Disqus - Latest Comments for Tom Stine | Living from Consci

Re: Asking a Woman’s Father For Her Hand In Marriage

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:41:57 -0000

"Amanda on May 16th, 2008 6:37 am

"I am so glad to have a father who would punch a man in the face for treating me this way, and a loving boyfriend who would never think to do such a thing."

I couldn't agree more. My ex would have clocked me had I asked her dad for anything, permission, blessing, hand, you name it. And he was a decent, okay guy. I honestly can't envision any of the women I've dated putting up with this one. And my women friends and especially lesbian friends would kill me.

Ugh!

Re: linklings, Tour de Jersey edition

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:54:42 -0000

Hey Steve.... The whole Law of Attraction thing is strange. It has become a force, a marketing juggernaut in one sense, and an object of constant derision in another. But in the simplest sense, there really is on denying that if you hold a certain idea you are more likely to "manifest" that than something else. We don't even have to get all esoteric and spiritual about it (although that makes it more fun, in my opinion).

Just some thoughts to add to the discussion. Have a great day!

Re: Who Controls My Life?

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:46:20 -0000

Nice article. It is interesting, that even in the first two examples, it would be fair to ask, "does anyone really have control?" As one great teacher put it: it isn't that you do or do not have control over your life, but that there isn't any "you" to have or not have control!

Again, well done. Namaste.

Tom Stine | Living from Consciousnesss last blog post..Thank You Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey

Re: About

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:26:32 -0000

I LOVE the video. I'm inspired to.... imitate? Create my own! I have a welcome to my website video, but it is kind of... bland. I also liked the quality of metacafe. I've used youtube and blip.tv, but youtube isn't the greatest quality and blip.tv has been a bit buggy. I gotta check out meta.

Hey, thanks for visiting my site. I'm gonna hit your RSS feed. Nice site, Clay.... Tom Tomstine.com

Re: A No-Nonsense Guide to Meditation: No Gurus and No B.S.

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:49:14 -0000

Nice guide. I especially am glad to see someone recommending "start with 3 minutes at a time." For most people, the mind is off to the races after a few minutes when you first begin. I remember reading years ago a suggestion from the mystic Joel Goldsmith to spend 5 minutes "3, 4, 6 or 12 times a day" meditating. His instructions were very simple, more of them sit down and do it variety. Again, nice work, guys.

Tom | tomstine.com

Re: On Alternative Productivity and Anti-Hacks for Living

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:03:21 -0000

Bravo Clay! You know, I read your comment about David Allen thinking todo lists will create "mind like water" and laughed. Sorry, David may be an "expert" at getting things done, but I think I just heard the Buddha roll over in his grave.

I've got to join you in your thinking on this one. Alternative productivity is a great way to go. Here's a little tidbit to add to your list:

The creator of the Sedona Method, Lester Levenson, taught very simple time management technique. It consisted of this statement: "Act as if you have all the time in the world." Simply pondering that statement several times a day easily produces "mind like water". It calms the system. Highly effective. And definitely and anti-hack.

Tom | <a href="</wp:comment_content>
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<wp:comment_content>I really love where this is going
here's why - it's more than the understanding burst of laughter you caused with your intro :)

I have been approaching what you now call the alternative for the past month or so now. I think it finalized after I saw somewhere online a story about this guy (pic included) so overwhelmed with all the systems and all the GTD stuff
not that I don't think it's useful
I grab tips here or there but I noticed thinking about productivity all the time helped me be less productive lol

I love this - Albert Einstein correctly started that </wp:comment_content>
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<wp:comment_author>Charlie Gilkey</wp:comment_author>
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<wp:comment_content>You're right about the antiproductivity zeitgeist, Clay, because it's hit me, too. I'll be interested to see where we both end up on this one.

I liked your old tag just fine, btw. But I'm not a good judge on those types of things. Your new one, however, is far catchier - it leaves the stumbler wondering ">

Re: Quitting Things and Flakiness: The #1 Productivity Anti-Hack

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:20:10 -0000

"Hang out with friends you only kind-of sort-of like"

HUGE time killer, life drainer, productivity waster. Only problem is that you will find yourself spending more time alone. Some people dread that. I revel in it. I'm far more productive than I used to be. And I enjoy life much more.

Tom Stine | Spiritual Awakening

Re: 49 Decent Virtual Assistant & Personal Outsourcing Resources

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:43:50 -0000

I have thought of a dozen tasks in the past few months for a VA. I'm going to have to go through some of these resources and see what might work. Merci.

Re: How to Engineer the Attentional Feng Shui of a Room

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:15:55 -0000

Can I relate to the big monitor! I have a 30" Apple. It is a work of art. But honestly, I haven't used it in 6 months. I discovered that I'm far more productive putting my laptop on my.... wait for it.... LAP! Who'd a thunk? I sit in the living room, on a comfy couch, and work. My shoulder pain is gone, I'm happier, my butt is less tired, I'm sitting next to a gorgeous Norfolk Island Pine, you name it. Much better. I'm gonna eBay the 30". But it is a beauty.

Re: How to Take the Red Pill

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:34:20 -0000

What are you missing? Retreats. Adam King described one type, a nature retreat. There are retreats of the personal growth variety and the more spiritual. Go hang out at a Trappist monastery for a few days. Go spend a week with some Zen Buddhists. Do a yoga retreat.

For the past two years I've been a retreat junkie. I've been doing one about every 3-4 months. They have changed my life profoundly. My personal favorite are Sedona Method retreats, which are a combo of personal growth & spiritual.

Clay, you are correct. How to take the red pill is THE issue. In many ways, it isn't easy, but the truth resonates deep inside far better than illusion.

Re: On Growing the Growing Life

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:49:11 -0000

You rock, Clay. You are doing good things with this "little" blog. Keep it going. I love it. And you know, I've been paying attention to YOU, reading between the lines, seeing how you are growing The Growing Life, and I'm impressed. And a shade envious? Maybe. ;-)

Re: The Cult of Abundance, Goal Autoimmune Disorder, & Abundance 2.0

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:33:25 -0000

Come on, Clay. Spiritual materialism is the new spirituality. Get with the program. You can manifest it all! :-D

Yeah, I agree with you, Clay. I'm cool with the Secret these days, because it really can show a lot of people that they are not victims of life. You don't have to live life always stressed to the max about money. Good message. But is it just me, or did many of the people in the Secret feel like used car salesmen?

To my way of thinking, Abundance 2.0 is to live in harmony with life, to live in the flow of life. The way I see it, the Universe is an abundant place. A famous spiritual dude observed that God provides for the lilies of the fields. We can have a life of harmony, of flow, of enjoying life free of material want AND excess. That's Abundance 2.0.

We think a like, my friend. We certainly do.

Re: Five Ways Productivity Can Turn You Into a Real Nutjob

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:22:44 -0000

Ah, come on, Clay, Fake Zen Guy a nut job? No, Fake Zen Guy is an opportunist. He's found a niche he can play in. He can Zen his business, Zen his house (Feng Shui is Chinese, but no matter), Zen his love life. It's all a strategy to get what most people want: M O R E!

However, all that Zen-stuff will get him someday. He will find himself forced to meditate and do yoga by his Zen girlfriend. He might actually find a moment of stillness, and the Fake Zen life will seem empty. The Universe always finds a way to get you, even Fake Zen Guy. :-)

Re: On Eating New Contexts for Breakfast and The Price of Radical Growth

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:45:47 -0000

Hey Clay, I was gone last week and missed this post. Thanks! I've enjoyed getting to know you, too.

Re: 70 Simple Power Tao Secret Hacks to Writing the Perfect Productivity Article, Plus a Guide & System for Doing It

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:02:28 -0000

Uh, Clay, you left out an essential one, IMHO. You MUST have an item explaining how all these productivity hacks translate into MORE MONEY. Because who would give a rats behind if cash were not at the other end of all this productivity.

Kelly@SHE-POWER: you got it! I'm hearing Steve Pavlina in your comment. I am a meat eating, sleep until 10 am kinda guy, unproductive as hell, and yet somehow manage to make it through life. Impossible, I know.

Thanks for a great read, Clay. I laughed hard.

Re: The Alternative Productivity Manifesto

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:55:28 -0000

So, where do I sign the manifesto? You got it Clay. As a writer about spirituality, I've found it quite amusing to read things like what you point out in number 20. A quiet mind does NOT come from productivity hacks! No way.

However, to be honest, greater productivity does not necessarily flow from a quiet mind. As the mind quiets, at least for me, life develops a certain stillness, a peacefulness, that is quite unconcerned. Interestingly, I find that doing too much stuff feels like a burden, and I have grateful shed many things. I'm just more content and happy with LESS. And from that place, why in God's name do I want to get "productive" so I can get more of the junk that I just got rid of?

Well done, Clay, well done.

Re: The Alternative Productivity Manifesto

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:00:38 -0000

Oh, one more thing: I read somewhere that the French, while working 35 hours per week, are the most productive workers in Europe. Can't verify that one, but it makes sense. They work, then go and do all those annoying French things that they do. Like sit around cafe's, eat cheese, have sex. Yes, very much stereotyping the French, but I learned French just so I could hang-out in France someday.

With the easy of having broadband, there is virtually no reason for people to work 40 hours in an office. Why not 30 from home? I bet most people could get the same amount of work done.

Re: The Life Hack Misnomer

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:28:47 -0000

Nicely said. I would say that spirituality, then, is the ultimate anti-hack. As you said, Clay: "The real life hacks (the kinds of hacks that make you happy, save your relationship, and set you free) don

Re: Alternative Lifestyle Designing (The Rabbit Hole Tax and Baselining)

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:20:01 -0000

What's really cool to me, Clay, is that LIFE often makes these choices for us. No decision to be made, life just comes along and says, BAM, you are going to change your life. Amazing. You get fired, your dream falls through, you hit mid-life and have one of those crazy mid-life crises (they do happen, believe me!), you name it.

When I graduated from [insert name of Ivy League college] I was heading to med school. Life was grand. Big time medicine. And then I crashed and burned. Life intervened. After bumming around strange jobs here in Missouri, my father died. Then got married. Then mother got sick. Then had a kid. Then mom died. Then MID-LIFE hit. Then got divorced. AND THANK GOD ALL THAT SHIT HAPPENED!!!

Now, 21 years later, I live in on my grandmother's farm in rural Missouri and I love it. I feel at home. I write about spirituality. I see things really taking shape. I'm happier than I've ever thought possible. Peace is rising in me more and more. I have an amazing kid. Life is awesome. All because life intervened and said, "nope, different plans, kiddo."

Not sure where I'm going with this. Oh, well, still love the post, Clay. :-D

Re: When Crazy Isn’t Crazy Anymore: Life Balance and Insanity

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:11:33 -0000

Hey Clay, well done. It seems to me that no matter how much we pretend otherwise

(1) We are not in control of our lives.
(2) Life will always have the final say.

I've noticed that the people who have their lives the most sorted out, zipped-up tight, and BALANCED are the ones that seem to eventually get the stuffing kick-out of them by life. Everything is in perfect working order then BAM, the apple cart is turned over. Health, financial problems, you name, these things can interrupt the best laid plans.

You've got it right. Balance can be achieved in so many unbalanced ways. We flow with Life, we move with it. We dance to its tune and love its wisdom and rhythm. Much better.

Re: Project Liberation

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:04:37 -0000

Hey Clay,

I haven't had a "job" in 12 years. While that began because of a sudden increase in money, it is now a different kettle of fish. Yet, I won't go back to work. No way. No how. I'm with you.

Cool that you were unschooled. My ex and I keep wanting to find the best education for our kiddo. We've tried 3 schools, and nothing has floated our boats. I long to send him to this amazing Montessori school outside Paris I visited a few years ago, but moving to Paris isn't in the cards. I long to home school, but I can't work out the logistics, yet. How did your folks do it? We have the issue of two different houses and juggling "stuff" to work out. Maybe I just need to call you? :-)

Go for it, my friend. I'm with you all the way.

And lastly: maybe spend a few donation dollars on strippers and booze. :-))

Re: About

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:26:32 -0000

Re: A No-Nonsense Guide to Meditation: No Gurus and No B.S.

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:49:14 -0000

Re: On Alternative Productivity and Anti-Hacks for Living

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:03:21 -0000

Re: Quitting Things and Flakiness: The #1 Productivity Anti-Hack

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:20:10 -0000

Re: 49 Decent Virtual Assistant & Personal Outsourcing Resources

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:43:50 -0000

I have thought of a dozen tasks in the past few months for a VA. I'm going to have to go through some of these resources and see what might work. Merci.

Re: How to Engineer the Attentional Feng Shui of a Room

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:15:55 -0000

Re: How to Take the Red Pill

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:34:20 -0000

Re: On Growing the Growing Life

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:49:11 -0000

Re: The Cult of Abundance, Goal Autoimmune Disorder, & Abundance 2.0

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:33:25 -0000

Re: On Eating New Contexts for Breakfast and The Price of Radical Growth

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:45:47 -0000

Hey Clay, I was gone last week and missed this post. Thanks! I've enjoyed getting to know you, too.

Re: Five Ways Productivity Can Turn You Into a Real Nutjob

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:22:44 -0000

Re: 70 Simple Power Tao Secret Hacks to Writing the Perfect Productivity Article, Plus a Guide & System for Doing It

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:02:28 -0000

Re: The Alternative Productivity Manifesto

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:55:28 -0000

Re: The Alternative Productivity Manifesto

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:00:38 -0000

Re: The Life Hack Misnomer

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:28:47 -0000

Re: Alternative Lifestyle Designing (The Rabbit Hole Tax and Baselining)

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:20:01 -0000

Re: When Crazy Isn’t Crazy Anymore: Life Balance and Insanity

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:11:33 -0000

Re: Project Liberation

Tom Stine | Living from Consci — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:04:37 -0000