When Awareness Becomes Natural: A Guide to Cultivating Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Sayadaw U Tejaniya

The more I practice mindfulness the more clarity I gain around my life and what it all means. Books like this assist greatly in understanding my practice. We are all bound by our minds and bodies and how they interact not only interdependently but also with the external reality. Like sponges, our minds and bodies absorb almost everything we are exposed to and if we are without awareness I believe we can become to much of everything else and less of our true selves.

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There are both good and bad to what we can absorb yet regardless everything has the ultimate influence on how we behave and how we coexist. This coexistence is important with our outwardly relationships but even more paramount to the relationship with ourselves. Awareness not only allows us to better understand all this but also how we react, respond and allow it to direct our lives. If you desire happiness, which I think we all do, then awareness created through mindfulness practices is beneficial. (more…)

Awareness, Attachment & Relationships

Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. is a Nagual, a Toltec Master of Transformation. He has recently published his 5th book The Seven Secrets to Healthy, Happy Relationships, that shares several focal points to create more meaningful connections.

This is my second interview with Miguel and once again an inspiring conversation that journeys through adversity, awareness, attachment and relationships. By combining the wisdom of Toltec traditions with the knowledge gained from his own personal journey, he shares insight to help us attain a higher level of personal freedom. Enjoy!  (more…)

Top 10 Best Books in 2016

I am getting in early this year. Last year I released my top 10 books of 2015 with some delay. Review my 2015 top 10 podcast/blog here.

Reading is powerful and in a couple of weeks I am going to share with you a guide on “How to Create a Healthy Reading Habit.” Make sure you keep your eye out for that one by subscribing to the THY newsletter here.

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Today I will keep away from the positives of reading and the WHY and remain on purpose. The goal today is to bring you 10 of my favourite books from the year just passed.

It is freaking hard to pick the top 10 considering I have read about 50 books this year. Not all have made it to be featured on The Hidden Why. In all honesty many I didn’t finish entirely. The ones that I do feature I genuinely love and reflect on to inspire others to read.

Here goes. These are my top 10 for 2016, in no particular order, favourites books – the ones I absolutely loved.

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – Here is the Book Reflection Link
2. A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger – Here is the Book Reflection Link
3. Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger – Here is the Book Reflection Link
4. See You At The Top: 25th Anniversary Edition by Zig Ziglar – Here is the Book Reflection Link
5. Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday – Here is the Book Reflection Link
6. The Mastery of Self: A Toltec Guide to Personal Freedom by don Miguel Ruiz Jr. – Here is the Book Reflection Link
7. The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals by Chris McChesney and Sean Covey – Here is the Book Reflection Link
8. The Tao of Seneca: Practical Letters from a Stoic Master, Volume 1 Seneca presented by Tim Ferriss Audio – Here is the Book Reflection Link
9. When Awareness Becomes Natural: A Guide to Cultivating Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Sayadaw U Tejaniya – Here is the Book Reflection Link
10. Soul Over Matter: Ancient and Modern Wisdom and Practical Techniques to Create Unlimited Abundance by Zhi Gang Sha and Adam Markel – Here is the Book Reflection Link

You can review all my reflections on each of these using the links provided.

Happy reading to you!

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Please leave your thoughts, comments & questions below.

Peace, passion and purpose…

If you are interested in finding more freedom, fulfilment and happiness in your life take the opportunity to jump on the Discovery Call. Valued at $250, this is a one on one coaching session to help you define your hidden why and discover the action steps to getting your there. 

12 Ways to Effectiveness

Written by Leigh Martinuzzi – Originally Published 11.11.2014

How many times have you got to the end of the day and while lying in bed before you nod off you wonder, “shit, what did I really achieve today?”

Is it a common occurrence? What about the successful, do you think they have days like these? We all do, don’t we?

In this article, I am going to share my tips for becoming more productive in everyday life. I am no guru, however, I believe one of my greatest strengths is my intense level of organisation and productivity and therefore I wish to share. (more…)

No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results by Cy Wakeman

No Ego, a book about overcoming workplace drama. Cy Wakeman, past guest on The Hidden Why (episode 459), has written a fantastic book to assist organisations and leaders improve results and reduce staffing costs by creating a culture of accountability rather than one of entitlement. It’s a slap in the face to the current style of leadership, and it starts by understanding the role ego plays in the workplace and how to bypass it. (more…)

12 Strategies to Increase Your Effectiveness

Written & Narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi – Originally Published 11.11.2014

How many times have you got to the end of the day and while lying in bed before you nod off you wonder, “shit, what did I really achieve today?”

Is it a common occurrence? What about the successful, do you think they have days like these? We all do, don’t we?

In this article, I am going to share my tips for becoming more efficient in everyday life. I am no guru, however, I believe one of my greatest strengths is my intense level of organisation and productivity and therefore I wish to share. (more…)

Where the Ego Thrive – Unhealthy Environments

I had a great conversation with Cy Wakeman recently. We discussed her book, No Ego. During the interview, I learnt a lot about the ego, specifically how the ego added to workplace drama reduced business effectiveness. As Cy suggests, the ego takes us down the path of bitching, moaning and whining (BMW).

In our chat, Cy also made an interesting comment that leads me to the thought that the ego thrives in unhealthy environments. In this article, I wish to discuss the ego and the habitats it thrives. I do so with hope to explain why healthy conditions that we create and live within are essential if we wish to reach our peak state of being in life. Grubby environments are not. (more…)

A Thought On Time, Correct Use of Time, Life and Productivity

I have always said that I am an impatient person in nature. This characteristic kind of forces me to make the most of time – to not use time incorrectly. Of course how I use time and therefore define “correct use” of time will likely differ from you. There is not one rule that fits us all. It is important to live this life as you wish and that doesn’t happen by following the typical paths of society or others. Do what works for you!

It is easy to appreciate the preciousness of time. Understanding it is our most valuable resource. I like being very conscious of time. And yet I wonder! I wonder how much pressure time places on me and how I live my life. Is it healthy? Do I allow time to own me? Is my consciousness of time and effectiveness with time actually the creator of much of my anxiety, stress and suffering? (more…)

Part 1: The Change Game – To Accept or Resist

“Nothing is constant except for change. Everything is in constant change.”

Change is one of those things that many people steer clear of. Humans find it difficult to accept change and to manage change. The universe is in constant change. Our bodies are in constant change. Nothing remains unchanged.

Change may occur due to external factors or it may be created from within. I know the pain that change can cause yet I find myself continually moving myself towards it. I sometimes do not know why.

If living a successful life is simply to be happy then why do things that make me uncomfortable? You may disagree with this statement. I am not entirely sure that I agree with it. However, if we are meant to be in happiness then why is change a good thing? (more…)

Why Being Vulnerable is Grand- Express Your True Self

“The moment that you feel, just possibly, you are walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind, and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself…That is the moment, you might be starting to get it right.” Neil Gaiman

In this episode I share my thoughts on why it is grand to become more vulnerable, express yourself and live more aligned with your authentic self.

vulnerable

“exposed to the possibility of being attached or harmed, either physically or emotionally.”

The Hidden Why began as a blog. I wrote articles that where my thoughts based on experiences and learnings. Many learnings come from other sources however in reflection of my own life, my experiences, I also learn. It is these that I share.

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Speaking and Presenting: 6 Thoughts On Improving Your Presentation Skills

If you knew me when I was in school, you would question my credibility to talk on such a topic. The truth is that when I was younger I was a shy kid, unless I knew you well.

When it came to giving presentations at school I would wig out. I would freak out for several weeks prior to the event and then on the stage, I would sweet, turn red, mumble, stutter, slur and shake. I hated public speaking.

Something has changed over the years. I have, through various jobs, been forced to speak in front of people. It hasn’t been an easy transition however I have found some joy in it. I find joy in change. My nerves still exist, at times more than others, and I still become anxious yet not as much as before.

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