Since
January I've been working on a documentary about change. I've got
most of the material recorded (350 GB of video and sound
files...) – soon I'll be starting the editing process and, if
everything goes according to plan, by the end of the year the film
will be ready. So far it's been a very steep learning curve and a
wonderfully enriching experience.
The
main focus of the film is on personal change. I've talked to eight people with different backgrounds, exploring the question of how to deal with the
inevitable fact that life is constantly changing and how to make
changes voluntarily.
A
few days ago, on a long train ride from Germany to Southern Spain, I
was reflecting on some experiences that have triggered important transformations in my own life. Here are a few (in no particular
order):
Travelling
in India
The
first time I went to India, in 1998, I arrived with a pretty clear
idea of how life works. Spending 6 months in the East, my whole world
view was shattered and I had to rebuild everything pretty much from
scratch. I got lost and depressed but in the end life became much
more fascinating. The depth of aliveness took on a whole new
dimension!
Abandoning
the daily TV program
Do
you know how much time the average person spends sitting in front of
the TV? I don't know, and I think I don't want to know. It'd be
shocking! There are some amazing films and watching football every
now and then is fun too, but other than that, staring at random crap
(soaps, news, chat shows, commercials) is extremely dull and
mind-destroying. When you are in a completely passive state, transformation can't happen. In order to make changes, you have to
actively participate in life!
Ayahuasca
Experiencing
a journey with 'abuelita', the magic teacher from the Amazon, has led
to one of the biggest, if not THE biggest change in my life: Realizing that duality is an illusion! Everything is connected,
everything is one: people, plants, rocks, oceans, worms, planets –
everything! Not in a hippie sense, no. It's really like that.
Curious? Here's a link to the book I've written about my experience
with Ayahuasca: A CALL FROM THE UNKNOWN
Having a child
Something
really nice that I've learned from being a dad is that
responsibility can be beautiful. It doesn't have to be a burden when
you approach it with the right attitude. Also, my daughter has
renewed my belief that unconditional love is possible. No
expectations and drama – just love.
Clowning
Earlier
this year I've done a clowning workshop. No, I don't
plan to join a circus any time soon. That's not what Clowning is
about. It's about shedding thoughts and plans and fears and simply
being yourself. Being very present, being forgiving and courageous.
So, if you want to learn how to drop from your head into your heart,
I recommend you check it out: NOSE TO NOSE
Gardening
Growing
your own vegetables has many benefits: You spend time outdoors, do
some exercise and of course you get some food. But for me, the most
important benefit I got through gardening is a reconnection with
nature. Digging with your hands in the soil is an
incredibly grounding, humbling and beautiful thing to do. And your
awareness changes too: Suddenly I didn't complain any more that an
organic broccoli costs 2 Euros. Looking at how big the plant is, how
much effort and water and time goes into it, I mean, any broccoli
should cost at least 5 Euros. Seriously!
Meditation
A
while ago I saw a question on Facebook: Which single change would have the biggest impact in the world? Reading
through the answers, the one I thought made most sense was this one:
To make daily mediation compulsory in every school. Not because
meditation leads automatically to more peace in the world, but
because it helps you to look at reality and to simply be with what
is. The result? Since I'm meditating regularly, there isn't less pain
in my life – but far less suffering.
Learning
an instrument
Being
able to make music is absolutely amazing! First, because music is
amazing; second, because being musically creative is amazing; and
third, because sharing music is amazing.
Jamming with other people has changed me insofar that it has added many
special moments full of joy to my life. And when you add joy, you
become a happier person!
If
you would like to share some other transformation tools that have
proved to be helpful to you, please do so in the comment box below.
