Is Love Really All Around At Christmas Time

Reflection time and New year go hand in hand. Somehow you can't get away from it.

Beneath all the Christmas cheer is this little voice that says "reflect" on the year that has been, on where you were this time last year and where you are now.

A few years ago I was told something very simple that had a profound impact on how I lived my life from that moment on. I was told

"There are only two emotions - love and fear. You are either in a state of love, openness, or in a state of fear, contraction. It is that simple."

Those words had a profound impact on me because on reflection I realised them to be true. When all the shades of grey were taken away, all the mental games broken down to their most basic component part I realised that it was that obvious and that simple and that liberating.

Those same sentiments were echoed beautifully in an article I received recently written by Charles Poliquin. He writes " There is no such thing as discipline. there is only love. Love is the most powerful creative force in the universe. You are the result of what you love most.....If you truly love yourself then you will make truly loving choices."

I love that because it incorporates what I know to be inherently true about wellness and about what we are up to at evolution (the business and community).

That is why I don't need to write about effective carb choices at Christmas dinner or not obliterating yourself at the New Years Eve Parties.

And here is the beautiful 'curve ball' spoken by one of my martial arts teachers many years back

"A little bit of poison is good for you".

If you can temper that with loving decisions then you are truly on the path.

So how do you do that ? Simple, Ask yourself " What love would LOVE do now ?"

And don't think that the answer is always cheesy. Because sometimes love will have a crazy new years eve party or go wild over the Christmas Turkey. that is what makes the journey fun, engaging and challenging.

You see if love was as simple as always doing the 'right' thing then life would become so very boring and predictable. And predictability is death.

In my experience it is about keeping it enriching, curious, fun, and sacred. I remember always that my body is my temple and that my health and my children are my greatest gift

I remember that this moment will not come again and this experience, however it looks is part of a tapestry.

That same tapestry is why we created evolution and why we train at 6am. That is life truly lived, a life that is full of sunrises, fresh air, the smell of wet grass, the sound of a city waking, frosted breath, sand between toes, the feel of rain on a face, a muddy t-shirt, a well deserved coffee, the buzzing of a fly, the splash of water, the sound of a bird, the wind through the trees, the laughter of a group of kindred souls.

Have a beautiful loving Christmas

Onward and upward

Mike and team evolution

What Are The Measures Of Success

I recently received an accolade from a friend who lives overseas about the 'success' of evolution.

he see's the facebook posts and the photo's and concluded for himself that evolution is very successful.

In my books he is successful. He has a beautiful wife, great kids, a multimillion dollar home and his own Company. He also happens to come from a very privileged background.

I shrugged off his compliment. I must have thought it wasn't warranted.

On reflection i wondered about it. Why did I not take on what he said with a beaming chest and a sense of pride and that got me thinking "What is the measure of success"

Here are my top 4

Commitment and adherence to a clear vision that is shared by a group of inspired people: - To have a dream and then set out to create it is an honour. I created the evolution vision over a decade ago. I called the Company evolution (my brother came up with the name) because I knew that as we went on the journey that vision would evolve.

There have been many ebbs and flows, & ups and downs but with tenacity, belief, consistency and sometimes sheer will we have turned the vision into reality.

That vision is also shared by an inspiring group of people. My measure of how much this vision is about me is 'hit by a bus theory'. I ask myself often, "If I were hit by that proverbial bus would evolution keep going". At our recent Company Retreat I said to those present " evolution is now in a place where it would keep going because we have two key things - Great people and great Systems and I am now merely the spark and not the flame.

Creating something that makes a difference in peoples lives: - I feel like this has two aspects. The first is leaving things better then I found them. Knowing that our product has no negative social or environmental impacts and does not mislead consumers and stakeholders in any way. When we first modeled the evolution concept we agreed that there needed to be a WIN for clients, trainers, the Evolution business, and the greater community. And that is what we have done and we have done that consistently. We also have the privilege of seeing that difference every single day. Giving our clients the joy of sunrise, enriching their lives, creating meaningful relationships, and watching their own wellbeing transform. Equally, seeing our evolutionaries (head trainers) becoming true leaders in their lives and in the lives of those around them. That is true success.

Financial reward: - The money is important because with the money we have the tools and the freedoms to do the things we love, provide security and sustenance to those who depend on us and make a difference in the broader community. And so the financial success of evolution is very important to me. To know that our clients feel like they are getting great great values for money and to see our key stakeholders get a great financial return for the time and energy they put into evolution. The key then in the world of finances is to always keep it in perspective.

Recognition from Parents, family and friends : - recognition feels great. it does not mean our name ablaze in lights or having speeches made about us but it does feel great when those whose opinions we value tell us how proud they are of who we are and what we have achieved. It feels really good, engenders respect and is a barometer that we are on the right track.

The Will and Grace BL - Amazing smoothie

The Will and Grace BL - Amazing smoothie

Background: This smoothie was originally created by Mike but was perfected by Caz. It has come to be known as The Will and Grace BL - Amazing Smoothie. The story as to how it got its name is for another time (and definitely worth hearing)

it also contains every possible antioxdiant age enhancing, free radical eradicating blah blah that you could want...........and it tastes great

What you will Need

1/ A sense of humour

2/ A hand blender (much better then a liquidiser)

Ingredients

• Fruit juice (Mango is best) - About one teac cup full to cover everything
• Yoghurt (Jalna Bush honey is reccomended) - 2 large dollops
• Frozen fresh berries (Sara Lee mixed berries is great - a handful
• Tahini in a jar (Mayvers unhulled) - one large soup spoon
• flaxseed oil (expensive but worth it, very high in Omega 3 - one large soup spoon
• Juice plus fruit and vegetable capsules (two of each)
• Manuka Honey - heaped teaspoon

Next

• Mix all the ingdredients together and blend until smoothie
• Drink and enjoy

Other things you could add

More sense of humour

olive leaf extract

pepita's

Chia seeds