Smelling Artificial Roses

This mini podcast is about the real thing and how we keep missing it.

 Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Smelling Artificial Roses

The Grasshopper reminded me of something the other day: "Reality doesn't go in reverse."

That got me thinking about golf.

Now professional golfers don't get mulligans. Once the ball leaves the club, wherever it lands . . . that's where they play the next shot.

Life works exactly the same way.

The only difference is that golfers accept it, while many of us pretend we get do-overs.

We replay old conversations in our head  , rewrite history in our minds, and imagine where we should be instead of dealing with where we actually are.

But reality isn't interested in our revisions.

Wherever your ball lands—that's your next starting point.

If there's a bigger obstacle to progress than lying about where you are, I haven't found it.

Think about it. If your golf ball is buried in the woods, but you insist you're sitting in the middle of the fairway, every swing you take is going to hit another tree.

The problem isn't your swing.

It's your starting point.

Life is no different.

You can't move forward from an imaginary location.

The only place you can begin is here.

 And the only time you can begin is now.

That's why honest noticing is so powerful.

Instead of asking, "Where should I be?" ask, "Where am I?"

No excuses.

No embellishment.

No sugarcoating.

Just the facts.

Consider this . . . mirrors are useful because they don't negotiate. They simply reflect what's there. That's exactly the kind of honesty that moves life forward.

Once you know where you are, take a step.

It doesn't have to be the perfect step.

It just has to be a real one.

You can always adjust your course while you're moving. It's much harder to steer a life that's standing still.

Shakespeare offered timeless advice when he wrote, "To thine own self be true."

That's another way of saying, "Start with reality."

Because reality never goes backward.

It only moves forward.

And it'll leave us behind if we spend our time stopping to smell the artificial roses.

All the best,

John