Looking beyond the edge of the board

Sunday I went paddleboarding through the serene Venetian Causeway. My instructor was an electrical engineer who now paddleboards and kiteboards for a living. He's really zen. He's grateful. He's a joy to be around. He tells us if we stare at the tip of the board, we will fall off, but if we look where we want to go we will figure out a way to get there. The immediacy of trying to balance with varying currents and wind becomes less important if you focus ahead, not down. 

Yesterday I stood up and a wave hit me from behind, and I fell off. The biggest issue was that I was focused on the tip of my board and the unexpected wave, not on the houses, the incredible scenery, enjoying my friends, or the abundance around me. I was worried about the tip of my board heading under water. So I fell in. And believe it or not, the cool water was refreshing, not scary. I climbed back up on my board (ungracefully at that). I stopped looking at the tip. If it went underwater or there were some crazy currents, I kept staring at the lavish boats and gardens ahead and around me. I didn't worry about change in water or wind, I focused on getting to the next yacht, past the next bridge or closer to the next building. I waved at the boaters. At the end of the paddle, I sat crosslegged on the board and got back to shore when the waves were rough. I didn't fall off again. I just looked ahead to the shore and paddled my way in.

My sweet instructor almost fell off too. He has many years of experience and rockstar balance. He shrugged it off. "It's the best when I fall off, students get a real kick out of it," he said.  Here is someone reveling in his imperfection and the lack of seriousness of the situation. Talk about being present and enjoying life, whatever it brings.

I realized that if I just kept my eye on where I wanted to go it would be ok. It didn't matter if my paddle was perfect or if I was standing or kneeling or sitting. If I fell in again, I would get up again. That's just what we have to do. I'm not drowning, I'm just going through the process of getting where I want to go. I just have to look past the end of the board and not wallow in the current situation, but rather think about what wonders, abundance, and currents life brings.

It's wonderful. I've seen it by looking ahead.

Progress and Balance

This weekend I went to a seminar about Ayurvedic Living. What is Arurveda? Basically it's an ancient Indian way of living in accordance with nature. This ancient knowledge shows you how to stay in balance to live the most healthful way possible. Factors like routine, diet, environment, time of day, and seasons can impact how in or out of balance we may be. Certain imbalances make us angry, anxious, irritable, fat, or lethargic. Some can lead to depression. Some can lead to light headedness and the inability to focus. Imbalances affect our mood, our spirit, our body, our job performance, and our relationships.

They practice a healthy lifestyle through following a relatively strict routine and diet. Boring you say? Once you start actually living that way, it's amazing how much better, and balanced you feel.  

Still, sometimes I feel like self care is just another f-ing job I have to do. Really, you want me to work full time, give myself sesame oil massages and leave the oil on for 20 minutes (do you know how that stuff smells?), scrape my tongue in the morning, only drink room temperature water, and prepare 3 home cooked meals full of unprocessed ingredients? Left overs are a no-no? You say no naps? Are you crazy?? Seriously that sounds impossible, even for the most determined being who is living in America in the 21st century.

The one thing that I took away from that is the importance of still checking in with my lifestyle and making some small changes that I can slowly incorporate into the routine which I so strictly adhere to. I literally put my make up on while I'm asleep, I'm that good. I have to be at work extraordinarily early, but I am adhering to some new routines that make my day better. I am going to see what works for me. What order I do things, what route I take to work, what priorities I take on while I am there.

Deepak Choprah recently wrote:
Look right now at your daily routine. The input that fits a conscious lifestyle will have the following characteristics: fresh, unexpected, surprising, delightful, challenging, inspiring, heartfelt, spontaneous, curious, creative, vital, selfless, and expansive.

If you daily routine leads in the opposite direction, towards unconsciousness, the following words apply instead: repetitive, predictable, conformist, unadventurous, automatic, reactive, dull, boring, exhausting, unchallenging, numb, uninspired, selfish, and mechanical.

I know I feel energized when I see progress in my deals. So taking from Deepak, I will make 10 extra calls to active prospects or people I have been meaning to reach out to. I will be aware of how the food I eat makes me feel. I will schedule something fun for this weekend. I will finish that damn "to do" list that has been plaguing me. What are you going to do to create balance and progress in your working life?

Being Human

Being human is accepting that you are, in fact, human.

You will be tired. Your ego may push you through, but at some point you will sleep, crash and burn, or better, give yourself some sort of heart attack. (I know people this has happened to)

You will be hungry. 

You will be thirsty. 

You will make mistakes. 

You will try something and fail. (YAY! Learning opportunity! )

You will try something and win. (YAY! Money! Time! An article in the WSJ!)

You will get in car accidents, fall in love, live in a house or an apartment or under a bridge.  (No judgement if you choose the later)

You will do work. If you are reading this blog, you are probably doing some "self work" as well.  It's almost inevitable. 

As a person on an evolutionary path, it's easy to get an ego about things. To think you are better, superior, or "HAVE THE MAGIC BULLET for ENLIGHTENMENT". The reality is that we are all still human, living on this earth, making mistakes. Do you have a cookie?

Level It Out: Managing Energy Levels to Do Impossible Things!

 

(Thank you Huffington Post!)

I have to remind myself about the abundant nature of the world. Especially when I am not functioning at optimum energy levels. When I am tired, dehydrated, hungry, or uninspired, give me a couch and throw me a cookie (Oreos are preferable) and run. I will be back to normal in 15-20 minutes after a quick nap and sugar break.

There are always opportunities if you know where to look. If you can see them, then you can make the choice to grab them.  If you can’t see opportunities, there’s a reason. You are tired. You are uninspired. You are stressed. You are hyperconnected to the computer, social media, your email, your smart phone, yet disconnected from the results. (You can read this blog and then disconnect.) You don’t allow people to help you. Does this sound familiar? You actually create a barrier to the success, happiness, or tranquility that will give you the desired outcome you seek when you don't level out your feelings and energy levels.

If you battle through your body’s natural energetic requirement, it’s actually a detriment to your progress. You won’t be able to power through the next round of cold calls or important client interactions. No one likes a nervous nelly or a low energy loser. It is up to you to put yourself in the energetic position to get what you want. 

This is where I get into the lecture on SELF CARE. If you are tired, don't go to a networking event. Don't be negative (I have definitely been negative at events and it doesn't leave me happy or other people inspired to work with me).  Ladies, if you get crazy around your "lady time" stay home and catch up on "The Voice" or Real Housewives (I love NY, Beverly Hills and Miami!) If you are hungry, stop and eat something. Carry Kind Bars in your car. I don't care what you do, but make sure to be your own mother and TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Prepare for the times when you don't have the energy, willpower, or stamina to make good choices. Take the time when you have tons of energy, inspiration, and desire to prepare for the times when you don't. It's leveling out the ups and downs of your physical body that will get you the long term results you are looking for. Becoming aware of when you feel good, and when you don't is the difference between making that new contact, great impression or converting that new prospect into a client.

Picasso had a giant energy for life (he kept marrying women and dating women younger and younger) and probably had a great routine. He did things "he couldn't do" because he brought a great desire and fervor to them. What people don't talk about what the healthy nature of the food he was eating, his routine, and schedule that allowed him to achieve his great works.

Over the next couple of days I want you to start paying attention to your body, your rhythms, your routine. What feels good? When do you need chips ahoy and an hour of reality TV? What drains you? What excites you? What stops you? What starts you? I encourage you to do the things we never thought possible by managing our bodies and ourselves.