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Many of us are tightrope walkers. We go through life trying to balance our own needs as well as the countless demands put upon us.
With each step we gingerly move forward on a rope without noticing that there is no end in sight.
Sometimes we loose our balance. So we muster all of our strength to regain it.
Other times the stress of being so high is hard to bear.
The rope we are on is shaky, keeping us constantly on edge.
External obstacles often try to push us over.
After a while. Our existence becomes blurred. It is hard to focus when we are not supported.
So we search for help. We read books, and talk to people.
We learn to walk on the rope with more skill.
We use tools, like the balancing pole, to help keep us stable.
But soon we remember how high we are. We know that something isn't right. All the tools we've gathered perpetuate this same lifestyle. We realize that the current path is not the right one.
We see others who are wise and confident. Their path is wide and stable. Not a thin rope.
We want to build a stronger foundation as well but do not know how to.
Like a mountain peak, we know the answers will be hard to reach.
But with guidance we can find our way to them.
With help we can work shape our lives.
Soon we can do things that seemed impossible before.
We can live life with joy, creativity...
Focus...
Purpose...
And peace.
Overcoming Fears:
All people have fears. Some are justified parts of our lives, while others (like the fear of public speaking) simply keep us from developing our full potential. With guidance we can identify which do not hold real value and work to alleviate them.
Developing Emotional Intelligence:
Have you ever noticed how some people never seem to let their emotions get the best of them. They stay calm in high pressure situations and understand how to deal with others. This is known as Emotional Intelligence and refers to people's ability to understand, manage, and utilize their emotions.
Setting Goals & Attaining Them:
We have all set goals before. Things like New Years resolutions. Some we've hopefully stuck to and others we've definitely neglected. What many people don't realize is that there are strategies and expertise used to create attainable goals. But setting goals is not enough, we also need organization, support, focus and underlying purpose to make our goals a reality.
Building a Principled Existence:
It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself; nothing, but the triumph of principles." Emerson was referring to the way people live their lives. Do they do as others tell them to? Do they bend themselves to every situation looking for the easiest way out? Or do they live by their own ideals? As Emerson points out, when we do live a principled existence we can find contentment regardless of the outcomes.
Living with Purpose:
If principles guide our actions, then purpose drives them. Purpose answers the question "why?" For some purpose already exists within and must simply be uncovered. For others lack of purpose is a void that must be filled. Some people live to make the most out of themselves. Others are driven by the desire to change the world. No matter what our purpose is, we will suffer if we cannot live in accordance with it.
Establishing a Balanced Lifestyle:
While emotional intelligence, living with purpose and the other Intelligent Objects listed above will help bring balance to our lives, establishing a balanced existence requires planning, and thoughtful prioritization of its own. Time, energy and knowledge must be provided for physical, mental, and social well being. Over time developing skills like how to focus energy, manage others, and truly relax are all key.
Understanding How to Change:
The only constant in life is change. So as life changes we must adapt and grow. Their is no doubt that their are strategies that can be learned and applied to make the changes we desire happen, rather than simply allow our environments to change us. By setting goals, taking small steps to reach them, visualizing success, allowing our guiding principles to keep us on track, and applying all the other teachings listed we can make changes that best fit our lives.
Practicing Self-Study & Self-Acceptance
Generally we try to change their lives before they have learned what it is we actually need. This is because learning about ourselves is difficult and accepting what we learn can often be painful. But with guidance and support we can study ourselves without over-judging everything we learn. This is self-acceptance at its core and the first step positive change in our lives.
Establishing Realistic Expectations:
Sometimes our expectations are unrealistically high. The result is that we are never satisfied. However, if our expectations are too low we tend to short-change ourselves. Building realistic expectations that maximize our success and happiness is a skill we can develop after we gather a strong understanding of ourselves including the source of our expectations.
Building Momentum Through Small Steps:
We who live in America are known for attempting to make large sweeping changes that will change our lives. The problem is that these changes are very difficult to sustain, and due to their extreme nature, can throw the rest of our lives out of whack. Using Eastern philosophy as our model we can more efficiently change our lives through small steps that build momentum for further improvements. Eventually we can thoughtfully plan and execute our small steps to create the lives we desire and reach our goals.
Identifying Your Strengths and Building Upon Them:
Growing up our teachers and parents focused on the subjects you did poorly on in school. Later, during our job evaluations our bosses focused on "areas of improvement." Rarely do we focus on our strengths: The things we are naturally good at. Now after over decades of research and one of the largest studies ever done researchers have found that focusing on our weaknesses is the most ineffective use of our time and energy. With this in mind we can change our perspectives to find and nurture our strengths. In doing this we will be more successful, satisfied, and can better develop those in our lives.
Going Beyond Social Influence to Find Truth:
Shopping, looking good, and demonstrating our wealth. These are the three parts of life in modern society that are out of control. No matter how hard we try to stay grounded we can't help but be influenced by the constant messages we hear and see on TV, the radio, in magazines and simply walking down the street. The the study of specific philosophies and the practice creating true value joy in our day to day lives we can balance the negative influences and avoid the chronic dissatisfaction that is now an epidemic in the U.S.
Quieting Our Conscious Voice:
Sometimes we feel like our heads are going to explode. Their is just too much going on; too much on our minds. We can over-think every decision until our mental fatigue is so great that we give up on making important choices in our lives. But their are ways to calm the voices in our heads and stay focused. The the practice of specific activities from meditation to building our own personal philosophies we can bring order to our minds and accomplish more than ever before.
Practicing Intelligent Scheduling:
All of our lives follow a schedule. Sometimes these schedules suit us well. But often times they add to our stress and keep us from being as effective as we can be. But through the use of intelligent scheduling we can focus on maximizing the use of our energy, building our stamina, and maximizing our well being.
Systematically Reducing Limiting Fears and Aversions:
Much of the fear we feel is justified and vital to our lives. Still every person has fears that restrain them from fulfilling their potential. Aversions that act as roadblocks to taking important steps toward personal and professional growth. Using advanced psychological methods with professional guidance these fears can be reduced until they no longer exist. In other cases fears that cannot be extinguished we can build a harmony with our fears where we feel them and still move forward in our lives.
Developing Interpersonal Skills:
Developing interpersonal skills is one of the most overused expressions in the business world. But the truth is that no one can question how vital the ability to communicate, influence, manage and build relationships with others can be. We have all heard about ways to improve these skills but we know it just isn't that easy. It takes practice, devotion, support and guidance. With these things developing our interpersonal skills can be an invigorating, life changing experience.
Continuously Self-Monitoring & Prioritizing Needs:
Many people see themselves as object frozen in time. But in reality we are always changing and growing. We age, learn more about ourselves, meet new people, and try new activities. As this is happening the world also changes constantly. Therefor when we see our lives as fixed we are not taking advantage of the opportunities that come our way. We fall out of touch. That is why it is extremely important to constantly monitor ourselves, and the world around us. We need to regularly re-assess our goals and priorities. By actively doing these things we minimize the threat of being caught of guard and maximize the ability to seize opportunities.
Practicing Guided Visualization:
Experts cannot explain exactly why guided visualization is effective but the results of it's practice are undeniable. By simply imagining ourselves doing the things we want to do and reaching the goals we want to reach we increase the likelihood of those things happening. When we imagine successfully completing each individual step on our path to reaching our goals our chances of success improve dramatically.
Practicing Healthy Communication & Self-Expression:
Communication can be the key to successful living. It can also block our growth completely. Humans are a social species. We live in groups with complex cultures and societies. Our ability to communicate allows us to connects to others. Through self-expression we ingrain ourselves into our communities and in doing so make ourselves whole.
Cutting Out Waste:
The amount of energy we waste on a daily basis is astronomical. But it is not surprising based on the way modern society is structured. We are overwhelming with information and options to choose from. Furthermore we are motivated to attain as much stuff as possible. The result is that we live lives of constant fatigue, confusion, and clutter. This must be reduced if we are to find peace and well being.
A) Intelligent Living does not simply subdue our symptoms (like stress) but gets beneath them to address the core weaknesses that are the source of our problems.
b) Intelligent Living is not simply a place for you to talk about your problems and leave, but rather offers a program where you actively work to learn and grow.
Intelligent Living
by Joseph Ahdoot
Walking the Tightrope:
Many of us are tightrope walkers. We go through life trying to balance our own needs as well as the countless demands put upon us.
With each step we gingerly move forward on a rope without noticing that there is no end in sight.
Sometimes we loose our balance. So we muster all of our strength to regain it.
Other times the stress of being so high is hard to bear.
The rope we are on is shaky, keeping us constantly on edge.
External obstacles often try to push us over.
After a while. Our existence becomes blurred. It is hard to focus when we are not supported.
So we search for help. We read books, and talk to people.
We learn to walk on the rope with more skill.
We use tools, like the balancing pole, to help keep us stable.
But soon we remember how high we are. We know that something isn't right. All the tools we've gathered perpetuate this same lifestyle. We realize that the current path is not the right one.
We see others who are wise and confident. Their path is wide and stable. Not a thin rope.
We want to build a stronger foundation as well but do not know how to.
Like a mountain peak, we know the answers will be hard to reach.
But with guidance we can find our way to them.
With help we can work shape our lives.
Soon we can do things that seemed impossible before.
We can live life with joy, creativity...
Focus...
Purpose...
And peace.
Overcoming Fears:
All people have fears. Some are justified parts of our lives, while others (like the fear of public speaking) simply keep us from developing our full potential. With guidance we can identify which do not hold real value and work to alleviate them.
Developing Emotional Intelligence:
Have you ever noticed how some people never seem to let their emotions get the best of them. They stay calm in high pressure situations and understand how to deal with others. This is known as Emotional Intelligence and refers to people's ability to understand, manage, and utilize their emotions.
Setting Goals & Attaining Them:
We have all set goals before. Things like New Years resolutions. Some we've hopefully stuck to and others we've definitely neglected. What many people don't realize is that there are strategies and expertise used to create attainable goals. But setting goals is not enough, we also need organization, support, focus and underlying purpose to make our goals a reality.
Building a Principled Existence:
It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself; nothing, but the triumph of principles." Emerson was referring to the way people live their lives. Do they do as others tell them to? Do they bend themselves to every situation looking for the easiest way out? Or do they live by their own ideals? As Emerson points out, when we do live a principled existence we can find contentment regardless of the outcomes.
Living with Purpose:
If principles guide our actions, then purpose drives them. Purpose answers the question "why?" For some purpose already exists within and must simply be uncovered. For others lack of purpose is a void that must be filled. Some people live to make the most out of themselves. Others are driven by the desire to change the world. No matter what our purpose is, we will suffer if we cannot live in accordance with it.
Establishing a Balanced Lifestyle:
While emotional intelligence, living with purpose and the other Intelligent Objects listed above will help bring balance to our lives, establishing a balanced existence requires planning, and thoughtful prioritization of its own. Time, energy and knowledge must be provided for physical, mental, and social well being. Over time developing skills like how to focus energy, manage others, and truly relax are all key.
Understanding How to Change:
The only constant in life is change. So as life changes we must adapt and grow. Their is no doubt that their are strategies that can be learned and applied to make the changes we desire happen, rather than simply allow our environments to change us. By setting goals, taking small steps to reach them, visualizing success, allowing our guiding principles to keep us on track, and applying all the other teachings listed we can make changes that best fit our lives.
Practicing Self-Study & Self-Acceptance
Generally we try to change their lives before they have learned what it is we actually need. This is because learning about ourselves is difficult and accepting what we learn can often be painful. But with guidance and support we can study ourselves without over-judging everything we learn. This is self-acceptance at its core and the first step positive change in our lives.
Establishing Realistic Expectations:
Sometimes our expectations are unrealistically high. The result is that we are never satisfied. However, if our expectations are too low we tend to short-change ourselves. Building realistic expectations that maximize our success and happiness is a skill we can develop after we gather a strong understanding of ourselves including the source of our expectations.
Building Momentum Through Small Steps:
We who live in America are known for attempting to make large sweeping changes that will change our lives. The problem is that these changes are very difficult to sustain, and due to their extreme nature, can throw the rest of our lives out of whack. Using Eastern philosophy as our model we can more efficiently change our lives through small steps that build momentum for further improvements. Eventually we can thoughtfully plan and execute our small steps to create the lives we desire and reach our goals.
Identifying Your Strengths and Building Upon Them:
Growing up our teachers and parents focused on the subjects you did poorly on in school. Later, during our job evaluations our bosses focused on "areas of improvement." Rarely do we focus on our strengths: The things we are naturally good at. Now after over decades of research and one of the largest studies ever done researchers have found that focusing on our weaknesses is the most ineffective use of our time and energy. With this in mind we can change our perspectives to find and nurture our strengths. In doing this we will be more successful, satisfied, and can better develop those in our lives.
Going Beyond Social Influence to Find Truth:
Shopping, looking good, and demonstrating our wealth. These are the three parts of life in modern society that are out of control. No matter how hard we try to stay grounded we can't help but be influenced by the constant messages we hear and see on TV, the radio, in magazines and simply walking down the street. The the study of specific philosophies and the practice creating true value joy in our day to day lives we can balance the negative influences and avoid the chronic dissatisfaction that is now an epidemic in the U.S.
Quieting Our Conscious Voice:
Sometimes we feel like our heads are going to explode. Their is just too much going on; too much on our minds. We can over-think every decision until our mental fatigue is so great that we give up on making important choices in our lives. But their are ways to calm the voices in our heads and stay focused. The the practice of specific activities from meditation to building our own personal philosophies we can bring order to our minds and accomplish more than ever before.
Practicing Intelligent Scheduling:
All of our lives follow a schedule. Sometimes these schedules suit us well. But often times they add to our stress and keep us from being as effective as we can be. But through the use of intelligent scheduling we can focus on maximizing the use of our energy, building our stamina, and maximizing our well being.
Systematically Reducing Limiting Fears and Aversions:
Much of the fear we feel is justified and vital to our lives. Still every person has fears that restrain them from fulfilling their potential. Aversions that act as roadblocks to taking important steps toward personal and professional growth. Using advanced psychological methods with professional guidance these fears can be reduced until they no longer exist. In other cases fears that cannot be extinguished we can build a harmony with our fears where we feel them and still move forward in our lives.
Developing Interpersonal Skills:
Developing interpersonal skills is one of the most overused expressions in the business world. But the truth is that no one can question how vital the ability to communicate, influence, manage and build relationships with others can be. We have all heard about ways to improve these skills but we know it just isn't that easy. It takes practice, devotion, support and guidance. With these things developing our interpersonal skills can be an invigorating, life changing experience.
Continuously Self-Monitoring & Prioritizing Needs:
Many people see themselves as object frozen in time. But in reality we are always changing and growing. We age, learn more about ourselves, meet new people, and try new activities. As this is happening the world also changes constantly. Therefor when we see our lives as fixed we are not taking advantage of the opportunities that come our way. We fall out of touch. That is why it is extremely important to constantly monitor ourselves, and the world around us. We need to regularly re-assess our goals and priorities. By actively doing these things we minimize the threat of being caught of guard and maximize the ability to seize opportunities.
Practicing Guided Visualization:
Experts cannot explain exactly why guided visualization is effective but the results of it's practice are undeniable. By simply imagining ourselves doing the things we want to do and reaching the goals we want to reach we increase the likelihood of those things happening. When we imagine successfully completing each individual step on our path to reaching our goals our chances of success improve dramatically.
Practicing Healthy Communication & Self-Expression:
Communication can be the key to successful living. It can also block our growth completely. Humans are a social species. We live in groups with complex cultures and societies. Our ability to communicate allows us to connects to others. Through self-expression we ingrain ourselves into our communities and in doing so make ourselves whole.
Cutting Out Waste:
The amount of energy we waste on a daily basis is astronomical. But it is not surprising based on the way modern society is structured. We are overwhelming with information and options to choose from. Furthermore we are motivated to attain as much stuff as possible. The result is that we live lives of constant fatigue, confusion, and clutter. This must be reduced if we are to find peace and well being.
Why It Works:
A) Intelligent Living does not simply subdue our symptoms (like stress) but gets beneath them to address the core weaknesses that are the source of our problems.
b) Intelligent Living is not simply a place for you to talk about your problems and leave, but rather offers a program where you actively work to learn and grow.
How it Works:
1st: Come in for a initial consultation. Here we will discuss your life and what you hope to get out of the program. This will take one to two hours and will cost $60.
2nd: We will set a schedule for your consultations and your assignments that will serve to take you through the program. Typically the program requires anywhere from 20 - 3o hrs of consultation to complete which is then followed by periodic check in meetings to help keep clients on track. Consultations can be arranged to meet anywhere from 3 times a week to once a month.
3rd: Sign up. The intelligent Living program is for people who are committed to improving their lives. It costs a flat fee of $400 for the 1st set of 6 consultations. After your first set of consultations we will set your own personal objectives focusing on the areas where we can help you the most.
Intelligent Living consultants are available via email and can schedule calls every day of the week to address any of your questions, or concerns while in the program.
2nd: We will set a schedule for your consultations and your assignments that will serve to take you through the program. Typically the program requires anywhere from 20 - 3o hrs of consultation to complete which is then followed by periodic check in meetings to help keep clients on track. Consultations can be arranged to meet anywhere from 3 times a week to once a month.
3rd: Sign up. The intelligent Living program is for people who are committed to improving their lives. It costs a flat fee of $400 for the 1st set of 6 consultations. After your first set of consultations we will set your own personal objectives focusing on the areas where we can help you the most.
Intelligent Living consultants are available via email and can schedule calls every day of the week to address any of your questions, or concerns while in the program.
Intelligent Living's Purpose:
Life is not always about addressing specific problems with answers. It is not that simple. To be happy healthy we must find ways to learn and grow; we must reach to meet our full potential. Intelligent Living helps to create a foundation to reach from.
- Joseph Ahdoot M.A.
- Credentials:
- *Masters degree in psychology and bachelors degree in business from U.S.C.
- *Organizational psychologist and personal development counselor with extensive experience consulting for Fortune 100 companies to improve employee satisfaction and effectiveness
- MY STORY: After years of consulting for many companies on how to improve employee satisfaction and effectiveness it became plainly obvious that most people are stuck. I realized that some people are professionally stuck in careers they don't enjoy and are going nowhere. Others are personally stuck in stagnant relationships and routine lifestyles. In both situations most people have trouble understanding what is wrong or what to do to get unstuck. The Intelligent Living program was was born out of the desire to help others make the most of their lives.