About 8 years ago, a friend told me of a course that she had been on called the Mindstore course - she described it as a kind of positivity, life balancing, goal setting kind of course, run by the Scottish motivational speaker Jack Black.
I was impressed with how it had affected the way she was living her life, but typically did nothing and it was only a couple of years later when I became ill with an auto immune disorder, and was in need of a bit of positivity, that I remembered about it and bought Jack's book.
I find it difficult to desribe the whole Mindstore thing - and I must say that sometimes when I do so people look as though I am a bit loopy - but it basically involves creating an imaginary architectural framework - a "house on the right bank" which makes meditation, goal setting, stress management creativity and so on easy.
I can honestly say that it changed my life - I believe that being positive is something that you need to work at and over the past 6 years, despite health issues that have been constant and at times frightening, I have become much more positive, more focused, more energetic, more creative and ambitious than I was before - something that I believe stems from the 10 minutes a day that I spend pootling about in my Mindstore house. (I am aware that makes it sound like an internal Sims)
Recently though I have felt that I'm only dipping my toes in, that I haven't begun to really explore the possibilities - so I was delighted to hear that there is a Mindstore course in Glasgow on 3rd March - I booked up immediately and am so looking forward to it.
One thing that I think is brilliant too is that Jack gives free Mindstore courses to school children in Glasgow - I'm hoping that Stirlingshire will take up his offer to do some there too as I think that our teens would benefit so much. Even if they only learned how to focus before exams, how to block negativity, it would be so valuable
This sounds great Jane. Like a more down to earth version of the Tim Robbins stuff. J went to one of his courses a few years ago through work & it was a bit over the top (3,000 delegates, fire walking, very americansed) but he thought the principles were sound.
I will have a look at hsi book :0)
Posted by: Jenny | December 06, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Seeing those school children hugging themselves reminded me of some good advice I was given recently. A friend told me that her sister had bought her some very tight vests, as she was going through a messy divorce, that 'hugged' her all day long. I poo pooed it, but bought one anyway, and it is fab, you feel 'hugged' all day long, and it helps me face my day.
Posted by: Debdor | December 07, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Couldn't agree with you more on this topic , I read 'Ask and it is Given' , some parts may not appeal to everyone but it totally changed my outlook on everything. You're right though , it does take practice , it's all too easy to have negative thoughts , unfortunately for a lot of people it's the norm.
Sadly people are considered a bit airy fairy it they're 'too happy' .
Lovely post.
Alexis x
Posted by: Alexisjohnstonormolu.wordpress.com | December 07, 2011 at 01:06 PM
sounds really interesting, what was his book called?
Catherine
x
Posted by: Bumpkin | December 12, 2011 at 02:46 PM
There's no chance of hearing him speak so can you recommend one of his books? I see there's quite a lot of them and would appreciate some suggestions
Posted by: Sally | December 19, 2011 at 06:53 PM