Author Archives: freemanX
Go with the #Flow
Have you ever been in one of those moods when you can do no wrong? You. Are. Unstoppable. I call it the state of Flow. This is where I want to live. I’ve felt like this before but it’s the exception to the rule rather than the rule. It makes me wonder what life would be like if you could condition yourself to operate in that state of Flow on a daily basis. Sure we’ll all have bad days now and then but I’d like to shoot for this state the vast majority of the time. Can you change the way you think and feel on a consistent basis? Of course you can. Well I believe you can. But like anything it will take a strategy, commitment and dedication otherwise our state of mind will revert to the default. The default is one of reaction to the stimuli and circumstances around us based on the way we’ve been programmed to view ourselves and the world. If I grew up in an environment that made me believe the world was out to get me, that I was stupid, that I would be taken advantage of at every turn, that people are sharks and not to be trusted, or that money is the root of all evil, then that would naturally play a part in forming my view of myself and the world. Everyone who has had a significant influence on our lives has played a part in forming our personality, what we believe, what we value, and ultimately how we see things. Many of the things I have been made to believe or views I’ve held of the world and myself won’t serve me productively in living a full, rich, empowered life. If I want to change a life time of programming it’s not going to be a five minute process. If you had the opportunity to reprogram your view of yourself and the world how would you do it? How would you want to see yourself and those around you? What would make up your state of ultimate Flow? Would it include beliefs like…
- I am incredibly confident and there is no problem I can’t solve with a smile?
- I am compassionate and understanding of the challenges others face in their lives?
- I believe in myself and what I am capable of?
- If determined enough I can achieve anything?
- I will give to others even when they take from me?
- I will love others even when they display hate towards me?
- I will be courageous in the life I lead and not fear failure?
- I believe if given a chance people are inherently good?
- I will not judge others as I understand they may have lived a very different life to me?
Are you feeding your mind shit?
The plane is shaking, adrenaline is spiking…people start screaming! Your children to whom you love more than anything in the world sit either side of you. You would gladly choose death so that they could draw a single additional breath. The oxygen masks drop from the overhead compartment, what do you do? You must put yours on first.
Becoming a Fighter
I’ve always had a huge amount of respect for people who fought in the ring. Putting yourself out there, body on the line. There was a purity to the respect they earned by doing it. It didn’t matter how much money you had, what your parents did for a living or where you worked, when you were in the ring it was solely about the character you displayed. Watching someone in the ring shows you a lot about them, their commitment and dedication, their heart, courage and desire for victory.







Lessons of a Playground
I love taking my kids to the playground. At the playground the rest of the world is irrelevant. The playground is a vortex of positive human behaviour, a place where evil cannot reside. Joy is the currency of time. Adults become citizens of impeccable moral character, all desiring to teach their next generation solid characteristics of fairness, generosity, courtesy, caring and respect.
“No Jonny, let this little boy go first”,
“Go to the back of the line Paul, you must wait your turn”,
“Be careful of the little girl Jesse”,
“Let her play with the ball if you’re not using it” –
Adults seem to bond easier in this environment of common interest, we all have our best on display, I’m sure we feel better about ourselves and what we are contributing to the world. We effortlessly embrace a little small-talk while soaking in the righteousness.We can find ourselves pushing the merry-go-round not only for our own kids but for whoever decides to jump on just because it’s a nice thing to do and there is a sense that being the cause of a child’s laughter somehow replenishes your soul, counteracting what the outside world can on occasion siphon. Kids interact with each other in a way we seem incapable of – immune to the stereotypes and racial prejudices’ that infect the outside world.
Adults have a pass to act silly again, no-one to impress in the playground but their children. Dad chases the soccer ball and rolls one foot over the top while flicking his other foot behind him kicking the ball in a way he hopes shows off the skills he still has as opposed to the ones he used to have. Mum butters the bread and prepares the picnic as she watches on satisfied that life is as it should be. She’s a little over protective but only because she fears anything interfering with the perfection that is her children.
Dad climbs the spider wall with his 3 year old son just because he can. Mum runs alongside her little girl on the flying fox catching hands at the ready. She’s exhausted by the tyres, she didn’t anticipate it going that fast. Dad wants a go but knows he’ll either break it or be dragged along the dirt.
A sense of peace is in the air. We forget about the bills we’re not sure how to pay, we forget about the hardships in life. In this time, in these moments, we understand what it is to be grateful, to contribute, to let go of conformity, to embrace the purity of love and the appreciation of it. This is how life was meant to be. This is our playground.]]>
What Waitangi Day Means to Me.
While having a quiet beer at the pub and visually surveying the patrons, my 360 degree scan was interrupted as my eyes passed a nearby table of four lads sharing some banter and a few beers. The interruption came by way of one of them catching my scanning glance and acknowledging it with a casual “Hey bro”.
F#@K FEAR!
So often we don’t chase our dreams because we’re afraid. We’re afraid of the road we must travel. Scared of possible failure, ridicule, setback…whatever it is you’re afraid of, f#@k it. No matter what you put yourself out there for, YOU CAN NOT LOOSE. If you accept that and believe that, how daring and confident would you become? It is on the battlefield of pursuit that your character is shaped. The challenges will push you, extract from you strengths that would have otherwise lay dormant. But most importantly, seeming failure can expose you to something you didn’t even know you were looking for, a new challenge, a new purpose, a new destiny. The only thing we have when it all washes up is who we become. Who we become is built on the battlefield of life. To hide behind the trees is to deprive yourself of your true greatness. Dare to believe.]]>
Officially New Zealand’s Fastest Man
Well it’s taken over 6 months but I do take some real satisfaction in seeing the record books updated.
There was a lot of good will from close supporters and I’m really appreciative of all those that contributed in different ways. To achieve 383 km/hr with an average speed over the Km of 355, it really was an amazing experience and a fantastic result for all involved.
At the time I set our Land Speed Record there was some storm in a tea cup type media around Records set over different distances… You can read my Blog from last year here. The reality is there are several distances that qualify for you to attempt a Land Speed Record in, however the outright Landspeed Record (as stipulated by the FIA) is the fastest average speed achieved irrespective of distance (provided the distance is one sanctioned for record attempts). I’m pretty proud of the fact that I now hold the fastest Speed Record achieved in NZ history. Whether is stands for a year or 10 years it’s not of concern, in fact one of the reasons we chose to attempt to break a 16 year old record was to hopefully reignite some kiwi ambition and see more attempts follow ours.
I really do hope the attitudes that emerged through various avenues in response to our Record run haven’t smothered the spirit of future ambition.
If you would like to get behind the wheel and drive the car I set the Record in, believe it or not you can!
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X-Factor – New Zealand’s Talent Exposed
Hasn’t it always seemed that New Zealand reality shows lacked a certain, arr, well…. everything. They so often seemed the poor cousin to their international franchise partners, often it was just straight out embarrassing. I use to wonder whether they would play them late at night in other countries just as a piss take off New Zealand.
Finally a New Zealand Franchise has stepped up and delivered a quality show. The X-factor has shown that we can get it right when we follow the format to the tee. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the show so far and it’s really renewed my enthusiasm in New Zealand talent. Well done TV3 for investing the money needed to deliver a quality show and well done Simon Cowell for being so bloody good at what you do. Keep it up kiwi musicians, you are without a doubt world class!
Losing weight the easy way – part 2
It’s taken me a little longer than I thought to come back to this topic so if you’d like a recap please follow the link for part 1.
I talked about how everyone wants to loose weight the easy way right? And I believe that there is no real secret or magic pill that is going to help you… Fundamentally it’s the same as it’s always been…
Eat a well balanced diet and excersise regularly.
But….and I do believe there is a but… You can CREATE your own easy way!
I believe the key to staying fit and healthy long term is to MAKE it easy, create your own easy way. If its easy it’s sustainable.
Everyone has resistance to finding an easy way… Working long hours, children, living a long way from the gym and on and on the list will go… You will have to be determined and have the right desire in place to find your easy way despite life’s natural obstacles.
The first thing you need is a means of regular excersise. Now this should be easy! It doesn’t matter where you are you can always walk or run. Run around the block in the morning or at night. I choose to run 3km’s because life’s resistance has a harder time standing in my way because I know it’s only 15-20 mins and by the time I’ve debated in my head whether to go for a run or not I could have finished so instead I just go. If you can’t run then do a fast walk and if you cant walk then buy a bike for $20, if you’re still making excuses then it’s pointless you reading on as your desire is insufficient to achieve the outcome you want. Read this blog and then come back.
Something else to consider is don’t waste opportunities to keep active outside of your focused cardio sessions during the day. Use the stairs instead of the lifts and any other means to keep your body moving.
Now to start making some progress you really want to get 3 or 4 focused cardio sessions in a week.
As far as creating a two pronged easy way, that is the easiest half. Now you need to create an easy way to eat healthier. Unless you’re wanting to compete I’m not going to recommend not eating anything that might have high fat or high sugar as you still want to live an enjoyable balanced life but if you want the results you will need to cut that stuff down to a reasonable level of moderation or otherwise you will be your own worst enemy and become disillusioned and frustrated quickly as you won’t see the results.
The old phrase ‘you are what you eat’ is largely true… You need to be aware of what you’re putting in your body. Once you’ve reduced the amount of crap you are putting in your body it’s time to increase the amount of quality nutrition you are putting in your body… And remember we need to make it easy.
Life’s resistance will apply to your ability to eat properly so again you still need to be determined to overcome that if you want the results.
I live a pretty busy life and often in the past I would skip breakfast so I could get off to work sooner. That isn’t a good idea although I could never quite get to the point of mucking around making a good nutritional breakfast. So I came across an easy way. I now put a scoop of protein power, half a cup of oats and two eggs with some water in a large cup put a mixer in and blend it up and boom, maybe the most nutritional breakfast on the planet and I’ve made it and drank it in literally 2 minutes and I’m out the door…it’s about making your own easy way. Another great easy breakfast is putting 3 eggs in a bowl with some chopped up ham or chicken bacon along with some onions and then in the microwave for 90 seconds and you’re done.
In order to make an effective easy way, you do need to have a basic understanding of nutrition. Don’t get caught up in the arguments over the 1% of disputed knowledge… Focus on the 99% most nutritionists agree on, that’s the key, don’t let the debate become a weight that slows you down. Spend an hour or two on the internet reading and you will know all you need to get the results you want…
So that’s it for now… Start today and get in shape the easy way… All you need to do is create it.