The book follows Dan Millman, a world-champion gymnast, as he navigates his life at university. Despite his outward success, Dan feels a deep sense of emptiness and discontent. His life changes when he meets an old man named Socrates at an all-night gas station. Socrates mentors Dan, teaching him powerful lessons about living in the present, the importance of humor and paradox in life, and the need to find meaning and purpose beyond external achievements. The story is a blend of romance, mystery, and spiritual growth, guiding readers toward a path of unreasonable happiness and fulfillment.
In 'The Surrender Experiment', Michael A. Singer shares his extraordinary story of how, after a deep spiritual awakening, he decided to relinquish his personal fears and desires and simply let life unfold before him. This decision led him to remarkable success, sustained him through crises, and allowed him to cultivate profound inner peace. The book chronicles his life from a young spiritual seeker living in the woods to becoming the CEO of a billion-dollar medical software company, and through a significant legal ordeal. Singer demonstrates how surrendering to life's flow can lead to a peaceful and harmonious life, challenging readers to trust in life’s perfection and let go of the need to control everything.
This book, first published in 1974, focuses on the 'Inner Game' played within the mind of the player, against obstacles such as self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses in concentration. Gallwey introduces the concept of two selves: Self 1, the thinking brain that analyzes and judges, and Self 2, the 'feeling and doing' brain that can master skills naturally if not interfered with by Self 1. The book provides strategies for achieving 'relaxed concentration' and overcoming internal mental and emotional obstacles, making it relevant not only to tennis but also to other areas of life such as music, writing, work, and personal relationships.
“It’s not about being fully present in every moment, but how quickly you can come back.”
I’m delighted to be joined by Danny Donachie — a coach, speaker and former athlete whose work bridges presence, self-inquiry, and performance.
Danny has worked with top athletes and football clubs, but his path has also taken him deep into meditation, yoga, and spiritual practice. After a powerful awakening experience in Amsterdam, his focus and experience shifted.
We talk about getting out of your own way, the role of breath and body, energy centres, attention, Sadhguru, Rupert Sheldrake, Novak Djokovic’s approach to recovery and mental strength and what it means to get out of your own way.
KEY TOPICS
- Awakening through presence: Danny’s experience in Amsterdam and the energetic aspect of awareness
- Mental strength is a practice: Quick recovery and soft focus are more important than perfection
- Digital distraction vs. deep attention
- The body as a gateway: Subtle sensations are the key to a deeper awareness
- Meditation redefined: It’s not about never drifting — it’s about how gently and quickly you return
- Letting go in sport and life
- Consciousness beyond the brain: Intuition, connection, and non-local awareness
- The power of intention
- The miracle of now: Ordinary moments become extraordinary when we’re awake
To explore these ideas more deeply, you can sign up for my free mini-course on beating burnout and finding flow — or get in touch about 1:1 or group coaching.
https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course
https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-coaching
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
Info@simonmundie.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A New Way of Being 
