Tim Freke, the "standup philosopher," has some interesting thoughts about life. Ash is a big fan of his book "The Mystery Experience."

I appreciate his trademark phrase "Deep Awake." To me it describes a way to live a life outside the confines of dual thinking. A vehicle for happiness, sure, but that would be selling it short. Happiness is often a side effect. The real juice is understanding that life can be, and is, much more than you may be giving it credit for at this moment.

This quote from his recent newsletter leveled me. Took me out cold. Haven't been up for air since reading it more than a week ago.

It's a quote from Marianne, a woman from Norway who attended his latest "Deep Awake" retreat, which he holds throughout the year (emphasis mine):

Before we get too woo-woo, let's bring it back to us right now. I'm trying to get somewhere. You're trying to get somewhere. We're all trying to get somewhere.

But the secret to getting there? You actually don’t need to go anywhere. Mustn’t, in fact!

The paradox is so bittersweet you might have thought it was nana's old cold medicine.

You're looking for a state, not a place.

Whether you subscribe to the Law of Attraction, the Master Key System, Winning Friends and Influencing People, Awakening the Giant Within, or just cold, hard, Hitchens secularism: as best I can tell, this is a fundamental truth for living the life you want to live.

PS - once you appreciate that idea, it becomes a bit easier to market to people in a way that gets them going.