From the Bottom of the Bucket

         From Ga-Ga to Go-Go

 

Those who have been following this blog for the past two years will recognize this painting (done for me by Ms. Cynthia Hobbs).  It was my attempt to illustrate my "System" in one conceptual picture.   It is my set of Domains, and Vigor activities that fuel my chosen Roles.  They are the source of Energy that invigorates me to execute my Activity goals I set each quarter.  The concept is that as you act in these Vigor activites to transfer the vitality they contain into usable strength (Vigor), just as the warmth melts the snow and forms rushing streams. As these tributaries converge they create a current of momentum that pour over into your daily activities that equips you for the best possible outcome. 

First, it is not my goal to "brag" about my adherence to my System.  My sole purpose is to present a real life (mine) example of how this works.  I just finished my activity review and I was happy to see that I completed most of the Activities I set in June.

  Under Nature, I completed a four day backpacking trip with three buddies. Plenty of fresh air, exercise, and camaraderie.  Live music around the campfire was a bonus!!  I also led several Tai-Chi sessions.

 

  In the category of Hobbies, I read three books and attended five concerts ranging from Texas Swing, to PsychoBilly Rock, to the one of a kind Lady Ga Ga.  I also started Call of Duty on the Xbox.

 

Under Health, I was only short four workouts (against a goal of sixty) and added Pilates to my regimen. In the area Doings, my wife and I had eleven dates (out) and six hours a week on "binge" watching television series (our favorite was The Crown).  I also had weekly get togethers with my buddies, at our local watering hole , to watch games.

 

The point of all this is that living a balanced life is not as abstract as it seems.  It takes Energy to live each day with engagement.  If you don't plan and track efforts to include your Vigor activities each week, the odds are that your efforts to fill your Roles will come up short and you will be discouraged.  All it takes is an extra bit of effort to write things down.  Is it worth it to you? 



 

Until next month, I wish you fulfillment.

Bob

 

 

 

From the Bottom of the Bucket

Stretch Yourself...............

On my recent semi-annual visit to my neurologist, we discussed my exercise program, which includes forty minutes of cardio work and 40 minutes of strength training.   She asked what I was doing for "flexibility" and I told her I was't doing anything.   She suggested I add something to my regimine that would help my suppleness.

I have always been facinated with the practice of pilates.  It seemed to offer a structured approach to something I have always had trouble with-stretching. I had discussed the exercise last year with a friend and that motivated me to start looking.  As if by magic (fate?), a new studio opened up just two blocks from my gym, so I could add studio visits to my workout and walk to both places.

I have been going for two months now, and some wonderful things are beginning to happen, but more on that later.

 

Just what does flexibility add to your life experience?  Apparently, it is part of the growth process.  Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz in their  book The Power of Full Engagement, make a strong case for paying attention to how you come to things as much as  what things you come to.  They state "Energy, not time, is the Key to High Performance and  Personal Renewal.  It is the fundamental currency of high performance."  I refer to this  as "Vigor".

 

My pilates trainer says that my exercises should cause discomfort, but not pain.  Loehr and Schwartz say "we grow at all levels by expending energy beyond our ordinary limits and then recovering."  Those statements got me thinking.  It seems they are the same thing.  When we engage in actviites that "stretch" us beyond our comfort level, but within our capabilities, we are activating flexibility's power to maximize our potential-simply put - to grow.

 

In pilates, the growth is tangible as your spine begins to elongate and your posture improves.  The range of your motion extends as your muscles loosen and relax.  You strength increases as you begin to engage core muscles that have been ignored thru compensating actions that seem easier (like using your arms to get out of a chair), but actually are more harmful.

 

In life, we often take comfortable shortcuts, there by shortchanging the opportunity to increase our mental flexibility, which in turn stifles your creative thinking to see new possibilties.  In Loehr and Scwartz's  words we do not become "Fully Engaged".

 

I recommend both the book and a review of your exercise activites.  Here is a link to their tool:

 

 

 http://www.performanceprograms.com/self-assessments/personal-development/energy-profile/

 

Until next month, I wish you fulfillment.

Bob

 

 

 

 

beyond