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In this episode of Life with Lennon you will learn three strategies for developing unstoppable commitment, what Ishtar calls one-pointed faith, that will open up hidden doors of possibility for you so that you can live your life fully and leave nothing on the table.
You will also learn a simple exercise Aristotle used to help his students identify exactly what they want in life, and why our initial stated desires are often not what we truly want.
About Ishtar 😇
Ishtar is a monk, writer, astrologer and world traveler who's joining us today all the way from Portugal. He is one of my best friends as well as one of the most interesting and brilliant men I have ever met.
We first met about 10 years ago while attending university in Portland Oregon. Like me, Ishtar attended university as a non-traditional student in his mid-twenties, but whereas I put off school to party, Ishtar spent his years teaching and practicing meditation at an Ashram on the Oregon coast, as well as abroad. He personally taught me a meditation technique called the Ishayas’ Ascension which was so powerful and so unlike anything I had ever experienced before, that after our first session, I immediately decided to make it a life long practice.
This episode is the first in a serious dedicated to helping you make a brilliant comeback after experiencing a failure or setback. Make sure you subscribe so that you can catch future episodes.
Without further ado, let’s ask the monk...
Questions ❓
Q: Ishtar, what advice do you have for someone who has failed on a goal or project and is considering trying again?
First, make sure you actually know what you really want. Often what we think we want is really just a means to get something more fundamental.
How Aristotle taught his students to identify what they really want.
Q: Once you know what you really want, what do you recommend?
Develop complete one-pointed commitment.
Cortez burning the ships at the shore. An attitude of “I’m going to do whatever it takes.”
Driving teachers taught us to look aways down the road and you will find that you naturally keep the car straight. This has a lot of applications for much else in life.
If you have a north star you will be able to intuitively wiggle your way through the thickets and barbells that come up in this messy world.
Famous Nietzsche Quote: “They who have a 'why' to live for can bear almost any 'how'.”
If you have a strong “why” you are going to make it thought and learn what you need to learn along the way.
If you have a one-pointed commitment, hidden doors will open for you.
“This world is much more made of spirit and magic than of dumb rock.” When we are connected with our vitalizing, directional intelligence then the means have a way of moving onto our path.
Q: How does one go about burning their ships (developing one-pointed commitment) when there are so many options in the world?
There is no rule: Sometimes you need to go with the path of least resistance.
Usually, it’s overcoming the fear of missing out on something else.
Take the chance of missing out on 6 options and just going for the number 7 option.
Take the leap. If you don’t you will not find out what on the other side.
Sometimes we do have to learn by experience.
William Blake Quote “The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.”
Throw yourself all in and dormant capacities will become part of your life.
Mono-mania is a perfectly good pathway to finding your North star.
There is something in us that just knows.
Meditation is a wonderful way of slowing getting the excess noise out of our minds
and out of our nervous systems.
We can feel (intuitively) into which way we need to go.
Q: Any parting wisdom?
Ishtar learned from his mother’s death and his near-death experience that there is no time like the present. You really never know when this picture is going to be over so start now.
If you have something in your heart, start now. Don’t let the practical considerations make you muffle your own heart.
Allow yourself to live your life fully. Don’t leave anything on the table.
Small moments, little kindnesses where you open in love, ripple out.
Go all in!
Discover More 💡
Awakened Light Astrology.com Follow Ishtar on Facebook
Cover Art by Zen Achilles
Thank you for watching this episode of Life with Lennon.
What part of the interview did you enjoy most? Comment below.