Recommended film.
The Hurricane.
The story of Reuben ‘The Hurricane’ Carter, who in 1966 was a top ranked middleweight boxer predicted by many experts to become one of the worlds greatest boxing champions. Although the film is not entirely the same as the book and misses some accuracies and adds some characters and events of its own, it is a compelling story of a man wrongly imprisoned for 3 murders he did not commit.
Anyone interested in the powerful Stoic philosophy will find this film inspiring as Reuben Carter decides to give up wanted things so that his jailers cannot take anything away from him. These are the most powerful parts of the film as Reuben takes control of what he can, in a system that is designed to take control of every aspect of a persons life. Denzel Washington is reliable as ever, gives an excellent performance in the role of Reuben Carter.
This weeks podcast
Right Behaviour & The Meaning Of Life
Many people talk about doing the right thing yet few do in favour of fear, consequences and pre conditioned reactive patterns. With investigation, we eventually discover it’s all related to fear regardless of the different titles and explanations. I recorded this podcast because it holds a particular interest that forms an extremely important role in my coaching work.
It is obvious in countless conversations with clients that the focus on the consequences of taking action in the face of tyranny, bullying, people pleasing, suppression or any other negative behaviour is misguided. It is the consequences of not acting or doing the right thing that dictate the real consequences upon someone.
It is also not understood how a life of such avoidance will block our own potential as human beings and life goals can be formed as a reaction to not being able to do exert courage when needed. You can listen to this podcast on the link below.
‘Right Behaviour & The Meaning Of Life’ https://simonlee.buzzsprout.com
Saying of the week.
“Only a man in perfect accord
with himself, in perfect sincerity,
can go to the limits of his own
nature. “
– Francois Cheng
Recommended Read.
A Manuel For Living by Epictetus
Epictetus was a Roman slave before becoming a great Stoic philosopher and spent his life teaching the path to happiness, fulfilment and meaning before he was banished to Greece for the rest of his life. Epictetus taught philosophy as a way of life and not simply a theoretical, intellectual practise.
This is the book I start many of the young men with I coach. It is a small pocket book but full of wisdom and ideal for newcomers starting on the way. Even so it is challenging in practise. I get anger, confusion and defiance from clients who study this book on my recommendation but it’s simply the reluctance to release long term self limiting beliefs they have grown to rely on and hide behind.
Young men in particular do not want to sit in front of a therapist talking about their thoughts and feelings. They want to be inspired by heroes, a way of life that delivers meaning, a life code and something worth uncovering in themselves. The words of the courageous and life tested Epictetus certainly deliver this.
A question I got asked this week.
“Is it good to use music whilst giving therapy?”
Music can be healing, motivating and reflective. My good friend and master Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist Dr. Herman Wang, always has beautiful music playing in his treatment room and incense burning. It sets the tone and environment for healing. I think music is great in a setting for healing. Music has been found to help depression, anxiety and stress and has many benefits.
I use different types of music in classes and seminars, from rhythmic drumming for more dynamic movement to more reflective and relaxing for meditation and gentle movements. We also use nothing at times so there isn’t a reliance on sound to reach a particular mental state. Something which is after overlooked but very important.
However, music doesn’t need a purpose. It’s beneficial to listen to a beautiful piece of music and see where it takes you.
One of my favourite pieces is by the brilliant Max Richter and is called ‘On The Nature Of Daylight.’
You can listen below. Enjoy!
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