GREG Norman quotes self-help guru Dan Millman on the first page of his book. Sting hails his power to change lives and Jim Carrey has lauded his clarity.

The man himself, in Australia to promote his new film, Peaceful Warrior, and to run workshops, is only too willing to share his secrets of leading a fulfilling life.

Millman, author of 13 books in 29 languages and the movie starring Nick Nolte, was a gymnast who shattered his leg in a motorbike accident in his 20s, but used all his mental and physical strength to win national glory.

He expected contentment, but became depressed. A chance meeting at 3am with a wise old service-station mechanic he nicknamed Socrates set him on the road to inner peace and kept him from possible destruction.

Millman was a college professor in Ohio when he began teaching others how to develop their talent in sport, which then expanded to "how to develop a talent for living".

"Daily life has its events, like track and field or gymnastics, and the events are normally relationships, in decision-making at work, in health," Millman says.

A key ingredient in Millman's method is providing tools for living in the present moment.

There's nothing wrong with remembering something or planning the future, he says, but feelings such as dissatisfaction and regret come from thinking about the past or future.

"Most of us are lovers of the past or future, much more interesting, much more dramatic.

"But the only life we'll ever have is the present moment. We will never become happy in the future because when that future arrives it's going to be another present moment."

Dan Millman seminar, April 3, Melbourne University, $97/$77. Book at www.ticketek.com or call 13 28 49. Peaceful Warrior DVD is in shops.

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