Mindfulness, more attention less worrying ...

I am now just over a year in Thailand. A totally different life. Some people say it is turned 180 degrees. This is exactly how it feels for me too. A uniform with cap full of gold, in which you express that you actually represent and play a role (which incidentally I was proud to present), is traded in for breezy white cotton pants and a T-shirt imprinted with the text 'Mindfulness'.

A fantastic experience to re-live things I used to do in my 'vicious circle' (and I think a lot of people still do), from a completely different side. I live again, I can be me, enjoy everything much more and it also has additional, measurable results. You lose "friends" who turned out to be not friends but 'energy drains' and get many more valuable new contacts instead, who are worthwhile (for you and them).

This week, after one year, in relation with an application for an extension of my Thai driving license, I had to visit the doctor for a physical check-up. After only one year she 'took stock'. And yes, that of course remains a moment in time but still. I am relaxed. Stress I no longer know. Actually, my blood pressure has, without medication, significantly decreased to normal proportions. I am seeing things differently and enjoy much more by being aware of the environment in which I live. I have even, without so much as following any (detox) program, lost 5 kg in weight. And I still enjoy a nice can of (Chang) beer outside our programs. And super enjoying the Thai range of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Our new 'habitat' in Northern Thailand is definitely super debit to those positive medical results. I do realize that more and more. This habitat is the birthplace of Mindfulness and Awareness. The cradle of conscious living in the here and now. No digital agenda on your belt, no phone in your pocket, no watch on your wrist, turning on the computer if you have time for it and also want to take time to do so. Actually, it's simply taking time to live. Not one day is like the one before. You open yourself to the path that is created under your feet. You are not judgmental. You see, hear, smell, feel and taste so much more ... It is being who you are and feeling what you feel.

Woolly socks? Completely derailed after such a long time in a 'big' position in the Netherlands? To me absolutely not! An enrichment! In my eyes a gift to be woken up, to be able to look with different eyes. “If you close your eyes and feel and listen to your true self inside, you can come out of your circle and can always start again.”, is said in a poem about stepping out of your vicious circle.

Mindfulness on my shirt? What is that.

I am learning it more and more and can share my experiences more often. Mindfulness is paying full attention and, without judging your own thoughts or feelings, experience the Here &Now. Becoming quiet and paying attention to what is and / or what you are doing.

Fuzzy? I thought so at first, and yet ... I experience it differently now and the reactions of our guests are confirming it too. An article in the Dutch magazine 'Ode' in January / February 2013 (p.15) states that in a recent public meta-analysis of 22 studies taken in Europe, Canada and the U.S., has been scientifically proven Mindfulness reduces depression and anxiety disorders. So, attention and concentration techniques, yoga and meditation, do really matter. There is nothing wrong in learning new abilities so you can deal with emotions in a more positive way rather than swallowing a pill.

With mindfulness you get into your strength. I already wrote about this in my book "Quest for personal mastership '. There is 'awareness', a better knowledge of, and insight into what is happening in the here and now. From there, there is a "being." Without reluctance and desires. You are less in resistance against the present or wanting something else in its place. Automatically there is connection and space. This leads to movement in which you find and keep your natural power.

Be more aware of the benefits of Mindfulness. You can experience so much more real attention and so much less worrying. Do you really want to put it into practice ? There are more than enough possibilities, certainly in your neighborhood too. Do you want to experience it, businesslike, private, or even Hobby (Mindful Photography) in a unique way ? The doors of Captijn Insight and Villa-Asia are wide open.

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

Sometimes I think we are sick because of our 'health'.

OK, I'm no doctor but I know many doctors. Now that we are living a while in Asia I talk with doctors who know all kinds of diseases in tropical countries and they also know how to treat them.

I contend with the question: ' who is healthier? The people living here or we (in the west)? '

If you're traveling from Western Europe or America (to Asia) you will always be advised to contact one or other form of a health service. This to ask for advice about the vaccinations you should get for the country that you’ll visit.

Often even an expensive “joke”. The recommendations seem, if you ask some travel companies, also frequently depend on local doctor, to be different.

If you want to make a trip from Asia to Europe you often won’t get the advice  to get any vaccination.

If (ever) you hear something about or read on the internet about getting shots, you’ll find information about Tetanus and maybe sometimes even on the annual flu or sometimes Q fever.

Why do we have to get whole “cocktails” of all kinds of medication prescribed in advance, so there considering our 'health' as little as possible can go wrong during our vacation or trip?

In any case, to me (not as an MD) it looks like we, are sick of ' health '.

In addition, there are many, well-educated, doctors here who laugh about this nevertheless …

Last week we had a pleasant meeting with two driven people from Malaysia who have been over 14 years working in healthy products. If you look into it, you’ll get scared by how chemical companies and multinationals are “treating” us daily in our ' welfare state '.

Of course, the stories about (artificial) fragrance, color, taste substances and ' E numbers ' are already known for much longer. Now we found out that, in low concentrations, in nearly any product a kind chemical dump takes place. In toys, cosmetics, soft drinks, (laundry) detergents, toothpastes, foods, skin & hair care and whatever you’ll name.

If the influence of those toxic chemicals that through your mouth, your lungs or your skin getting into you gets too much at any time than you can take any medication  that makes you ' healthy ' again.

Would that maybe be an  answer to my question? The vast majority of people here don’t know all  those fantastic products, which are touted in great marketing advertisements, (because you really don't need them) yet.

We are so (UN) healthy that we hardly are resistant to sometimes the smallest ailments.

Day after day we become a little bit sicker through everything we eat and use. Who knows, the people here are yet much healthier than we are.

What a change and new perspectives ... I never, in my job that focused on safety and health in Netherlands, focused on this. Now however, having met with these two people from Malaysia, I’ll study this more.

The experiences and perspectives we will use for sure in one of our work programs.

With renowned specialists, we already implemented the first contacts.

Will be continued for sure.

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

Maybe, you still can learn something of birds…

When did you hear the birds around you for the last time?

My daughter, who was here on summer holidays, on a morning went with me to the meditation class. At our current Villa-Asia location we do that morning meditation on a plateau in the mountains with a beautiful view on the forest surrounding us. After the class she told me that she had experienced a ‘surround sound show’ of bird sounds. It seems sometimes like you live here in a kind of giant aviary.

As long as I live here now, I never heard the birds sing an unhappy song. Of course, because I can’t talk their language as a human being, I am not sure about that. But if you listen in silence to the sounds of those birds around you, you hear and you experience only a kind of joy.

In the morning we awake in the cheerful bird disco and at night other sounds come instead. In the Western world you can get CDs to calm down with this noises. At the current Villa-Asia place it is the standard and yes, also here you can put the sound 'off '. You only have to shut your windows (and turn the air-conditioning ‘on’. But ... why would you? Safe energy and enjoy!

Those birds are gathering or hunting for their food the whole day. Actually they are busy with the bets on their primary necessities such as Maslow so beautifully described. With ' security ', or 'possession', they have little to do. They always seem to find time to every now and then sing a pleasant song. They live with and in the moment.

Lots of times I hear people say, “I want this. I want that. I ought to have this and have that.” These people have their minds so set on the things they want that they don’t stop to appreciate and enjoy what they have. I don’t know if people like this ever notice the birds singing outside, but if they could stop and listen, they might learn something from these birds.

According me, this is the world of marketing. Craving for more. Often I say therefore that advertising is actually only created for those things that you really don't need. We have to enjoy what we already have. This is one of the little secrets of life. If we don’t have this attitude we are too hard on ourselves.

In the continuous rat-race called ‘western life’ to try to have more to become happy in any case most of the times you do not hear the birds around you. Although, they still go on producing their cheerful tunes. Perhaps as a reminder that you also can be happy with ‘little’ or to teach that you just enjoy everything what you already have.

And if that is difficult for you anyway ... try to give attention to that continuous surround show around you. You'll be surprised what you all didn't hear till that moment but always was there, just for you.

Frans Captijn

Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

A celebration again! Happy Songkran!

The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 16 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars Southeast Asia.

The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Songkran has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year for many centuries. It is now observed nationwide, even in the far south. However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and even longer. It has also become a party for foreigners and an additional reason for many to visit Thailand for immersion in another culture. 

April 13th Wan Sangkhan Lohng. People clean their houses and prepare for the new year festival on this day. The Chiangmai Songkran parade traditionally takes place on this day involving revered Buddha images from the city's temples, floats, representative groups from the various districts of Chiangmai province, musicians, and traditionally costumed beauties all of whom are liberally drenched all along the parade route by the spectators.

At our place we have / celebrate Rod Nam Dam Hua (During the Songkran festival, the Lanna people will conduct the Su Ma Karawa ceremony in order to apologize to elders for all the bad deeds they have done to them, either intentionally or unintentionally, to show their gratitude and respect. This ceremony is called Rod Nam Dam Hua, which usually begins on the first day of the incoming year.) and Offering food to monks on the morning.

Small molded sand Chedis are build on our location. Please see the attached photo. 

April 14th Wan Nao. On Wan Nao people prepare cooked and preserved food to be used in Buddhist merit making on the next day. On this day people also go down to the Ping River to collect buckets of sand which is used to construct molded sand chedis, decorated with cut paper streamers and flowers, in the temple compound. When demolished, the sand from the chedis raises the level of the temple courtyard.

April 15th Wan Payawan. On this, the first day of the new year, people gathered at the wat in the early morning to offer the food prepared the previous day, fruit, new robes, and other goods to the monks. Traditionally this was the day when subdued water play started, but this has devolved to the exuberant water throwing that stretches over the four days of the festival.

April 16th Wan Park Bpee. On this day people pay respect to their ancestors, elders, or people worthy of respect due to advanced age or position. Scented water is poured over the hands of the individuals being paid respect who in turn bless the participants in the ceremony.

Happy Songkran!

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com

Don’t fight with yourself.

The Buddhism learns a Path to Peace. In Villa-Asia we also work with it.

One of the things following this path is to be equanimous.

Equanimity refers to the ability to accept what is without resistance. After all, if something’s already so, what’s the benefit of resisting? Equanimity refers to accepting things you can’t control in a given moment. And it refers to not denying or suppressing your thoughts and emotions. You can’t control the financial markets or a company’s market value. Also there are things in your personal life. So being equanimous about these things is a healthy strategy.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you must accept everything as ‘is’ and not make changes. If you’re unhappy with a situation and are in a position to change it, than do so. Do not sit still, work on yourself, do not wait but take the first step and discover your inner voice.

Literally, “equanimity” means balance. In practical terms it means don’t fight with yourself. 
Stop with battling but take life as it appears and enjoy the lessons. What do they say about you? Equanimity refers to an attitude of not interfering with the operation of the six senses (hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, the thinking mind and the feeling body) or sensory experience.

Just act of compassion.

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com