Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Golden rules of writing
3. 3. My offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

Over the years when teaching workshops, people have often commented that they liked the stories I tell, and that my stories offered them important learning. About eight years ago, my friend and colleague Molly Gordon suggested it would be a great idea if I wrote up my stories in a newsletter. And thus the Seishindo newsletter was born! Recently, as you know, I gathered all my stories about my life in Japan and created my book, Pure Heart Simple Mind- Wisdom stories from a life in Japan.

Since the book has been out, a number of people have said they would like to learn about my process of writing. Because of the interest shown, I am going to write a series of newsletters about my writing process. In the coming months I will also teach a teleseries on writing.

As I said in my last newsletter, if you would like to learn about how to be a better writer, please contact me at charlie@seishindo.org and I will place your name on a mailing list as a potential participant in my upcoming writing classes.

Needless to say, writing is a form of communication.
What might be a bit surprising to you, is that improving your writing skills can have a positive affect on your verbal communication style and your relationships with others. I hope that as you read through these rules, the reasons why this is so will become evident.

So, even though this article talks about “writing” it is actually talking about a lot more than “just” writing. Because of this, I think this material can serve everyone in the Seishindo community.

Have a read, and let me know what you think!

Here are a few suggestions as you proceed-
If you would like, at some point you can run through these rules while doing some editing in your head.

The word “writing” can be changed in your mind, to “communicating”
The word “reader” can become “partner”, or “spouse” or “audience” etc.
The term “writer” can be changed to “you”, or “leader”, or “keynote speaker”, etc.

2. Golden rules of writing

Be clear about what you are wanting to convey
What is the main point you want to make? It is important that your message comes across in a clear coherent manner.

You need to be certain about your message before you begin. Or at the very least, you need to be certain about the clarity of your message, by the time your piece is nearing completion.

Brevity is to be highly valued.
Write your ideas in as few words as possible while maintaining a friendly atmosphere. Be relentless in cutting out every unnecessary word. “Less equals more!”

Also keep in mind that two short sentences are usually better than one long sentence. People tend to get lost in long sentences, and they might not find their way back to the page.

Your words need to flow.
Speak the words that you write, to help you hear and feel the flow of your writing. Your words need to flow with a rhythm similar to music. Complicated groupings of words will create a verbal traffic jam, that stops the music. Do away with any unnecessary “notes”, and the space in between your words will “say” a lot.

Create a scene that the reader can hold in their mind’s eye, and a logical flow of events and actions
It is important that the reader can envision what you are writing about. If not they will become uncertain and confused.

Make sure that the flow of action and events is logical. Be certain to not jump around from point to point, or from past to present.

Keep in mind that the reader will have little to no idea about your internal world, and the events that have taken place in your life.
You need to tell the reader all the important details and background in the course of your writing. Don’t start out in the middle of a story, unless this is part of your unique writing style.

Introduce yourself through your writing, rather than writing an introduction about yourself.

If you are writing about people, breathe life into your subjects and give them a voice.
It is important to not speak “for” your subjects, or about them. Let your subjects speak for themselves.

Make sure your writing is not all about you.
Your theme needs to be universal in some important way, and your theme needs to talk to the heart of the reader. You readers will not be interested in reading about you, unless reading about you, helps them to understand themselves.

The more personal your writing, the more universal it needs to be.

Be certain to not indulge yourself in your suffering.
People don’t want to read a sad story about a sad person, they want to read about someone who has somehow triumphed, somehow persevered.

In most instances your writing should carry at least a hint of “a life that works, a life that has a future”. It usually is not a good idea to leave your readers distraught or mired in your problems.

Always remember that your opinion and “the truth” are not the same.
If you are writing about your opinions, you need to make sure that you leave room for other interpretations. Be certain to not try and tell people how they should feel about a certain story or issue.

Speak from your heart, in every day language.
Don’t try and rhyme words just because you are writing “poetry”.

By all means don’t use flowery language unless it really fits, and that is infrequently.

Keep it simple and straightforward, and stay away from complex allegories, metaphors etc.

When you have the choice of using a “big” word or a “small” word, use a “small” word.
You don’t want to try and impress people with your vast vocabulary, and you don’t want them to have to constantly look in their dictionary. Every time the reader needs to look in a dictionary, it is like stopping a movie you are watching at home, while you go and get a snack. You break the flow of the action.

The more your writing wanders, the more the reader’s mind will wander.
In most instances you should only make one main point, and not wander from that point.
There can of course be exceptions, but in most instances you will want to leave the reader with one main point to think about, rather than several.

So, in writing this first article, what is my main point?

“Keep it simple, while maintaining an emotional connection to both your content and your reader.”

••••

That’s it for today!
I hope you enjoy what you read, and that I have created some nutritious food for thought.

I will continue this conversation in my next newsletter.

3. My offer

When people write to me about the possibility of receiving some coaching, I ask them to consider the following:

1. What is your concern?

2. What is your goal in regard to this concern?

3. What, does it cost you to have your concern?
(Emotionally, relationship wise, health wise, time wise, financially, career wise.)

4. How would you and your life be different if you attained a solution?
A) If you had a solution- How much would you make/recover, improve, save- financially, emotionally, health wise, time wise, career wise?

B) Simply put- How would a solution improve the quality of your life overall?

5. No matter how stuck you might feel, I am certain that you have made some progress along the way. Please tell me what you have been doing so far.

6. What makes the most sense for you at this time, taking all your circumstances into consideration?
Continuing to work on changing your life as you have been, or having someone like me help you thoughtfully and strategically accomplish your goal?

My promise
Through working with me you will learn how to become more in tune with your emotions and your truth.
You will accomplish this by learning how to become a more solution oriented and compassionate listener.

You will learn how to better listen and respond to your body, Understanding the “need to change” it is communicating.

You will also learn how to better listen and respond to, the emotional impact of the words you speak.
In this regard, you will learn how you can digest and receive emotional sustenance from your verbal model of the world.

You will learn a great deal about yourself, and become more proactive.
•••••

And still, life will bring many challenges your way.
Its just that you’ll be better able to meet your challenges, because you will be more in touch with, and more in control of, how you think and feel.

Through your actions and your stillness,
Through your day to day involvement in life,
You can come to experience the truth of who you are,
As you discover a place of inner stillness, at the core of your being.

When you discover this truth,
As you discover this truth,
Everything in and around you, will begin to be experienced as being,
“Just as it should be, just as it is”.

Look inside yourself,
The answer lies within!

Most every client I work with, begins by feeling that their challenges are insurmountable.
And then little by little, they begin to realize they possess all the resources necessary to live the life they truly desire.
The same can be true for you!

Please click on this link to see what others have said about their work with me.
http://www.seishindo.org/about-us/kudos/#lc

Should you choose, I am ready to assist and support you.

Regards,
Charlie

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

* * *
Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
* * *

Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.

Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. The Path of your life
3. 3. My offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

Welcome to our new subscribers. I hope you will find value in what I write.

My new book got its first in-depth review today. Wonderful how this gentleman really “got” the message I was wanting to get across!

Click on this link if you would like to read the review.
http://markmccluretoday.com/book-review-pure-heart-simple-mind-by-charlie-badenhop

I would be very pleased if you pass along information about my book to others!

A number of people have written to me saying they would like to pursue their dream of writing. If you have interest in taking a series of teleclasses that can teach you how to be a better writer, please send me an email, and I will place you on a private list. If enough people show interest, I would love to lead a series of classes on writing. If writing is something you have a passion for and you would like to improve your current skills, send me an email at: charlie@seishindo.org,

All the best,
Charlie

2. The Path of your life

For me it is important to consider what my path in life is. By this I mean I believe it’s important to think about where it is I am going, and what my life will be like once I get there.

If you would like to consider the same for yourself, here are eight questions that can help you arrive at a meaningful answer:

1. “What/Where are you moving towards?”
Often, we spend a good deal of time and energy trying to avoid particular events, relationships, and outcomes we do not want. But in actuality, I believe we are always moving towards a particular outcome, whether we realize it or not. It is important to get a clear sense of where you are going.

2. “How would you describe yourself right now?”
Another way to say this is, “What do I perceive my attributes to be?

What is important here is that you accentuate your positive attributes (your “gifts”), while being gentle in describing whatever you might perceive as negative attributes. In Seishindo we like to say, “Every strength has a weakness, and every weakness has a strength.”

3 “How would you describe the kind of person you are wanting to become?”
Another way to ask this question is, “What are the positive attributes of the person you are wanting to become?”

4. “Based on your answer to the last question, what positive attributes will you need to add to your current repertoire to achieve your goals?”

5. “What will you need to do to cultivate the positive attributes that you are not currently manifesting?”
In other words, what will you need to start doing differently?

6. “What resources do you have access to that can help you achieve your goal?
Consider friends, colleagues, family, courses you could take, books you could read, etc.

Often times we try to achieve a goal on our own, and we ignore or simply don’t pay attention to the many resources we could draw on. In Seishindo we like to say, “You already possess all the resources necessary, to live the life you long for.”

7. “What will your plan be, for actively walking your path?”

8. “What will your first step be?”
So often people talk about a plan, but never wind up taking a first step. Beginning on your path is crucial. The next important point is making sure you continue!

That’s it!
Give some genuine thought to the above eight questions, and you will receive great benefit.
••••

In Seishindo, we believe it is important to appreciate all that we are, and develop a dream for the future based on ideals that are positively oriented and life affirming. Rather than attempting to fix what we often (usually incorrectly) perceive as our problems, we believe it is much more important to focus on cultivating your solutions.

Emotional and physical well-being, sensitivity to the needs of self and others, compassion, a good “partner” in relationships, and self-trust– These are some of the core attributes/capacities we look to cultivate in Seishindo.
The more you gently focus your attention on these attributes, the less need you will have to try and “fix” what you perceive to be wrong with yourself and others.
Focusing on cultivating positive attributes is a generative way to release yourself from the grip of fear. As you have likely already noticed, fear is an emotion that can easily overwhelm you in the fast paced world most of us live in.

Centered, calm yet active, and doing neither too much or too little, is a great way to approach life.

The more often you embody such a way of being, the more you will find yourself cultivating good health, emotional stability, and the ability to live with grace and ease.
You will find yourself following a path of least resistance and optimal effect.

Through your actions and your stillness,
Through your day to day involvement in life,
You can come to experience the truth of who you are,
As you discover a place of inner stillness, at the core of your being.

When you discover this truth,
As you discover this truth,
Everything in and around you, will begin to be experienced as being,
“Just as it should be, just as it is”.

3. My offer

If you would like help in deciding, and traveling on your life path, I can likely help.

A six session series of coaching sessions would certainly get you well on your way.

If you have interest in a complimentary “chemistry check” session, please drop me a line, and we can talk about possible times to talk. During our time together you should be able to tell if you feel we would be a good fit together.

Contact me at charlie@seishindo.org

Here is what one previous client had to say about my coaching:
“Charlie is a definite “out-of-the-box” thinker and very intuitive career and personal coach. He in an expert in human behavior and is excellent at helping others get through life challenges, both personal and business. He’s always there for you in the tough times and knows how to bring out the best in you in the best of times.”
Tony Padgett

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

* * *
Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
* * *

Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.

Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Embracing life’s many problems
3. 3. My offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

It’s been three weeks since my book was released, and I am so pleased by the positive feedback that has been streaming in! If I haven’t replied to your email yet, I will, as soon as I catch up.

For those of you who have yet to have a look, you can check out the interior of the book by going here:
Pure Heart Simple Mind- Wisdom stories from a life in Japan
http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Simple-Mind–Wisdom-stories/dp/098482300X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325064187&sr=1-1

I would be very pleased if you pass along information about the book to others! The more people who find out about the principles of Seishindo, the better able I become at serving the Seishindo community.

All the best,
Charlie

2. Embracing life’s many problems

You are a relationship.
And when you’re wanting to understand how this relationship could be more fulfilling,
Ask yourself–“What is the nature of the conversation that goes on between the various parts of myself?”

Do you talk to yourself as a friend and ally,
or do you sometimes show disrespect and disdain?

There is a presence within you that is truly powerful, and also rather unruly at times.
Like the energy of a young rambunctious child.
Welcome this presence into your life,
rather than trying to discipline or defeat it, and you will find it has much to offer you.

One of the keys to a happy life, and a happy relationship,
Is the ability to entertain two opposing ideas at the same time,
Without turning the news of difference into a problem.

This requires an open heart and mind, and often, a fairly large dollop of high quality negotiation skills.

It is your lack of confidence regarding a potential outcome,
That leads to your sense of there being a problem.
When you feel up to the task,
Your problem will be transformed into a challenge you enjoy solving.

Problems can stretch and expand the boundaries of what you currently feel capable of,
And thus problems can help you achieve a more positive self-image.
The opposite of course is also true.

It’s a loss, a surprising turn of events, a death, the unexpected …
that makes it necessary for you to begin yet another journey.
Don’t try and stay home.
Don’t try and hide.
The part of you that realizes the need for change is calling out your name,
imploring you to take action.
Attempting to maintain the status quo is no longer a viable option.

If you stuff cotton in your ears,
The voice within you will only get louder and more insistent.

Be thankful for this,
Without this voice, conditions would only get worse.

Once you define your situation as a “problem”,
You become a moth,
And your problem becomes the flame.

There is no need to protect yourself from the unexpected.
Indeed there is a part of you that realizes the need for something to be different.
Take the chain off your door.
Welcome your guest, and embrace the paradox!

The unexpected offers you the opportunity to look deeper,
And discover what you truly want and need.

The convergence point of two seemingly opposing forces,
Is the place where the meaning of your experience is created.
Your belief about your capabilities determines how you act and react.
And not the experience in and of itself.

Are you open to learning something new?
Or are you only wanting to repeat the same lessons you
excelled at in the past?

Failure is not a declaration of your lack of ability.
The only way you can truly fail, is by giving up.
Today’s failure is a sign that you have yet to get things right.
Today’s failure is alerting you to the need for further course corrections.
Today’s failure can lead to tomorrow’s success.

Embracing your problems doesn’t mean you will have
less challenges in the future.
It only means you won’t be discouraged each time you meet up
with the unexpected.
Indeed, no matter how far you progress, you will still have many of
the same challenges you had in the past,
It’s just that you won’t take them so personally.

If your current problem had a positive meaning, what would it be?

Who were you before your problem showed up?

Who will you be once your problem is solved?

3. My offer

Would you like help in embracing your problems? If so, I can be of service.

You can step up and make a commitment to enriching the quality of your life,
by entering into a Seishindo coaching engagement.

Contact me at charlie@seishindo.org and we can set up a complementary “chemistry check” conversation, to see if we are a good fit for each other.
And don’t worry, I won’t try and sell you!

Here is what one client had to say:

You helped me to find a piece of myself I had been looking for for many years
Charlie, you have this incredible ability to notice what is missing from the whole, and then you help to restore fullness. Or, perhaps I should say you have an incredible ability to notice what your clients think is a missing part of them, and then help them to find that lost part within themselves. You have helped me to find a piece of myself that I had been looking for for many years. Thank you so much for such a precious experience.
John, Philadelphia

Regards,
Charlie

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

* * *
Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
* * *

Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.

Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Slowing down, and becoming more present
3. 3. My offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

My best wishes to everyone for the coming year.

I am feeling really happy to have finally gotten my first book out into the world, and I want to thank those of you who have already gotten a copy and sent me kind words of encouragement.

I think all of the Amazon stores worldwide are now currently carrying the book. In some locations the book is listed as out of stock, but that is not the case. The U.S. site and the Canadian site already have the book up with the opportunity to “Look inside the book” so if you have yet to order one, please do stop by and have a look.
http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Simple-Mind–Wisdom-stories/dp/098482300X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325064187&sr=1-1

We have a lot planned here at Seishindo, and we are looking forward to a fulfilling year. I hope the same is true for you!

All the best,
Charlie

2. Slowing down, and becoming more present

At the end of each year, Japan comes to a standstill as almost everyone takes at least five days off starting on Dec. 30th. My favorite thing to do during this time of year, is “nothing”.

I clean up some of the mess laying around from last year, wash the windows, clean the floors, and sit quietly in a room, contemplating my “self”, my life and relationships, and my emotional state.

By releasing myself from my usual schedule I get the opportunity to experience what I think and feel when the demands on my life have abated. This is what I call a “still pond” state.

If you toss a small stone into a pond buffeted by the wind, it is difficult to discern the effect of the stone on the water. If you toss a similar small stone into a still pond, you can easily notice the ripples that result.

When I slow down and become present, I am much better able to notice the ripples in my system. Sometimes working in harmony, sometimes working in disharmony.

In my practice, one thing I often do is take a quote that interests me, and repeat it to myself numerous times over the course of ten to twenty minutes.

Depending on how well I know the quote or how complex the quote is, I either read it to myself, or simply repeat it to myself. Sometimes with my eyes open, sometimes with my eyes closed.

My process is this-
I take a deep breath, and speak the quote on my exhale. Then, on my inhale I do my best to let all my thoughts pass me by. Then I repeat the quote again on my next exhale. Over and over again. I speak the quote in a low voice rather than simply repeating it internally, because speaking the quote out loud tends to keep me much more involved in the process.

Here are the quotes I will be working with over the next few days. Hopefully they will prove useful to you as well.
(I have made minor yet important edits to these quotes. Sometimes I adjusted the quotes to make them sound better in my ear, and perhaps more importantly, I changed the quotes so they are spoken/read in the “first person”. Thus, the wording of these quotes will appear differently if you search for their origin on the internet.)

“My self is a circle, whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.”
Carl Jung

“I am the center of the universe. But the universe is so infinitely large, and ‘I’ so infinitely small, that you too are the center of the universe.”
Koichi Tohei

“There is no present or future, only the past, happening over and over again, now.”
Eugene O’Neill

“Whether I believe I can, or I can’t, in either case I will tend to prove myself correct.”
Henry Ford

“Failure is simply the opportunity for me to begin over again, this time more intelligently.”
Henry Ford

“Life is a solitary cell whose walls are mirrors.”
Eugene O’Neill

“No matter how carefully I look, it is hard to see anyone but myself. No matter how carefully I look, it is hard to see anything but my own point of view.”
Charlie B.

“Believing, preparing, beginning, adjusting, and continuing. These are the five most important steps in fulfilling my dreams.”
Charlie B.

Wishing you all the best for the coming year!
Please stay connected to the Seishindo community, and please also continue to cultivate a deeper connection to yourself.

In community,
Charlie

3. My offer

If you need help getting on track, or getting back on track, I can likely be of service. If you want to make a commitment to yourself or those you love, and you are feeling shaky about the outcome– A series of six coaching sessions with me, will help you gain the certainty and commitment needed to achieve your dreams.
Contact me at charlie@seishindo.org and we can have a complimentary chemistry check conversation.

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

* * *
Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
* * *

Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.

Here is the link;
http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Simple-Mind–Wisdom-stories/dp/098482300X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324376367&sr=8-1

The cover of the book is beautiful, but we do not yet have a cover image up on the Amazon site.

The book is a compilation of fifty stories from my newsletter, sharing my life in Japan with you.

If you have been waiting for THE perfect gift for someone you love, now you have your chance!

:- )

I would be honored if you would buy my book, and would consider it a wonderful act of friendship!

I am thankful for all the support so many of you have shown me over the years.

Together, we can make the world a better place!

In community,
Charlie

Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Courage in the face of perceived failure
3. 3. My offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

I had a wonderful time teaching in New York City, and as always I also enjoyed the opportunity to meet some of you through private sessions while I was in town. I want to take this opportunity to thank Joel Elfman and Anson Mau for sponsoring and managing the workshop, and I also want to thank my long time friend Stephen Roger for his support of my work.

As I mentioned last time out, my forthcoming book is at the printers. We are trying to create the possibility to have it for sale by Christmas. Not sure yet, so stay tuned!

Today’s story involves work that was done at one of my previous workshops. It is common for one or two people a day, to come up and have me work with them individually in front of the group. The results of these sessions are often beautiful to behold.

In sharing this encounter, I want to let you know that- I have changed the name of the person I worked with in order to preserve her privacy, and I have also asked her permission to share her story. She was very happy to say “Yes” as she hopes that others in the Seishindo community might learn from her experience.

Charlie

2. Courage in the face of perceived failure

The fear of failure is an emotion that knocks on everyone’s door at one time or another …

Here is what “Karen” had to say about failure, when I worked with her in the front of the room at a recent workshop.

Karen and I start out as I often do, talking about various topics, as we wait for the right thread of conversation to emerge.

I have no idea what the right thread of conversation will be, but I’m confident we will find it, if we engage each other with open hearts and minds.

At some point Karen states she’s been doing a lot of meaningless work for quite some time. She says she’s been doing the work no one else in her company wanted to do. As a result of this, she says she’s lost touch with herself and her dreams.

In a heavy, dark voice she says,
“Fifty two years old, and look at me, I’m a failure!
“A broken marriage, a broken career, and nothing to show for all my suffering.”

Her words touch me deeply, and I take a deep breath to help center myself.
Then I thank her for having the courage to share such a powerful message.

“Failure or no failure,” I say, “it’s very special to be with someone who is able and willing to expose and express their pain. Standing up to one’s perceived failures, is an act of great courage.”

I take another deep breath and look around the room some, wanting everyone to know it’s OK to gently respond if they care to.

I look back at Karen and begin to tell her about some of my own failures.
I don’t have to reach too far, to recall a number of disappointments and disillusionments.

Little by little, spontaneously and honestly, most everyone in the room shares some of their failures as well.

Getting fired … A broken marriage … A broken friendship … Trouble with one’s children …
Rather quickly the list grows long, and it soon becomes apparent that no one in the room has been “only successful”.

At some point I ask the group if anyone would be willing to share their definition of “failure”.

There is silence …
And then Karen, all of a sudden looking inspired, says, “Failure is when you try to make believe you are someone other than who you are.

“Failure is when you come to believe there aren’t any viable alternatives in life, to the way you’ve been living.

“Failure is when you don’t share your experience with others because you’re convinced it’s only you who is suffering. That somehow all the madness has occurred because something is wrong with you.

“Failure is feeling you are incapable of finding satisfaction and love.”

Karen takes a deep breath, looks around, and adjusts her posture, before finally saying, “Failure is sitting slumped over as I tend to do, and feeling like you are powerless.”

Tears begin to ebb down Karen’s face, and the entire group is touched by her courage and pain.

People transition from listening with their ears, to ‘someone else’s’ experience,
To feeling with their hearts, how Karen’s words and sorrow are shared by all of us.

Such is the power of a supportive, caring community.
The courageous sharing of any one group member, can lead to the healing of all who are present.

“I” becomes “We”,
And it is this “we-dentity” that gives us the courage to stand up and face our greatest fears, and seeming shortcomings.

At such times, “failure” is transformed into a triumph of human spirit.

3. My offer

If you have been struggling with a sense of failure for a while now, you will likely find that a Seishindo coaching engagement can get you back on track again. I will help you understand the life affirming lessons your struggles offer you, and I will also help you discover a deep and lasting appreciation for all that you are.

Contact me at- charlie@seishindo.org and we can set up a complimentary “chemistry check” conversation, to see if we are a good fit for each other.

Here is what a previous client had to say about our work together;

Learning from Charlie, I feel safe to be exactly who I am
As a coach to senior executives, I need ways to work deeply with people who are skeptical about anything non-linear. Charlie combines in-depth understanding with practical methods. His insight and intuition make him a master. Better still, unlike many masters, he is as unpretentious about himself as he is generous with his knowledge. As a learner, I feel safe to be exactly who I am, because Charlie is so straightforward about his humanity.
Steve Levin

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

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Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
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Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.

Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Everyday mind and your concept of time
3. 3. The Seishindo Coaching Offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

Today’s newsletter comes to you from New York City!
I am here to facilitate the Seishindo MindBody Medicine workshop on Dec. 3, 4, 2011.
You can find out more about the workshop by going here:
http://www.seishindo.org/2011/11/08/seishindo-announcement-2/
I am also here doing private coaching sessions while here. If you would like to do some face to face coaching with me, please write to me and I will get in touch. My email is: charlie@seishindo.org.

I am very, very pleased to announce that we have sent my book to the printers this week. The title is “Pure Heart Simple Mind- Wisdom Stories from a life in Japan”. The book is a compilation of 50 stories that first showed up in my newsletter. As soon as the book is available for sale, I will of course let you know.
As we start to close in on the Holiday season, as always, I suggest that you take it easy, and not get overwhelmed by all you need to do.
In community,

Charlie

2. Everyday mind and your concept of time

“How unstable was your thinking mind?” Sensei asked, after we had just spent an hour doing a specific breathing exercise. “I’m guessing that in the last hour most of you were very busy thinking, even though you’re meant to sit quietly when doing this exercise.” When I heard him say this I wasn’t sure whether to smile or frown, because he was certainly describing me!

“Such is your everyday mind.” Sensei continued. “You don’t know how to stop yourself from thinking, and the more you try to stop, the more thinking you do. Instead of experiencing the here and now, you run around in your thinking mind worrying and wondering about the past and the future. One moment you feel great, and the next moment you feel terrible. You make it all up in your head, and your experience has little if anything to do with reality.

“In fact,” he added, “the more you study, the more you realize the term reality is a very slippery concept to grasp. You come to realize that what you usually think of as ‘real’ is really only the content of your thinking mind.

“Rather than trying to understand reality, I think we can better spend our time exploring relativity. By exploring how each thing, each thought, each feeling, is relative to all the rest of your experience, you can learn a great deal. Relativity teaches us there’s always more than one perspective, always more than one belief, always more than one understanding, in regard to any one moment in time.

“Einstein talked about placing his hand on a hot stove for one minute, and how that minute felt more like an hour. He then talked about sitting with a pretty girl for an hour, and how that hour seemed to pass so quickly.

“What he describes is very much like the experience of sitting and breathing. Minutes of chaotic thinking feel like hours, and calmness passes you by all too quickly. You manipulate and distort time, and you create a sense of connection with or separation from life itself.

“A human being is one infinitesimal part of an infinitely large universe. A tiny, tiny, something, existing for a few moments in time and space. When we feel separate from the rest of life our pain and suffering increases, as does our distortion of time. When we feel ourselves fully connected to life, everything is just as it should be.

“When I have you sit and breathe, I usually start by taking down the clock at the back of the dojo and placing it outside. You all see me do this. and yet many of you look back numerous times for the non-existent clock. With your sense of time so distorted, I wonder what information you’re hoping the clock will provide.” I felt embarrassed when I heard him say this, because more than once I was certain I could hear the ticking of the clock!

“Our belief in and dependence on time creates a kind of prison that restricts our ability to fully live and experience life. In the course of your study it’s my hope that you’ll begin to free yourself from this prison and experience how you share your pain, your pleasure, and indeed all of your life with the rest of the universe. The more you can realize you’re not alone, not separate, the more you’ll realize just how fleeting every moment is. Both the pleasure and the pain. It’s all to be experienced, appreciated, and then let go of, so that you can be ready for the next experience.”

3. The Seishindo Coaching Offer

If you are wanting to get your life in better order, and climb off the treadmill of “Not enough time!” … A six session Seishindo Coaching Package can be of immense help.

If you are thinking about the possibility of our working together, please contact me, and we can have a ‘chemistry check’ conversation, so you can find out what is possible. Send me an email letting me know what times are convenient for you, and your location.

Charlie

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

* * *
Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
* * *

Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.

Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Biting the hand that feeds you
3. 3. My Offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

Today’s offering is a thorough rewrite of a popular story I presented several years ago. Hopefully this story will give you a new way to look at building a relationship with people you find defensive.

I also want to take this time to remind you that I’ll be teaching a two day workshop in New York City on December 3rd and 4th. The title of the workshop is “Seishindo MindBody Medicine” and you can find out more by clicking on the link below. I look forward to seeing some of you soon!
http://www.seishindo.org/2011/11/08/seishindo-announcement-2/

Charlie

2. Biting the hand that feeds you

Many years ago my parents gave me a parrot as a gift. The first thing I learned about parrots is that it hurts a lot when they bite you!

When I got my parrot I was living with my friend Reeves Teague. He had a “country boy” way of dealing with “critters” having grown up in the mountains of North Carolina. Here’s the process Reeves taught me for taming a wild animal.

1. Welcome and utilize the animals current behavior
At first the parrot only wants to bite you. It’s a natural act of self defense. So rather than trying to stop the parrot’s instinctual behavior, encourage and utilize it. Wear something protective on one finger, and extend this finger inviting the parrot to do as he likes.

Welcoming and utilizing the parrot’s current behavior even if it’s aggressive, is very much in the spirit of Aikido. Whether parrot or person, when you don’t act defensive and frightened, your counterpart will feel less defensive and frightened. Its fear that leads to the attack in the first place!

2. Accept the unwanted behavior while offering friendship
The parrot bites your right hand and as an act of friendship you kindly offer him a snack with your left hand. Your response will surprise and confuse him.

3. Encourage defensiveness and playfulness at the same time.
Leave your protected finger in the cage and encourage the parrot to really gnaw on it. After a short while he’ll start treating your finger more like a toy. Once he starts to act playful, offer him a snack with your other hand. Soon, he’ll come to expect and look for the snack. When you encourage defensiveness and playfulness at the same time, you begin to build a bond of friendship.

4. Blur the line between good and bad, trust and distrust.
When you reward the parrot’s “bad” behavior by feeding him, the difference between “good and bad” becomes less clear.

Once the parrot has shown a bit of playfulness, offer him the unprotected hand that’s been doing the feeding. Another way to say this is– Invite him to bite the hand that feeds him! This part of the process definitely takes some trust in the goodwill of the parrot, and on some level he will recognize this. Sensing your trust, he will begin to trust you in return. Sensing your trust, he will either not bite you, or he’ll only take a playful nip at your finger.

Now is the time to offer a snack with the hand he was previously biting. He’ll soon realize that both hands can offer him the food he desires. At this point your friendship with the parrot will deepen.

5. Change the reason for the reward.
After the parrot begins to change his behavior, only give a snack when he’s gentle and playful. Little by little you’ll be changing the reference behavior for getting the snack. Little by little the parrot will realize he only gets what he wants, when he treats you as a friend.

I’ve found this training method, to be the fastest, simplest, and most humane way to tame a parrot, and change the behavior of aggressive children and adults as well. If you’re not into buying a parrot, try it with a defensive person you’d like to have a better relationship with!

3. My Offer

Lots of people have written saying they very much appreciate my three part video on Anger Management. Click on the link just below and have a look for yourself.
http://www.seishindo.org/2009/03/05/anger-management-video/

If you would like to explore building better relationships with aggressive, frightened people I can likely help.

You might find a series of six coaching sessions will be just what you need.

Contact me at charlie@seishindo.org and we can set up a “chemistry check” conversation, to see what is possible.

Charlie

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

* * *
Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
* * *

Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.

Hi to all,
I’ll be running another two day workshop in NYC, Dec. 3, 4, 2011
Last time out left people with some profound learning, and there’ll be more of the same this time out.

I look forward to seeing many of you, and please, do send this announcement out to anyone you think might have interest.

Warmly,
Charlie

Seishindo MindBody Medicine
New York City; Dec 3-4, 2011

You already possess all the necessary resources,
To live the life you truly desire.

Are You Ready to
● Fully appreciate all that you are.
● Stop kicking yourself and focusing on what’s wrong.
● Live more often in the domain of your personal power
● Feel your indomitable spirit beneath the confusion and fear that’s sometimes there.

If so, this Seishindo MindBody workshop offers you great value.

Oriental wisdom teaches that when we release our fear and anxiety, we generate life
sustaining, regenerative power. That the path of reaching our full potential, involves unifying the
whole self- Rational mind, emotional mind, body, and soul.

Are you tired of talking about what you want, and yet unable to act?
Are you ready to live the life you truly desire?

This workshop will help you:
• Feel calm and centered in times of great change
• Feel at home in your body, and thus at home in the world
• Slow down and appreciate all you have and the full potential of who you are.
• Refocus your life, regain your health, and rebuild your relationships

Come join us in uniting your entire self and living with “one mind”.

The Presenter
Charlie Badenhop is the originator of Seishindo. He has lived and worked in Japan for the last
25 years. He is a licensed Aikido “sensei” in Japan and his work is based upon Aikido, NLP,
Ericksonian Hypnosis, and Noguchi Sei Tai.

Location: In Manhattan. Exact location to be announced.
Investment: $500 for the two day weekend, up until Nov. 25th. $600 after Nov 25th.

If you want to know more, or sign-up, contact Charlie at charlie@seishindo.org or go to his
website and have a look around.

Core Principles of Seishindo: http://www.seishindo.org/seishindo-the-core-teaching/
“Being Centered”: http://www.seishindo.org/2011/09/15/the-experience-of-being-centered/
What others say about Charlie’s work: http://www.seishindo.org/about-us/kudos/

Serving a community of people that has the desire to cultivate high quality relationships, manage stress, and live in a healthy life affirming manner.
We warmly welcome our new subscribers. Thanks for joining!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Simplicity
3. 3. My Offer
4. 4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

1. Introduction

Today I would like to further introduce you to the concepts of Seishindo.
It’s my hope that what you read will lead you to better understand yourself and help you live a more solution oriented life.

Please pass my newsletter on to others you feel might benefit.

Charlie

2. Simplicity

Prior to seeking solutions, look first to simplify

What I’ve learned over time, is that high quality solutions are invariably simple.

Conversely, when people feel incapable of finding a path forward, they invariably formulate their challenge in a way that’s overly complex. It’s the complication they’ve built up in their mind, that obscures their solution.

When people come to me looking for help, I carefully listen to how they describe their challenge. When looking for a needle in a haystack, the smaller the haystack the better! When you simplify your challenge, you will simplify the task of finding your solution.

Thus the first steps in a Seishindo change process involve slowing down, breathing more fully, pruning away all unnecessary complication, and feeling the emotional impact of the words spoken.

In Japanese culture, simplicity is a virtue, It’s considered to be the ultimate sophistication.
In Japanese art forms, one is meant to strive for simplicity. To do so, requires an unwavering soft focus, and clear, unfettered awareness of self and ‘other’.

When creating a bonsai,
The master simplifies and prunes away all but the bare essentials
Exposing a beauty that was previously obscured.

When we take off our masks, and share with an open heart,
We expose our beauty and free ourselves to express our hidden truth.

At such times the essence of who we are can shine through,
And find its rightful place in the world.
As we return to the innocence of childhood,
Yet bringing with us the wisdom we’ve discovered along the way.

Keep your whole self open to experience, and your connection to the many resources life has to offer you,
By gently expressing your truth, while striving to understand the hopes and fears of others.

You can find your connection to life everywhere, and at any time.
By pausing and letting your vulnerability resonate out into the world.

An open heart will lead you to the experiences and understanding that cuts through illusion.

Follow your heart,
It will guide you to a place of love, acceptance and fulfillment.

The meaning of Seishindo

In my years of study and practice, and in my everyday life, I’ve had the opportunity to experience the importance of ‘purity’ and ‘simplicity’.

What I’ve learned along the way, forms the basis for the human potential discipline I’ve created, called Seishindo.

Here’s an explanation of the kanji (Japanese pictograms) that make up the word Seishindo.

The first kanji is “Sei.”
The most basic meaning for “sei” is “refined”, but the meaning extends further to include, “spirit, energy, vitality, semen, purity, excellence, and skill”.

In Seishindo, I have chosen the meaning “refined and pure”.

The middle kanji is “Shin”
The meanings of “shin” are “spirit, heart (in the metaphorical sense), and mind”.
If you ask a Japanese person where their mind is, they will point to their heart.

When we combine “sei” with “shin” we have the poetic interpretation, “Pure heart, Simple mind”.

The third kanji. Is “Do”
In everyday parlance it means street, or road.
As used in the Japanese arts, “do” refers to an artful path of study.
As in Judo, Aikido, Chado (tea ceremony), and Shodo (calligraphy).

Seishindo is thus “An artful path for discovering your pure heart, simple mind”.

The path that leads to solutions
When striving to find solutions, look first to simplify,
By pruning away all that obscures your vision,
Your understanding.

In the process of creating ‘less’,
You’ll illuminate the inherent beauty of the essential.

3. My Offer

If you would like to simplify your life and learn how to be more solution oriented, you might find a series of six coaching sessions with me can lead to significant results.

Contact me at charlie@seishindo.org and we can set up a “chemistry check” conversation, to see what is possible.

Charlie

4. Copyright | Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Delivery

Unless otherwise attributed, all material for the newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind”™ is written and edited by Charlie Badenhop. If you would like to receive complimentary copies of future newsletters, please click on this link, http://sample.seishindo.org/newsletters/ ©All rights reserved.

If you would like to reprint our newsletter for other than your personal use, you are invited to do so, provided you: a. Attach the above copyright notice to our material. b. Do not sell our material to others. c. Keep the content of our material intact without any editing.

You are encouraged to send our newsletter in its entirety to anyone you think might like it!

* * *
Privacy Statement: We won’t ever rent, sell, or give away subscriber information.
* * *

Please subscribe to our newsletter here. It’s complimentary!

OR

unsubscribe here.

Is our newsletter only arriving sporadically? Our”Pure Heart, Simple Mind” newsletter is meant to come to you twice a month, on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. If you aren’t receiving every issue it could be because of the filtering systems your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. In attempting to block unwanted mail, your provider will sometimes wind up blocking email like this newsletter that you DO want to receive. If you are having delivery problems, send a blank e-mail to delivery@seishindo.org and our autoresponder will send you a list of tips that can help ensure delivery. You can use these tips for other email as well.