Continuing our conversation from last week, I was recently talking to a friend about teaching people to overcome tough obstacles. If you read about Navy Seals training and experience they say “when you think you are done, you have 40% more left in the tank.”  I experienced this in the desert running. When you run a marathon a day for four days and still have 50 miles left to go, it’s a little bit of mental confusion and anguish. You are anxious. Many questions and thoughts come into your head: I am finished! This is tough, I can’t do this, this is crazy, how could they possibly think we could do this? The challenge: Crossing the chasm. How can I possibly get there? Approach: Ask better questions. Reflect Get Curious Get Resourceful Lean-to Action Inspire yourself Reflect: Wow this is really hard, what is the learning opportunity for me?  Life is hard and this is pushing me to the limit of my potential. Get Curious: What is possible for me at this moment? Get Resourceful: How do I …

The mind is always turning. The ability to real it back in is the key. Like a playlist on the radio station of your mind that plays the same five songs and worries, work on noticing and come back to being present. Acknowledge the tunes, see them pass by and focus on what’s important. It happens to all of us. It’s what you do with them that makes all the difference. Colin

“Sir, to what do you attribute your success in life?” Immediately, Churchill replied, Conservation of energy. Never stand up when you can sit down, and never sit down when you can lie down.” Churchill conserved his energy so that he never shirked from a task or backed down from a challenge. He would go on to become one of the 20th centuries great heroes. In his spare time, he was also known for taking on bricklaying and oil painting. He energized his soul by feeling the earth between his fingers and using a different part of his brain. What can we learn from this? Anxiety is calmed by finding purpose outside your core job and carving out time for activities that immerse you in nature.  Working harder is not the answer. It’s conserving your energy so you know when to lean in and when to lean out. I highly recommend Ryan Holiday’s Book Stillness that gives many examples of the world’s great figures and how they achieve it. Defeating Average. Colin