First published 2018
Tim Leach www.timinology.com
Copyright Tim Leach, 2018
The rights of Tim Leach to be identified as the Author of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publishers.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978-0-9957690-1-4
Front cover design: Arigoldservices
Editing: Emma Close-Brooks
Typesetting: Ana Marija Meshkova
To Ma, Pa, Bex and Katie, thank you for your unending support and love for me throughout this extraordinary journey. I love you to the moon and back.
Introduction
A lighthearted, mindful lifestyle approach for the time-strapped observer
This book covers a multitude of daily habits that we, as humans, manage to get decidedly wrong. As someone who has, for most of his life, found himself on the wrong side of the happiness fence, in this book Ill show you how I learned to change these habits and turned my life around through grit, determination and a lot of experience. Its what I call Timinology: my approach to leading a happy life, no matter what it throws at you. Whatever your demons, reading these first-hand experiences and learning how to apply this approach will give you an invaluable armoury with which to fight them.
Parts of the book may come across as a little controversial, or slightly close to the bone. You may not agree with or like everything that I say. However, I have vigorously researched almost everything that is encompassed herein and that which I havent researched comes from my own experience. So, whether or not you approve of a particular part, the routes to my opinions, at least, have the backing of a host of sources that can all be found in the bibliography at the end of the book; those that dont, I ask you to take as nothing more or less than the experiences of one human, shared with another.
Owing to my now unique memory (as youll learn) and my love of (mainly incredible) music, a lot of the subheadings within this book have borrowed their titles from the wondrous canticles bestowed upon us by some of the leading artists in the musical world. The titles I have chosen were those that just so happened to be ripe for depicting the subject matter about to be discussed and which I felt brought things together in a way I could not better. In recognition of this quirky little feature, you can find a playlist named Timinology, on Spotify, including each and every subheading that makes this book such an Aladdins cave of charm. www.goo.gl/4MzNVd
This, intentionally, is an easy read. Its written for the majority of people who dont have time to retreat and discover for themselves the hard-to-find things that can make life so simple. Wherever you stand, I can guarantee parts of this book will speak to you. They will help you to lead a happier and more fulfilled life. Its a domino effect, too; your happiness will make the lives of everyone around you better. After all, happiness is as infectious as its counterpart. Wanting to spread the happiness is at the core of why I have written this book. Im not unrealistic; it wont transform you into a beacon of light, love and compassion. What it will do is help you become a happier and more grounded, loving individual. So, in that small way, we can make the world a better place.
I wont tell you that you will become a millionaire if you simply believe it. Nor will I tell you that writing your desires on Post-it notes and plastering them across your house will cause them to eventually materialize. Because they wont. Belief is imperative to achieving a goal but you have to put the work in to make it happen and believe in yourself, not just the outcome.
I will tell you about my experience of the power of the mind and how it can potentially heal a physical ailment. I will also share my experience of how belief in yourself, alongside modern medicine, can be a winning combination in returning to health from an apparent point of no return.
On the surface, Im no different to anyone you might meet in the street. Im young...ish, Im fit and Im healthy. I adore cooking and eating. I love skiing, tennis, cycling, meeting friends, watching great films and drinking good wines and whiskies. In the context of my friends, I had a fairly normal childhood but I will readily admit that my upbringing was wonderfully privileged compared to a large proportion of children around the world. But I was carefree, as many children are, and did what most families do with kids growing up; holidays, school, bickering, teasing and laughing. I have two sisters, with whom I now get on very well, and a fabulous set of parents, who bestowed upon me the fundamental basics of being a good person. I have a circle of close friends and Ill happily spark up a conversation with anyone crossing my path. But I wasnt always this way.
I spoke to a family friend and successful author, Mike Dickson, while I was working on this book. He asked me a very frank and pertinent question, which was simply: why was I writing it? It most certainly wasnt to make a lot of money, because, as you will find out, I should have carried on becoming a lawyer if that had been my wish. Well, the crux of the matter is this. I might only sell one book, to one person. If, as a result of reading it, that one person can tackle a part of their life that needs addressing, and go on to lead a happy, healthy and successful life, then all this will have been worthwhile. Of course, I want to help as many people as possible but this isnt a numbers game; this is a loving act. I know what it is to hit near on rock bottom literally as well as mentally and I want to help others make the best of what they have, and be able to go further than they ever thought possible.
The chapters of this book are ordered systematically, to make the transition from your current state of mind to your desired state of mind as easy as possible. Because Ive based this book on my life experiences and with a process in mind thats the Timinology bit even if a chapter title doesnt apply to you, stick with me and you wont regret it.
But who am I to tell you what to read? Its what you do with it that matters.
The Thought Theory Model
For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so - William Shakespeare
Halfway through writing this, my mother gave me a book entitled The Inside Out Revolution by Michael Neil (1) , which stresses that we have the ability to change absolutely any situation by thinking differently. It is almost entirely our thoughts that have the power to influence and define our every living moment. This isnt the first example of this idea; its often been discussed in several books, although it seems like common sense. Im calling this technique the Thought Theory Model for the purposes of this book.
She gave it to me after a close friend of hers, Janet, who suffers from chronic MS, is unable to walk and is in constant pain, experienced an almost immediate change in her train of thought regarding the illness. This change effectively transitioned her previously negative and fatalistic thoughts about the situation into a positive, serene and confident approach. She recognized that it had been her previous thoughts making a devastating situation intolerable and that through changing her mindset, life not only became bearable again, but joyous. Asking her about the transformative effect, she said that nothing changed, but everything changed.
