do in a week or even a month. What is the secret to most of these outstanding results orientated people? How can they continue to work at such a highly productive rate day in and day out.

I personally found this incredible success principal two years ago and it has allowed me to grow in every area of my life. I am able to do more in less time than ever before. I now spend about 20-25 hours a week on work and make 4 times the income. What is this magic practice? Relaxation…or what most people know as Meditation!

That is right meditation, allow yourself to relax and you will find yourself getting more done in less time. You see, stress slows us down, if we are stressed and tense we actually accomplish less even though most of us feel we are so busy and that we could not do anything more. Stress is not created by the situation or circumstances we face, stress is created by the way we respond to those situations.

Meditation allows us to calm or mind and body and clear the stress and tension. Some of the benefits of Daily mediation practice are, eliminate stress, improve health, improve problem solving, and allow us to be more productive. Research has scientifically proven that meditation is a safe and simple way to balance your physical, emotional, and mental state and its countless values have been known and practiced for thousands of years.

Here are some tips to start the practice of meditation:

1. Practice at least twice a day, ideally do it 3 times— morning, afternoon and evening.
2. Make sure you are in a place that you are comfortable, it is also best to sit up so you do not fall asleep.
3. At the beginning using a guided meditation audio will help you learn the practice. As you get better at it you will find you will not need the audio anymore.
4. Have fun and enjoy this time with yourself and discover all the power you have within you.

I have included an audio of a guided meditation technique called Mindfulness Mediation. Enjoy and Relax! You can also download this meditation audio here»

You can also order the full audio CD “The Art of Meditation” from Amazon

Mindfulness Meditation Part One

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Mindfulness Meditation Part Two

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Give to Receive

// March 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Daily Insight

“The people who receive the most are the ones who give the most. This is true of individuals, but also for businesses. If the focus is on how can we give the absolute best service, then the profits will follow. If a company is only focused on profits, they miss the big picture and will always be scurrying for business instead of having clients chasing them.”

Susan Bagyura
Author of the just released book, The Visionary Leader: How To Inspire Success From The Top Down

Today I will Make a Difference

// March 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Success Tips

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble…I will get up. It’s OK to fail…I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

Max Lucado
From On The Anvil
Copyright (Tyndale Publishing, 1985) Max Lucado, Used by Permission

Dreading the day? Sick of being broke?

// August 19th, 2008 // No Comments » // Home Business Income, Personal Development, Success Tips

We all of choices to make on how we will face a new day and week. Home many of us have dreaded Monday and the drudger of work? What if you could make the change, would you? What if you could work from home or a destination of your choice, work for yourself running a home business and help others achieve the success they desire also, would you make that choice?

Each of us has two distinct choices to make about what we will do with our lives each day we wake up. The first choice we can make is to be less than we have the capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and think less. To try less and discipline ourselves less. These are the choices that lead to an empty life. These are the choices that, once made, lead to a life of constant apprehension instead of a life of wondrous anticipation.

And the second choice? To do it all! To become all that we can possibly be. To read every book that we possibly can. To earn as much as we possibly can. To give and share as much as we possibly can. To strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can. All of us have the choice.

To do or not to do. To be or not to be. To be all, or to be less, or to be nothing at all.

Like the tree, it would be a worthy challenge for us all to stretch upward and outward to the full measure of our capabilities. Why not do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can, for as long as we can?

Our ultimate life objective should be to create as much as our talent and ability and desire will permit. To settle for doing less than we could do is to fail in this worthiest of undertakings. Results are the best measurement of human progress. Not conversation. Not explanation. Not justification.

Results! And if our results are less than our potential suggests that they should be, then we must strive to become more today than we were the day before. The greatest rewards are always reserved for those who bring great value to themselves and the world around them as a result of whom and what they have become.