May 17, 2013 | 6:43 pm

Naked Ambition & How To Overcome Inner Adultery (Naso)

Posted by Marcus J Freed

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Adrian Lester in the National Theatre’s production of Othello, now playing in glorious London…

Jealousy sits at the core of the human experience. Who, at some stage or other, has not experienced the emotion that can shake the strongest emotional foundations? As we look at twin tales of envy – Biblical and Shakespearean – we shall discover a clue to fulfilling our life goals and accelerating the achievement of our ambition.

The Accused Wife sits at the heart of the Book of Numbers (Chapter 5), a woman who is suspected of adultery (the Sotah) and is taken to the priest. She drinks a bitter water potion that proves harmless if she’s innocent, and fatal if not. Her husband is empowered with the ability to see if his jealousy is justified, unlike Shakespeare’s tragic hero Othello, a man who is stirred to misplaced jealousy against his wife by a man who wanted to destroy their innocent marriage – “[Othello] is of a constant, loving, noble nature, /And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona a most dear husband” (2:ii).

Let us take a deeper look at the internal aspects of the Biblical tale. We all have masculine and feminine aspects to our personality, and one question to ask is where you have been unfaithful to yourself?

In other words, if we consider our masculine aspect as representative of ambition and the drive for direct achievement, and our feminine side as the more sensitive, nuturing and circuitous approach, when have you become distracted from your goal and stayed in a comfort zone or become lost in a tangent?

Although we do not become ‘jealous’ of ourselves per se, we can experience serious discontent when we become distanced from our ambition and our original plans. Although goals can change, when our language becomes peppered with “I should have..” or “I could have…”, it is a clue that our heart is elsewhere. Hopefully we do not find ourselves saying “I should have married someone else”, although those words are not unknown in the course of human history.

When we take responsibility for not being faithful to ourselves and our goals, one response is to withdraw from the world. Ironically this is the following Biblical passage with the tale of the ascetic Nazir, a person who enters a sustained period of meditation and during which he refrains from physical pleasures – yet he is not singled out for special praise for doing so. There are no points given for being a recluse and he has to undergo some effort before rejoining society.

What is the answer when we turn around and realise “I could have spent that year more productively?” or we become frustrated because we did not achieve a particular goal we had set out for? The first stage is take responsibility and to recognise our original intention, as we can only get back on track if we recognise what we were originally pursuing.
Staying ‘married’ to our original intention may lack spice and excitement, especially when compared to the ‘affair’ of a new tangential delight, but the long-term rewards and depths of inner fulfilment are immeasurable. This weekend, consider the commitments you made to yourself and didn’t follow through on; it’s never too late.

HOW TO APPLY THIS IN THE BOARDROOM: What is the most important thing you need to achieve in the work arena that you’ve been avoiding? What are three steps you can take towards achieving your goal?

HOW TO APPLY THIS ON THE YOGA MAT/MEDITATION CUSHION: Listen closely to your body and hold the question: ‘how have I been unfaithful to myself and my goals?’. Or, for a more religious approach, ‘how have I been unfaithful to God?’.

FOOTNOTES
This is based on a Chassidic-style reading of Parshat Nasso. Chapter 19 of Tanya hints towards this reading of Sotah. It is a Lubavitch custom to learn the Talmudic tractate of Sotah between Passover and Shavuot, because the subject of infidelity is a metaphor for the Children of Israel’s multiple infidelities to God, as they repeatedly worshipped idols.

Marcus J Freed is an Optimizer, currently living in LA. Next wednesday he's teaching a free webinar for all business owners - it's called "Money On The Table" - click here to register. He's also published a book called "The Kosher Sutras - The Jewish Way in Yoga & Meditation" - signup at his site www.marcusjfreed.com to get a limited-place ticket to the Los Angeles launch on June 10th 2013.

May 3, 2013 | 10:33 am

The Long ShortCut (How to Rejuvenate and Re-energize your life)

Posted by Marcus J Freed

Sometimes you've gotta take a break....

There are two kinds of shortcuts in life – short-shortcuts and long-shortcuts. The short-shortcuts are the ones that work, and the long-shortcuts are the kind we’ve all experienced when our driver (usually male – myself no exception) **insists** this route is going to be faster, but it ends up taking twice as long. If we are to keep our bodies healthy, our minds clear and our businesses successful, everybody needs to balance work with rest. Not too much rest, but a certain degree of dynamic relaxation to ensure that we remain refreshed and alert. When people do not sleep for days on end, the results can be seen on their levels of concentration and productivity.

Although artificial stimulants appear to provide a solution, with endless cups of coffee being downed, or the caffeine tablets that abounded during exam-time at university, the body will eventually say ‘enough’. How many times have you partied for several nights in a row, or worked for days upon end, only to discover yourself in bed with the flu or suffering from a bad cold?

There is a Biblical shortcut to increased productivity and blessing, although it appears to suggest a slowdown in business: “on the seventh year there shall be a complete rest for your land, a Sabbath for God; your field shall now sow and your vineyard you shall not prune” (Leviticus 25:4). Although this is presented like a gentle suggestion, the tone sours later on with a series of curses, “if you will not listen to Me and not perform all of these commandments (Lev. 26:14).

What if we were to view this not as a commandment but as a law of nature – a kind of universal proclamation that is stating the essence of reality? Although it appears to be a shortcut in business to keep on working throughout the day and night, to continue answering emails on our telephones throughout the weekend and to make sure we are available to customers 24/7, perhaps this is actually the ‘long’ kind of shortcut. If we are not able to take a break, if the land is not allowed to take a hiatus from productivity, then maybe it will eventually be forced to take a break out of necessity rather than choice.

Many people say “I do not have time for a vacation”, “I do not have time to exercise”, “I do not have time to pursue my own interests” or “I do not have time to meditate”. Today, try considering these activities as essential shortcuts to increased productivity.

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HOW TO APPLY THIS IN THE BOARDROOM:
1)Where have you been avoiding self-development activities? Is there a course you’ve wanted to do for a long time but have avoided signing up for? If you can’t afford it, consider the University of Youtube – millions of hours of seminars and information for free.
2) Have you been avoiding taking vacation time? Is it time you gave yourself a rest of some kind? Budget should not be an issue; there is always the option to engage your creativity to create a great staycation!

HOW TO APPLY THIS ON THE YOGA MAT/MEDITATION CUSHION:
Are you able to deeply rest? Not just to go to sleep at the end of the night whilst exhausted and falling asleep in front of the TV, but to experience that deeper, inner sense of peace and equilibrium? Here are two practices that can take you into that space of quiet:
1) Yoga Nidra – a practice for yogic relaxation. CDs/MP3s are available online, as with various instructions.
2) Longer meditations – when we sit and meditate for a period of longer than 20 minutes, the brain is able to reach deeper levels of relaxation. Try sitting for between 20-45 minutes.

FOOTNOTES
Based on the Torah readings for Parshiot Behar-Behukotai.

For more than 15 years, Marcus J Freed’s purpose has been helping people optimize their inner talents and live to their highest potential. He has many entrepreneurial endeavours, fuelling his passion for life. Marcus founded the business consultancy Freedthinking, and developed Bibliyoga and the Kosher Sutras, helping transform the lives of thousands. A regular broadcaster for BBC national radio, and past President of the Jewish Yoga Network, Marcus has written for publications including The Washington Post, The Independent and The Jewish Chronicle, and has appeared on Fox TV news networks. A trained actor, Marcus performed his Biblical comic plays in over 20 countries and appeared in the movie Saving Lincoln. His new Youtube channel Marcus Recommends is dedicated to connecting people with great ideas and celebrating life. Marcus happily lives in Los Angeles and London. You may reach Marcus at www.marcusjfreed.com.

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April 12, 2013 | 7:11 am

Release Margaret Thatcher, Reclaim Your Life

Posted by Marcus J Freed

Mrs Thatcher meets Golda Meir

Few questions are more challenging than "How did we get here?". That moment of discomfort when we find ourself in a predicament that appears to have suddenly occurred - a client has disappeared, the business is in a crisis, a relationship is going down the tubes. There are two immediate options that come to mind, to blame someone else, or, take responsibility.

The latter is more hard work but can yield phenomenal results.

As I write, much of England is in the midst of turmoil over the death of Baroness Margaret Thatcher and the newspaper headlines following her death ranged from "The Woman Who Saved Britain" (Daily Mail, April 6th 2013), to "The Woman Who Divided A Nation" (Daily Mirror, ibid.), to harsh attacks from the left-wing press such as The Guardian. There were parties celebrating her passing in working-class areas such as Brixton, while the Metropolitan Police is gearing up for a state funeral next wednesday on par with that of Winston Churchill.

Most interesting of all, her death has sparked up old controversies and rows as if this were 1988 all over again with people furious about her approaches to taxation policies, privatisation and social benefits. I want to say, "excuse me ladies and gentlemen..but that was 25 years ago. Maybe it is time to stop blaming, get over it and start taking some responsibility?".

Alas, it is easier to blame someone else for our misfortunes whether it is the government, the former boss, grumpy relative or estranged spouse. "If the recession hadn't happened, my business would have been better, my life would have been great, I could have been a contender, blah, blah blah".

Whilst it is easy to criticise others, how often are we guilty of being stuck in a blame culture? How frequently do we retell an old story about something that happened in our youth and use that as the basis for our current situation? The chaise longues of many a therapist are replete with people regularly replaying the past, and keeping themselves entrenched in the past as a result.  

One approach to dissolving our current problems and empowering ourselves in a new direction is to look to our modern situation lethrough ancient eyes. Leviticus tells of the Metzora, someone who is in a state of suffering that, the rabbis teach, has come about as a result of their actions and behavior (1).

"This is the law concerning the Metzora when he is purified and placed under the jurisdiction of the priest. The priest shall go outside the camp, where he shall examine the Metzora to determine that the [physical manifestation of the behaviour] (2) has been healed…The person undergoing purification shall then immerse in a ritual bath (mikveh) and thus complete [the first part] of the purification process. He may return to the camp, but he must remain outside his tent for seven days" (Leviticus 14: 1-8) (3).

Let's go ritualistic! We can do a contemporary reading of this which will directly apply to our business and to our life.

As soon as we take responsibility for a situation which we do not like, we are effectively becoming the Metzora. This is not about blaming ourselves or making ourselves wrong, but merely making the statement that we have the power to change things in our life. We are taking back our power rather than blaming somebody else.

The next stage is to invoke our "inner priest"; to ask where we need to change our behaviour and to question what we can do differently. We metaphorically - or literally - immerse ourselves in water which washes away our old behaviours and ways of being, and we spend some serious time reflecting on how we can act differently. The seven-day period is a metaphorical space to think about all of the many ways that we can use our power now that we have taken it back into our personal domain.

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989), Stephen Covey talked about the then-groundbreaking idea of the 'circle of influence', looking at how the most effective people will primarily take the actions that will have the greatest affect. So, spending time complaining and moaning is unlikely to grow a bigger client base or improve a relationship, whereas actively networking or buying flowers may have a greater return on investment!

Today - as with every day - is an opportunity to take back your power, redeem unhappy situations and create a life of success.

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HOW TO APPLY THIS IN THE BOARDROOM: Identify a currently unsuccessful situation and ask where you are retelling old stories that disempower you? Take 7 minutes (corresponding to the 7 days) and meditate, reflecting on all the areas where you can have a positive effect. Also, look at all of the situations where you are blaming other people. Make a big-ass list of all the times you're pointing the finger at someone else and start taking responsibility for the changes that you are able to make!

HOW TO APPLY THIS ON THE YOGA/MEDITATION MAT: Identify a situation which makes you unhappy and drop into a deeper meditation where you lightly hold this question and see which answers emerge: "How can I act differently?". If you have a physical injury or emotional discomfort, consider ways that you may have in some way contributed towards the current situation, or at least name some active steps that you can take to make some improvements. In a yoga posture, for example, you may explore what you are able to do in any posture, rather than focusing on what you can't do within the pose.

SOURCES
Based on Parshat Tazria-Metzora with teachings from Rabbi Matis Weinberg and Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum.

FOOTNOTES  
(1) It is usually associated with negative speech (Lashon Hara).
(2) My own translation of this phrase
(3) Translation from Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan "The Living Torah"

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March 31, 2013 | 6:23 pm

Last Chance: Banish Your Passover Neurosis!

Posted by Marcus J Freed

Pesach/Passover is often seen as a bundle of neuroses and hassle for many, but it can - and should - be a gateway to freedom and liberation!

Marcus J Freed offers some thoughts....

Discover new stuff at www.marcusjfreed.com.

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March 14, 2013 | 7:50 am

Egos Gone Wild (or: The Tao of Leviticus)

Posted by Marcus J Freed

It's all about knowing when to display your feathers.

We have all been around the person who has an untamed ego, and you may even work with one of them. They always need to be the centre of attention, they make everything about themselves and they drain the energy of people around them. In <em>Harry Potter</em> terminology they are the 'Dementors'. In order to solve the ‘problem’ of our narcissistic acquaintance and turn the challenge into an opportunity, we can ask two questions: 1)What is it about them that bothers us so much? And 2)Can we see that annoying quality inside ourself?

In ancient Jerusalem there was a kind of sacrifice that was brought with flour but it was taught that the flour had to be brought in a completely unleavened state, i.e. not mixed with water or puffed-up in any way. The flour was seen to represent the human ego, and it is impossible to give a wholehearted sacrifice if we are coming from a self-centered perspective (1).

Similarly, we may have experienced a friend or work colleague give us a gift while they made it all about them. When was the last time somebody gave something to you – whether a tangible gift or doing you a favour – but you energetically felt that they were taking from you?

All of this makes sense from a rational perspective. If there is a limited amount of space in the room and we inflate ourselves, there is less room for somebody else. But this goes deeper; when we don’t give space for other people’s thoughts and ideas, we shut down a whole realm of possibility. By keeping our ego minimised, we unlock a magical space of potential where we can create deeper connections with people, discover more pathways to success, and gain greater enjoyment each moment.

A couple of years ago I enjoyed watching the peacocks at San Diego zoo. They quietly wandered about their business until confronted, at which point they instantly appeared to triple in size, displaying their stunning array of colourful feathers. As soon as the moment had passed, they reduced in size and quietly carried on with their day. I don’t imagine there’s even a phrase in peacock-language for “hey! I’ve got a really cool bunch of feathers stuck to my backside! Check ‘em out! What’s up!”. There is nothing wrong with having external beauty or prodigious talents, but it is all about one applies it.

We often drop into the Ego Zone as a way to protect ourselves from getting hurt, but when make space for other people we can discover a whole new world of possibility.

Marcus J Freed

http://www.marcusjfreed.com
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HOW TO USE THIS IN THE BOARDROOM: Consider how you are not leaving space for other people or new ideas in your workplace. Where are you making things too much about you and not enough about the client? This could apply in your interactions, your marketing materials, anything! What could be possible if you spent more time listening to others? What could you create?

HOW TO USE THIS ON THE YOGA MAT/MEDITATION CUSHION: Calm your mind and notice how your own thoughts fill the space. Whenever a limiting thought arises – “I can’t do this, I shouldn’t do that, I wish I hadn’t…”, notice that as the sphere of the ego, and gently observe that thought, allowing it to pass.

FOOTNOTES
(1)Based on Parshat Vayikra/Leviticus. “Any meal-offering that you offer to God shall not be prepared leavened”. Nachmanides/Ramban quotes Maimonides/Rambam in Moreh HaNevuchim, the Guide for the Perplexed (III:46), where he explains that idolaters would bring their meal-offerings in a leavened state mixed with honey.

I learned this teaching about the leavened offerings from my dear teacher Rabbi Dovid Ebner, of Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi. He also contextualised it with the incident of Cain and Abel; the latter refused to give completely of himself which is why his sacrifice was refused. Abel, meanwhile, gave a pure and open offering. I would add that there is a secret in his name; Hevel (Abel in Hebrew) means ‘nothingness’, ‘vapour’ or even a kind of breath. Perhaps Hevel/Abel had reduced his ego to a state of complete nothingness.

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December 13, 2012 | 1:42 pm

Sales lessons from my Grandmother’s Funeral (Parsha Mikeitz)

Posted by Marcus J Freed

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The night after my Grandmother’s funeral we had just finished a ‘shiva’ (memorial) service and one of my young cousins was playing with a flashing bouncy ball. An older relative stood by, intrigued, and said “that looks fun. I should get one of those”. My 10 year-old cousin didn’t miss a beat; “I’ll sell it to you for £10. Tell you what, I’ve got two of them for 20 quid”. Money changed hands and I was impressed with the forthright fearlessness of my young cousin. My Nana would have been proud of him.

In his book Resistance is Useless – The Art of Business Persuasion, Geoff Burch describes the approach of children when trying to get an ice cream from their parents. The situation is comic as they are utterly relentless and will say ANYTHING to get what they want. Our problem is that as we grow older, doubts set in and we develop huge taboos around asking for what we want. In short, many adults get scared of having that sales conversation.

There is a fascinating Biblical sales process that took place between Joseph and Pharaoh. Joseph outlined a problem – that there would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine – and explained that it would need someone ‘wise and discerning’ to help the country survive and not go bankrupt (1). Pharoah promptly decided to appoint Joseph as the country’s Chief Operating Officer and everyone was happy.

How can we replicate this process in our own life? How can we cultivate massive confidence and make these big sales? Joseph was a prophet, but we are all blessed with the ability to gain deeper insights into the world around us when we tap into our intuition. This intuition is what helps us see opportunities everywhere.

If we silence our mind and create regular times for stillness and quiet (2) then we open up the possibility for those ‘Eureka!’ moments. Enlightenment is close by. Here’s the price we have to pay; we can only deepen our intuition when stop ‘doing’ and start ‘being’. That means introducing self-discipline into our sometimes coffee-addicted text-message-distracted lives.

With increased stillness we can increase our intuition. This leads to a kind of self-confidence that can transform people’s lives for the better. And yes, it may well give you the boost you need to start selling things at your Grandparents’ funerals…although I wouldn’t recommend it.

RESOURCES
==>HOW TO USE THIS IN THE BOARDROOM: Consider where you have been having self-doubts with regards to sales conversations or presenting yourself. Carve out some time to consider the problems that your clients may be facing. Ask them questions, drill deeper and then create more thinking time to see where you can offer solutions.

==>HOW TO USE THIS FOR YOGA/MEDITATION: As you step into a yoga posture, notice where are you holding back from going for it 100%? As you meditate, where are you allowing your mind to wander, instead of staying focussed and disciplining your thoughts?
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FOOTNOTES
Based on Parsha Mikeitz
(1) “Let Pharaoh seek out an understanding and wise man and appoint him over the land of Egypt” (Chp 41:33)
(2) We can take this reading one stage deeper. Joseph spent time in a non-distracted environment (i.e. prison!) which was an essential stepping stone to his success. If we actively create a non-distracted environment through meditation, this will seriously contribute to our growing clarity.

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November 29, 2012 | 10:37 am

REBRANDING JACOB: Discover the Depths Within

Posted by Marcus J Freed

Human beings love change. Newness is our aphrodisiac. We get excited by a new relationship, a new car, a new dress and a new baby. Today we’ll explore one of the most appealing newnesses(1) of all; the secrets hidden within your personal name, and how you can refresh your entire life – work, personal, physical, emotional and spiritual – by getting in touch with the essence of your name.

What is your name? What is the name you like to be called by? What are your other names? We might have a first name, e.g. “Marigold”, but we all have other names depending on personal and professional relationships, e.g. “Mum”, “Aunty Marigold”, “Dr Marigold” – we are complex beings, made of many different but complementary parts.

Branding Ancient Egypt
In his seminal book On Brand, thought leader Wally Olins explained how a company’s name and logo is so much more than a group of randomly-chosen letters and visual images. He traced modern brand logos back to Ancient Egypt, considering how one of the Pharoahs effectively rebranded the entire country through the use of symbols and hieroglyphs.

A company’s name denotes something of its essence, and the brand is created through the way that other people relate to that name. We all have clear associations when we hear the names ‘Coca-Cola’, ‘Mercedes’ and ‘Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC’.

Kabbalistic Rebrand
The ancient Kabbalistis agreed with modern brand experts. They recognised the importance of our name; that it denotes our very essence. They even condoned a tradition of rebranding a person who is facing a life-threatening illness. They believed that that by taking on a new name, it could change someone’s fate, as if the illness was meant for the ‘old’ person. This may sound irrational, but it’s not that different to a company facing bankruptcy; they’ll quickly reform with the same people under a new entity (e.g. new name and new bank accounts) and thereby change their fate!

Your name
Have you considered the depths of your personal name? What is the name you go by? What does it mean (in any language)? Do you have any other names that you don’t use (e.g. middle names, spiritual names), and what do they mean? My English names are Marcus Joel Freed, my Hebrew name is Matisyahu Yoel Baruch and there are various other things I’ve been called by ex-girlfriends...

Discovering the depths of your name may take some research, but when we find the roots of our names – in whichever language – we discover more about both our essence and our potential. Try seeking out a name dictionary, ask around, and consider where you are not currently living up to the potential of your name.

The Jacob/Israel Rebrand
One of the first recorded rebrands takes place in Genesis 32:29 and 35:10 when Jacob has his name changed to ‘Israel’. His new name signifies an expanded potential which he earns after undergoing a personal trial; the new name means ‘he who has struggled with the Divine and men and overcome”. The person who was to found a nation needed a strong name signifying leadership, rather than just ‘Jacob’ which means ‘heel’. From now on he was to be the head rather than the foot.

Your personal rebrand
How can you rebrand your body, your career and your life? How you can you reach deeper so that you are able to become an even better you? There is a two step process: 1. Identify the meaning, depth and potential hidden within your name, and 2. Step into your potential!

Physical potential
We have huge untapped potential within our body – to stand straighter, to breath more deeply, to move with more grace – and one aim of a yoga practice is to increase our discipline so that we can stand at our full height and use the totality of our body.

Consider the fullness of your potential, and step into your glory!

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The Freedthinker is a weekly essay that aims to enhance your life through the lenses of business, spirituality, yoga and more! All you need is an open mind and a willingness to play with ideas. If you like it, please share with a friend and they can sign up at www.freedthinking.com.  Let’s begin!!

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RESOURCES

How to use this in the boardroom: What is your company name? What does the name mean – or why was the name chosen? What is the potential of your organisation that can be achieved right now – e.g. we are called Freedthinking – we need to continually consider where we can be thinking ‘out of the box’, and acting more freely. What is your equivalent?

How to use this on the yoga mat/meditation cushion:  Where are you not using the potential for your body and mind? Where do you need to be more disciplined – or more playful? Make a list of three areas you would like to improve – e.g. stand more upright, sit with more stillness, focus your mind more accurately – and start pursuing them!

FOOTNOTES
This was based on Parshat Vayishlach, with the stimulus being Jacob’s renaming after he spends the night wrestling with an angel.

(1) Yes, I’m making up words. It’s not that the English language is deficient, but rather that it lends itself to playful creation. Shakespeare made up new words all the time. Try it! Unleash your inner Bard.

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October 25, 2012 | 10:33 am

How to win a bar fight at a barmitzvah (and other business skills gleaned from Parsha Lech-Lecha)

Posted by Marcus J Freed

Officially, Marcus is a lover, not a fighter. "But when the blast of war blows in our ears/ then imitate the action of a tiger"...

The unexpurgated title of this article is How to win a bar fight at a barmitzvah, or, how to overcome your current work challenges, enjoy success in the area of your calling and fight the good fight.

Nobody expects a genuine bar fight to break out at a bartmizvah party but that is what happened in the lobby of the banqueting hall at a friend's coming-of-age party. Someone had accidentally provoked partygoers from a Gipsy wedding that was taking place in the adjoining banqueting hall, and a ruckus broke out in the lobby.

The host immediately sprung into action, bowed his head low, spread his arms and ran towards the troublemakers, driving them back and knocking them off their feet. Another guest, an ex-serviceman who served two tours of duty with the British army in former Yugoslavia, immediately locked down the entrance to our party to stop any trouble getting in - or anybody getting out. Within minutes, the whole situation was quelled and the merrymaking resumed.

King Solomon taught ‘there is a time for war and a time for peace’ (1) and this often applies to our working life. Hopefully we are not literally at war with our colleagues, but there is a warlike quality that can be helpful when we want to get a job done. When we bring passion and enthusiasm to a project, we can overcome the negativity of other people. We can also battle against our own doubts, procrastination or non-productivity, and fight our own self-defeating behaviours.

The Kabbalists describe the patriarch Abraham as the embodiment of lovingkindness, but part of his ability was to know when it was time to fight. A lesser-known story is when his nephew Lot was kidnapped by neighbouring kings, and Abraham immediately mobilised a fighting force, executed a night-time raid, rescued Lot and defeated the enemy to great acclaim (2). What differentiated him from other vanquishers was that he refused to take unnecessary spoils of war; his focus was on completing the objective rather than gaining a selfish personal bounty.

Even the ancient yogis, the people who are most associated with peace and matters of the spirit, begin their key book The Bhagavad Gita with the fratricidal Mahabharata war on the battlefield. This is typically understood as the internal battlefield of overcoming one’s negative patterns, but nonetheless there is still a fight to reach inner peace.

When showing up for work we can be faced with unexpected challenges such as personality conflicts – the equivalent of the bar fight – but we can overcome obstacles when we commit 100% to the process. When we make the task about ourselves – ‘what can I get out of this?’ – we can use up unnecessary energy, but when we are focused on our objective and committed to positive outcomes such as helping other people, success lies within reach.

“When the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of a tiger…” Henry V, III:i.

Marcus J Freed
Marcus is CEO of boutique training company Freedthinking (www.freedthinking.com) and creator of Bibliyoga (www.bibliyoga.com). Buy his new book at www.marcusjfreed.com. My, that's a lot of URLs...

RESOURCES
How to apply this in the boardroom: Consider an area of work where you are under-performing. What is the key obstacle you are facing? Does it appear to be another person, your lack of interest, personal fear, or something else? Identify and list as many obstacles as possible, strategise how you can overcome them, and go for it! Here are five steps to work with:
1. Identify your obstacles
2. Identify your objective
3. Begin and commit 100% to the process…play to win!
4. Stay aware of how you are serving others rather than self-gain.
5. Complete the action, review what worked, rinse and repeat.

How to apply this on the yoga mat/meditation cushion: What are your inner obstacles? Which thought-patterns of behaviours are you holding back? Choose a positive intention and objective for your sessions and meditate on that topic for the coming month, e.g. "I am going to focus on the blessings that I already have so that I can be of better service to others’; the objective of your yoga/meditation is to focus on your blessings. Write back and let me know how you get on! For more yogish resources, www.bibliyoga.com.

FOOTNOTES
Based on Parshat Lech-Lecha.
1) Ecclesiastes 3:8
2) Genesis 14:1-24

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