Gratitude & Meditation

I'm so very thankful for my morning meditation sessions. I'm thankful and grateful for Andy and the Headspace app. I'm thankful for all of the teachers I've had in my life. I'm thankful I have followed through on many things I have started. What if I told the truth without fear of hurting anyone? That would make me careless. I can't just come out and say everything here as it's a public forum. There are people and organizations I would like to criticize but that would delete the purpose of a gratitude exercise wouldn't it. 

That said, I'm thankful for my mom and dad. I'm thankful for the concept of "church" and groups that form with the intention of helping mankind. I'm thankful for ill treatment I have received as it has mad me more aware and stronger. I'm thankful for my failures and shortcomings as they have made me realize how much I have to work on. I'm thankful for the mind and body granted to me by God in this life. I'm thankful for my business and all of the people who work and frequent there. 

I'm thankful for this iPad and for those who live their lives to inspire others. And lastly for today I'm thankful for completing this exercise before 5:40AM and intend to get to work on time.

Four Blogs 26/30

I know I need to keep blogging, writing, creating no matter what. The interesting part is the more I write the more I write! I need to find a way to keep everything organized and structured yet connected and streamlined. What I'm trying to say is this: I have multiple blogs I'm maintaining at the moment and I'm not sure how to make it all work...

1. Right now you are reading this blog: Target Creativity http://targetcreativity.blogspot.com/
2. There's also my fitness blog: http://www.atomictotalfitness.com/blog/ 
3. And my personal blog: http://www.adamshuty.com/targetcreativity/
4. Last there's a 4th blog that is secret and will be released later this year...

A little over a month ago I made the commitment to publish a blog post once a day for 30 days. I have definitely made the commitment to writing daily a reality. I didn't publish 30 posts in 30 days but I'm putting out more than ever. I enjoy it. It's therapeutic and helpful to me as an individual. That said, I'm realizing there are different platforms for each of my styles of writing and topics. 

I think this blog moving forward will be a daily testing ground. I'll publish here my behind the scenes ideas and brainstorming sessions. If I feel it's necessary or pertinent to my other interests and pursuits I'll publish on the respective platforms.

I want to be able to do a stream of consciousness blog here. That way I can be free and have fun will no concerns about the repercussions on my career. Who knows I may even publish this anonymously so I can air even more details about my life. If I choose to do that then I'll have to take down the links above. LOL.

For now this is the plan: 

• Continue to write every moment I am able. 
• Publish a book by November 2016
• Continue to populate the three blogs I have started with appropriate content on each platform.

Looking Back 25/30

Awareness is key to making changes in life. Our frustrations usually stem from our own shortcomings. If we can step back often enough we can start to get a clearer picture of what is happening around us. We can see what's coming form others and what's due to our own actions. Naturally we are drawn into stressful events and circumstances. We must not become trapped by them. We must learn from our experiences and continually come at the world with fresh eyes. Everything is different than it was yesterday. Everything is continually changing. The key, to guide yourself toward the state of better rather than worse.

In my travels I have studied many esoteric subjects and have come to realize that what worked for and was interesting to me is quite possibly of no interest or consequence to you. What IS of VALUE is the process I encountered on my path. I know there are many paths to self actualization, feelings of freedom, power, security, adventure, happiness etcetera. However as I look back I can see the major branches of the tree that has become my life. These notes and the amount of time I spent on each step are here in parentheses as a reference. I hope they are valuable to you.

1. Read books on subjects of your own interest (2-4 years)
2. Study with a master until you are ready to explore the subject on your own. (4 years)
3. Move away from home into an environment which supports your dreams and challenges your resolve.
4. Go for your goal completely. Cut the umbilical. Burn the boats. This took me some time as I continually second guessed myself and had to reevaluate if I was making the right choices for my life. You could do this in an instant and save yourself a lot of time. It's not as easy as it may sound though. (4 years)
5. If you succeed, continue on and set new bigger goals. If you fail, back off and try the next thing that interests you. Keep moving forward and look for other ways to attack you ultimate goal. (4 years)
6. I dumped everything I owned and all of my net worth into an entrepreneurial project bolstered by my passion and designed to shuttle my ambition. I.E. rather than going after a crazy big ridiculous goal I went after something closer to my accumulated skill set. Think island hopping in the South Pacific. I can't get the entire world to bend to my will at the snap of a finger but I can take control of one small area and then move on from there one step at a time. (started first corporation 2009.)
7. Out of sheer pure blinding desire to succeed I enrolled in every type of program I could find that would support my goals. I studied business, organization, logic, spirituality, etc. Be careful not to get stuck or diverted on any of these subjects too long. Just like step 2 above there will be an expiration date on how much you study. Eventually you should understand enough to go into action.  (5 years)
8. Persevere and burry any and all doubts. This is the part that really sucks but will actually be the most important step you take. Here is where you find out what you are really worth. In this step you must cut loose all attachments to anything that slows you down. Not sadly you will loose relationships with people who you thought were friends and in exchange you will gain something much more valuable - allies. 
9. Maybe one of the most beautiful parts about the above process is that it eventually loops back onto itself. I've found myself reading more again and revisiting helpful books from steps 1-7. You will see that your life amounts to something and at the same time be thankful there is so much more to experience.

Update All Social Media Profiles NOW! 24/30

Time to update everything! Can you believe it? It's time to update every single one of your communication platforms! ...and there was much rejoicing.

Yes, it is time to look at all of your social media and email and other communication platforms and update all of your photos, bios and other pertinent bits of information. Why? Because unless you are obsessive about keeping things current (which I am not and I'm guessing you aren't either) all of your photos and profiles are a mishmash of different photos you uploaded at some time or another.

So this means you have a different face or presentation on each one of the platforms. Which is fine! I know the popular opinion out there is that you should show a different side of yourself and communicate differently on each platform. This is all true, the format of each social media site suggests a different style of interaction.

So why go to the trouble to go through each one of them and update the profiles? I think there are many benefits to going through this process:

1. You get a chance to update all the passwords at the same time, thus improving security and minimizing your exposure to hacking.
2. You will be perceived as active on those sites (at least at the moment) and may be able to reconnect with the communities there. 
3. PRO TIP: Do not use the same photo for all of the sites. You are welcome to do so but I'd recommend being a little more creative than that. I may even do a small selfie photo shoot with different expressions and colored backgrounds. Each background can then mirror how I want my image to be presented on any given platform. For example, I have a Facebook page I manage called ATF Outdoor Adventures. It looks a little weak if my profile there has a picture of me inside at a desk.
4. By curating all of this content you are able to give a more consistent picture of yourself to the world. I believe what comes up today in the most basic internet search of a person has become not only a digital resume but a biography and even an epitaph.

So do this and have fun connecting with your the digital universe. Let me know how it goes!

You Cheesy Motorcycle Guys 23/30

I've got an old motorcycle helmet with the words speed and strength stenciled on the side in cheesy gothic print. As if riding a motorcycle isn't cool enough, you need to advertise your intentions while sitting at a stoplight or stuck in traffic. The helmet was not expensive. You have to pay extra to not look like a douche.

I guess speed and strength are admirable qualities. Characteristics the would be motorcycle rider would like to possess. Still they are just a minor part of an excellent rider's skill set. With my experience riding motorcycles I'd say awareness, patience and relaxation would make more desirable qualities. Speed plus strength on a motorcycle usually equals death.

Let's start a culture of patience where we can look for and find balance in our lives. As men we are still attempting to force ourselves into old stereotypes that no longer serve us. Speed is something for the racetrack and strength can be used in the gym, doing chores or in an emotional context to help your family and others. If you ride a motorcycle that's awesome but remember that you life matters and by thinking your helmet is cool when it's not cold be a fatal mistake. Pony up for the flat black and put a picture of you family on the inside.

Power 21/30

1. In popular fitness nomenclature Power is often defined as the ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply maximum force in minimum time.
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3. At ATOMIC we define Power as the ability to produce an effect. We then break down and define all the words in this definition. First we have Ability, the state of being able, means having competence, skill, natural aptitude or acquired proficiency.  Next To Produce means to make, create or cause something to happen or come into existence. An Effect consists of any change resulting from a cause. Therefore we can define Power as having the competence, skill, natural aptitude or acquired proficiency required to make, create or cause a change or result.

Power is the ability to make something happen fast. This can be an inborn trait or a skill you learn over time. In weight training the faster we can get a weight off of the ground and over our head the more powerful we are. Moving more weight in the same amount of time would define an increase in power. Similarly moving the same initial amount of weight in less time would also indicate higher power output. 

Analogies can be drawn between physical and mental power. He or she who steps up to a weight and fearlessly moves it through the range of motion of a given exercise may not be considered powerful at first. However if this practice is kept up year in and year out eventually the performance becomes impressive. The person who stays focused and committed to their goal of developing high level fitness most likely stays committed to developing the rest of their life to a high level.

When you decide to do something make it happen quickly. Don't doddle but put ideas into effect right away. Don't spend two weeks thinking it over and getting up the courage to get started. Just as in strength training you pick up the weight, do the work of moving it for a few reps, then set it down. You don't stand there holding it for ten minutes before you move. Train with an emphasis on leaning power and you should find ways to apply the same lessons to all ares of life. Rather than sitting at your desk web surfing you will get things done. Instead of daydreaming you'll make your dreams a reality. 

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Time Is Not Lost 22/30

Some days I wake up very early, before the sun comes up and I go up on the roof of my building and just breathe and be alone in the city. I breathe in the entire experience. Before the horns start to sound and the people are up and around I find a quiet time to commune with what is now my home. It's always been there, quiet and innate, soft and infinite. As I have become more aware of the city at this hour I have come to realize I have been missing out on some excellent parts of life. I feel like some precious time has been wasted.

But it's ok to leave bits of ourselves behind whether material or emotional. I think we are often so concerned with and connected to our possessions we feel we must be responsible for everything we have come to own (time included). I find a lot of emotion tied up with food I have purchased and have been unable to consume before it went bad or expired. The feeling of wasting something seems abhorrent to me. But what is this other than some sort of reaction to other aspects of existence. (I need a reference here.) I'm sure you can think of similar situations where you felt as if something was wasted. It could have been time or money or some other resource. Doesn't this play out in all of our lives on some level every day? Aren't we all trying to make them most of what we have?

I know a man who by my estimation has wasted years of his life yet he exists and can not be said to be fully unhappy. From an outside observer's perspective this man may live a wretched and miserable existence. Who are we to say how this person feels? All we can do is focus on ourselves and try to make the most out of who we are and what our perspective can give to the world. If it matters to someone they will listen.