Hi, my name is Rob and I look forward to being your guide to the many benefits of mindfulness!
So, who am I? Well, in addition to coming up on forty-five years of wedded bliss (Legal Disclosure: my dear wife may have a marginally different take on the ‘bliss’ part! 🙂 ), my career included three years as a mining engineer before garnering a MBA, after which I switched to being a personal financial advisor, spending thirty-three years in that role.
My attraction to fact-based professions was no surprise given my highly-sceptical nature. If you wish me to believe something then you had better well be able to provide me with suitable proof.
So, when I was first introduced to mindfulness, I was rather sceptical; wasn’t this just more New Age mumbo jumbo? But, as I got into it, my scepticism fell away. I had the proof I sought – in my direct experience.
“We might reflect on how rare it is in spiritual teachings to have such a clear understanding of the precise qualities that lead to awakening. This understanding takes our journey out of the realm of mysticism and unquestioned faith into the realm of how the mind works: what conditions create suffering and what qualities lead to freedom.”
Joseph Goldstein, “Mindfulness – A Practical Guide to Awakening“
It was in 1999, during my stint as an advisor, that I had the good fortune to meet a remarkable individual who, despite having endured a horrific experience – a traffic accident that killed her spouse and left her permanently wheelchair-bound to raise three young children – eventually emerged happy, content, and filled with gratitude.
She attributed her renewed bright take on life in part to her exposure to the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and Don Miguel Ruiz (see “Suggested Reading“).
It was her story, guidance, and encouragement that got me started into mindfulness all those years ago.
Another key influence along my path to mindfulness came from my long-time friend, Laurie, who, with a not-so-subtle suggestion that I read the book, “Please Understand Me“, helped me to realize that not everyone thinks like me or sees the world like me. What I learned from this was an important lesson – that other people’s behavior, while foreign to me, is right for them and, as a result, does not deserve my condemnation. Another key mindful moment!
In getting this blog up and running (many thanks to my friend Tia for her generous technical guidance!) I quickly realized just how much effort goes into creating quality content. However, if what I have to share helps even one individual lead a better life, a more mindful life (perhaps you!), then my hours of toil will have been very fruitfully spent.
In this regard, I am inspired each day by the beautifully-worded, “Vows of a Bodhisattva“, as espoused by the 8th-century Buddhist monk, Shantideva.
So, thank you for tuning in and do feel free to get in touch with your comments and suggestions – I look forward to hearing from you!
Warmest wishes,
Rob @ Living A Mindful Life
P.S. If you enjoy my blog and believe it could be helpful to others, I would be eternally grateful were to share the link to my site or free eBook. Those close to me know that time spent on social media like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter is just not me. Fortunately, it is for millions of others, so if you are one of those millions, please social-media on my most appreciative behalf – and thank you!!! 🙂
P.P.S. The image featured above is the Tibetan-language version of the Sanskrit mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum. In Buddhism it is associated with the embodiment of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. While there are many interpretations of this mantra, the one I favour provides guidance on how to conduct a good life, the six coloured components having the following meanings: be generous (om – in white), be ethical (ma – in green ), be patient (ni – in yellow), be perseverant in the study of the Buddha’s teachings (pad – in turquoise), be mindful (me – red), be wise (hum – in navy blue). (image credit to Christopher J. Flynn under Wikimedia Commons licence)
