Day 3,005

Growth:

It is easy to start throwing out solutions and trying to fix things. The most difficult part of the problem solving process? Figuring out the exact problem that needs to be solved. This can be more difficult as I tend to want to skip steps, make assumptions, and sometimes don’t take the time to fully understand the problem in advance. 

Today contained a wonderful reminder to pause and be sure to define the problem clearly before attempting to solve it. Pause, dig deeper into the issue. Find as much detail into the root cause of it as possible. Be sure to understand the timeframe we need to work within. Ask more questions than seems necessary, and then ask at least a few more. Frame the challenge as a question. Validate the definition with others involved. Attain agreement on the issue. Then, and only then, take action to solve the problem.

Appreciation:

What I’m most grateful for today are the ongoing additions to my dream list. The most recent addition came today as I telling Becky about a story from the book I’m currently reading – The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. Throughout the book the author shares several vignettes from around the world talking through everything from hunting to talking with spiritual leaders and scientists about happiness to crazy exercise tactics. One in particular got me all types of excited and I’ve added it to my list.

The Paro Taktsang Monastery in Bhutan will be a travel destination for me at some point before I die. You can check out more about it here: https://www.breathebhutan.com/attractions/paro-taktsang-monastery/

How epic would this be to see in real life? The country of Bhutan is one I would love to visit for a variety of reasons (including being one of the happiest nations on Earth) and this would be the crown jewel of the trip for sure!

My dream list keeps on growing and each time it leads to more dreaming and more smiles!

Presence:

There are a handful of paths I could take on this topic today, but the one that really sticks out the most is during my lifting workout this evening. My trainer has added many new exercises and lifts to my practice and it has kept me very much on my toes. Up until a week and a half ago I’d never done a deadlift. Today I worked on a different variation of it, the sumo deadlift. 

While on the platform I situated my feet much wider than normal, only inches from the plates on the barbell. My hands grasped the bar in a much closer grip than I’ve become accustomed to. Without turning my toes in and while keeping my entire foot in contact with the floor with even pressure I bent my knees to get my butt as low as possible. With a very straight back I slowly lifted the barbell until I was able to lock out my hips. I then slowly reversed the position and settled the weight to the ground before doing it again.

This process of making sure I had everything in the right place and moving at the right time took all of my mental focus. Time almost seemed to slow as I thought through each portion of the movement, part of me walking through the checklist, another part of me feeling my body in space, and then another part of me watching my form in the mirror to adjust as needed to get the form right. All focus was in that one lift, one after another, until the set was completed. As I cycled through the remaining sets I duplicated the experience.

What a moment to stay so present, focused, and in a state of flow!

Thanks!!!