e don’t often talk about ‘life’ because we’re too busy living it, we don’t often talk about ‘time’ because we’re too busy using it. So let’s begin to talk about them now! 

Each day privately there may be a plethora of occasions when we have concerns about these, specifically our own lives and our own time, both temporary, both precious. With time being inextricably linked to life, time literally becomes life, no time now equates to no moments now and therefore no life now, thus we look to the future to live it. And for many that’s exactly how it is, there is no time now so we live in the future. Then wonder why we can’t appreciate the present. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the mind’s busyness, now merely a stepping stone to the future, yet the future never arrives because it’s always there, in the future. “And what’s more uncertain than the future?” (Surowiecki, p11 2004). So this temporary stepping stone becomes something extraordinarily important for us all ‘to be in the present’. Perhaps the only certainty is right now, that is, on the stepping stone! That’s a gift, that’s the present so use it. Being in the present allows less problems and then happiness over time is slowly cultivated.

To make this stepping stone bigger, to make it stationary, a little more acceptable, permanent and solid allows us to embrace and almost hold present moments. This is the challenge.  But how do we embrace the present when it just keeps slipping away? By calming down, relaxing and concentrating. Of course this just doesn’t happen, we need firstly to un-busy the mind by training it differently, by allowing some new neuronal connections to develop. At MMP this is precisely what the four week program aims to achieve.

By consistently having a structured time each day where we invite less in, calming down and dealing with whatever arises we can position ourselves to let go of some material and clear the mind. We end up giving more out, then paradoxically get more back. That’s the present, that’s a little piece of certainty over your life, your time and your stepping stone. Then you’ll appreciate more what your standing on, your own unique STEPPING STONE. And yes, it’s also a gift for each of us waiting to be unwrapped!

t may sound strange but at MMP we take the view that for best results in life it can sometimes be beneficial to view yourself as a ‘small business’. Defining business and we get:  ‘a trade or profession, an industrial, commercial or professional operation’ (Collins, 2003) . Seeing yourself more in business terms allows some ‘detachment’ and ‘objectivity’. The fact is you are already the human operation so in this context you immediately are in business with ‘yourself”. Therefore it becomes essential and prudent to analyse this operation, this BUSINESS!

As well as teaching ‘microskills’ MMP understands the importance of having a special ‘structure’ that you can apply to mind wherever you are and whatever your doing.  There is one primary skill, survival, not to just exist, but over time  TO WATCH YOUR BUSINESS EACH DAY & TO FLOURISH!  And to be a little more comfortable with your own company.

If  all businesses are in place for a reason, and, you are the ‘business’ then you are too! IN PLACE FOR A REASON. Businesses generally are interested in two outcomes:  

1. to allow financial gain and 
   
2. to reflect your life in some tangible way. 
   

They seem to miss an essential third reason MEANING & PURPOSE which leads in turn to some HAPPINESS & CONTENTMENT. If you don’t have some  meaning and purpose within this small business then it can quickly amount to depression, burnout and aiming low. If you aim low you will succeed, aim high however and you may just grow!