Decision

Self-care is incredibly cool. It is a power system between you and you, and you and the world.

I have recently chosen to tackle some of the themes that I have allowed to drain my energy as part of a (halfway done) 24 month self-imposed challenge to determine whether I continue on in my current career.

Part of this process involves playing a game with my mind:

Every time there's a choice to be made with regard to food, rest, exercise, schedule, professional sevices offered, commuting, energy exchange, social time, etc, I choose the option that objectively best supports me. I take a moment to dump habit, emotional pull, sabotage patterns, faulty reasoning and old stories. Note: I only take a moment. I'm not going for perfection, I am going for improvement.

This process is cool because it is reasonably fast - almost like having a rubber band around the wrist as a reminder to reframe each decision. Big results come from small changes in choice.

Remember to be graceful in this experiment. Be calm when energy surges back from areas of pervious drain. Be gentle with self and the people who are impacted by new decisions.

Choose a designated time period to try this out, say one hour to start. See if you like it, then expand the time period.

What different decisions will you make?

Effort Less

ealThe right answer and the next step come from calm.

How much work is actually needed to get something done or to get to the next level?  Is the task itself as difficult as the emotional machinations that accompany it?

Aligning with right effort is a skill.  Wanting something intensely and over-efforting does not improve the chances of getting it.  Working effectively, objectively, and taking more definitive action-steps helps.  Discipline is required to work appropriately and then let go.  This frees up energy for other things and prevents tunnel vision.

In the gym, complete the volume of work assigned.  Outside the gym, stick with the nutrition guidelines.  Release angst relating to work volume and food. Use that extra energy for something inspiring.

What are 3 ways you can effort less?

The Arch-Nemesis

How many arch-nemeses are on your list? How do you respond to their presence in your life?

Sometimes they can be used as motivators - in competition - competing against the same person year after year, using the interaction to hone game strategy and skill.

Other times they kick you where it hurts, and the way to solution is unclear, especially when in social setting.

It is possible to view an arch-nemesis as an external representation of the stuff that's hard to process internally. Instead of putting on the inner-vision blinders and pretending that the issues aren't there, the arch-nemesis provides live action proof that there is work to be done as long as the hurt stays active. These people are reminders that we do not live in a bubble.

Part of inter-relating is figuring out how to turn these conflict-oriented connections into something more productive. Did the arch-nemesis interaction highlight personal feelings of anger or reactivity or rejection or betrayal? How does the arch-nemesis likely feel in all of this? How is it easier to handle the person out there than the inner feelings of both parties?

Why is this even a topic in a fitness blog?

Its really about preventing derailment. Its about maintaining clear perspective. Its about allowing the things that are beyond control to exist while still being effective.

Arch-nemeses show up. They are going to be there. Flowery forgiveness is not often viable, especially when intuition warns against it. Arch-nemeses are some of the best indicators that we have a pulse, and are on a powerful trajectory.  Arch-nemeses assure us that we are interacting in the world, and help to alleviate the fear of offending people or making enemies, because they already fulfill that role. They keep us honest.