Reorientation

So, you have the perfect goal-oriented plan. Your personal SWOT gave you feedback on areas to shore up and areas to let go. You have posted a calendar to track your progress. You've signed on your pals (and maybe your spouse) to create a little accountability. Why then, are you having an "off day"? And why are beating yourself up for stepping off of the goal path, even for a day a two? Maybe you've lost some situational awareness along the way.

So what to do?

Stop! Look around. Ask yourself: What's different? What's missing? What's new on the path?

I am a trekker. The map is my plan. I know that when I spend too much time with my nose too close to the map, I start to lose sight of the terrain. Same thing when I'm walking with my head down-- always looking for the next root, rock or scree patch. While I'm looking inward, while I'm focusing on perils, the landscape has changed. Somehow I've managed to step off the trail, miss a turn or ignore the effects of a torrential rain. When I find myself following a dry river bed or yak trail (I've done it) instead of the blazed trail, I don't panic. Here's the trick: I make adjustments, not judgements.

So take that map of yours and reorient it using the terrain, the sun and the moon. Take out your grease pencil and annotate the detour required due to flooding or a rockslide. No need to beat yourself up or get into a vicious do-loop (what I call the vortex of negative self talk) when you can take just a moment to regain your situational awareness, catch your breath and adjust your path.

This is a plan -- not a a rigid chute. This is YOUR plan. You have the power of CHOICE.

My mantra: Head up, situationally aware, powered by choice.


Snowman Training Notes: Sunday was the last day of the intensity phase. We wrapped up with a 4 hour and 20 minute quadruple hill hike (16+ miles). I felt a bit more impact than usual -- time to get new Superfeet in my boots. Today it's back to the gym to kick off two weeks of peak phase -- focusing and upping the bar on all that we've put together so far. Cliff's at the gym first, I'm out the door as soon as he's back. Sprint/ Lactate Tolerance PLUS trek strength training.

Thought for the day: “Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change.” Stephen Covey