Monday Morning (Meltdown) Motivation

This weekend my office was blighted by a technology meltdown of sorts, ok so I have a propensity to exaggerate slightly. The "meltdown" manifested as: no broadband and no email. So my usual Monday morning task of posting this blog was put back while I cleared some of the backlog of mails and error messages this morning.

What's this got to do with motivation you say?

Well I realised that, while I have a fairly strong internal drive to get most things done, I also have a fairly short window in which to do them before motivation wanes. This blog is an example, I very nearly didn't take the time to write it. Firstly because I hadn't even sketched out the usual Sunday night draft as Mike and I were over at friends of ours for dinner. Secondly, due to being out with said friends, there is a little more alcohol in my Monday morning bloodstream this morning, than usual. Lastly as I knew it would take some time and I was already playing catch up.

Well you're reading the evidence of the motivational strategy that was applied and it's what I like to call "The Expectation Principle". It's very simple, I knew that someone was expecting to see this blog this morning, I also knew that they were expecting to see it at 9.30. I hold this particular person in high esteem which also led me to be motivated meet their expectations.

When we don't have the internal motivation, having someone else hold your feet to the fire to achieve certain tasks can be very useful. There is a difference, however, between The Expectation Principle and the kind of stick motivation that you get when someone nags you to get something done. The Expectation Principle is a positive feeling, a pull towards meeting high expectations, a desire to please if you like, with a little something extra.

So if you know you have things to accomplish today or this week, that might slip off the radar, engage someone to help you with your motivation.

There are a number of ways to set in motion The Expectation Principle, here's one process:

• Find someone you respect or admire who's opinion of you matters, but perhaps you don't know too well yet.
• Have a chat with them, explain why you're aiming to achieve your particular task, get excited about the benefits of doing that.
• Allow them to be curious and genuinely interested in your desired outcome, take on board their suggestions, thoughts and comments.
• Be specific about the day and time that you will achieve this task by.
• When the time comes to do your task, remind yourself of their expectation. I have an image of this person in my head and can hear their words of encouragement, but whatever way you remind yourself will work just as well.
• If the time passes without you having achieved your task, allow them to remind you about the benefits of your outcome (you might need to ask them to do this for you in advance).

If you need a buddy to help you get fired up about that task that's been bugging you then drop me a line, I'll be delighted to help.

Wishing you a thoroughly motivated Monday!

Just for today...

As I sit looking out over London on another misty morning (I’m lucky that my office affords me spectacular views across town), I am contemplating my To-do list and how I will accomplish the usual time distortion in order to achieve it all.

In this pregnant stillness of London before she wakes I am reminded of something that brings me much clarity, comfort and focus.
As a Reiki Master, who has been practicing for some years now I am often asked about the way in which I use this powerful energy and teachings in my everyday life.
One of the many ways is by applying the hugely pivotal and sometimes neglected teachings of Dr Mikao Usui that he gave in the form of his 5 principles. Dr Usui, for those not familiar, was a Buddhist priest and teacher in Japan (1865 – 1926) who had a powerful enlightening experience with the Universal Energy that is Rei (Universal) Ki (Life force energy). As a result he developed and passed on the traditional Reiki healing system that we refer to today.

Dr Usui’s 5 principles are beautiful spoken in Japanese and even more soothing when chanted.
Kyo dake wa:
Okuruna:
Shinpai; suna;
Kansha shite;
Goo hage me;
Hito ni shinsetsu ni.

I work with them as:

Just for today, I will not anger
Just for today, I will not worry
Today, I show gratitude and count my many blessings
Today, I will do my work honestly
Today, I will show compassion to myself and every living thing

The key piece of the principles for me is “Kyo dake wa” - Just for today.
They remind us to be ever present. They remind us that we don’t have to sort out the problems of tomorrow today, they invite us to manage ourselves and the important things in life on a daily basis. Step by step, moment by moment.
There is a beautiful Sanskrit poem which is on our bathroom mirror, that re-affirms Usuis message:

Look to this day
For it is life
The very life of life
In it’s brief course lie all
The realities and truths of existence
The joy of growth
The splendour of action
The glory of power
For yesterday is but a memory
And tomorrow
Is only a vision
But today well lived
Makes every yesterday and memory of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope
Look well therefore to this day!


It is my belief that worry and anger in particular bring disease. With a to-do list as long as your arm and the pressures that running a company can bring (never mind everything else outside of it), it can be very easy to allow negative thoughts to spiral. Worry and anger lower out personal vibration weaken our physical bodies and sap our vital energy.
Thank fully for me I am very gently reminded by the principles which hang above my desk of a way to banish those feelings and come back to myself. Gratitude and compassion are immensely powerful. The realisation that to be sitting here typing this, warm, fed, rested having enjoyed a safe and comfortable sleep in my own home, with a good education behind me and money in the bank, puts me in the top 2% of the most privileged people on this planet.
Pondering on that for a moment, as it’s a wonderful feeling. I think of my husband, my friends, my family, the work that I’m able to do, the books that surround me in my office and feed my mind, the car that starts first time, my good health, my freedom of speech, my ability to enjoy music, the red wine I can enjoy, the fact that I can type, the sun is shining, my tea is hot, my shower works, my loo flushes….the list of daily blessings is endless.

Just spending a moment on these thoughts raises my energy (and my zest for the to-do list) like you wouldn’t believe. It also sends out a wave, a powerful restorative healing wave of energy that touches all those in its path. By allowing myself compassion it takes the pressure off. I get done what I get done and I’m doing my work honestly and to the best of my ability. Today is a new day, as tomorrow will be. By allowing myself compassion it also puts me in a space to receive love, support and compassion from others, without which life would be infinitely harder. By extending compassion to every other living thing, I am able to pass on a gift acceptance and love that is one of the most powerful forces in our Universe.

As I reflect on Dr Usuis teachings it occurs to me that I don’t use Reiki, Reiki uses me, and that is the greatest blessing of all.