Welcome,

Thanks to my personal coach, Drew Rozell for being AND being the inspiration behind the lesson in today's feature article!

Map section still in incubation, more maps in coming issues.

Please consider joining me in Idea Overload, a new teleclass that I will be conducting on May 3rd. Details are here..

Drop me an email, I always appreciate hearing from you!

Enjoy!

Jan
jans@bizsmart.net
 

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Feature Article:  Falling Forward

Have you ever come to the intersection of an old experience and a new idea? I'm sure you have. Timing just seems odd, sometimes...and then what road do you take?

I'm an athlete. (You probably already know this.) I've run two marathons, swam an open water 5k, and biked 400 miles, to name a few. I'm training for marathon #3, which is now only a few short weeks away.

As an athlete, I've been able to accomplish these goals by ”pushing through" various amounts of pain and physical discomfort. In fact, in the world of athletics, it is often referred to as the price you pay for the accomplishment.

I wasn't looking for a different way to be an athlete. My training for marathon #3 was going just fine. While talking with my personal coach (in the middle a bigger conversation) I heard a new perspective.

I learned that physical strain and struggle are not in my best interest. I know this might sound generic and might just apply to the majority of the population. Much detail is left out here - just know this was a new idea for me!

Upon hearing this, my initial reaction was a low, quick, laugh. I thought this should be interesting! I have absolutely no concept of how one can actually run a marathon without physical struggle and strain. The best I could do was to accept the idea as a possibility and move on.

Later that week, I found myself at about mile 15 of an 18 mile run. I was exhausted. My legs were weakening with every step, my energy was very low, and I was feeling myself straining to just keep moving forward.

In my haze, I briefly remembered the "strain and struggle” conversation. My face smiled, because I found the idea amusing. Seriously, it seemed strange that I could experience anything different than what I was going through at that very moment.

I considered the idea for a few short seconds. I thought, why not - I really didn't have anything to loose. Worst case scenario I would simply stop running or find myself standing, sitting, or lying down on a street, sidewalk, or green space... :-)

At the moment of clear intention, I simply gave up and gave in to the idea of struggle-less running. My body was thankful, and my mind fully expected that my forward motion would end that very moment.

It didn't.

In fact, my legs kept sending me forward!

I checked my body and my mental faculties. I checked again to ensure I wasn't passed out or hallucinating.

I was still running! And as strange as it may sound, I had the clear sensation of falling forward. It was as if the strain and struggle had left my body, and something else was moving my body forward.

It was quite a unique and wonderful feeling. I've never quite experienced anything like it. Sure, my body still had fatigue and pain from the distance already covered. But it felt like someone had attached invisible strings to my legs and were moving them for me.

Strain and struggle wasn't necessary, after all.

Now, this has me thinking about how I might be able to apply to my life. Here is what I think:

Strain and struggle isn't a necessity in life!

I've also come to realize that within each and every one of us is strength and ability that far exceeds any strain or struggle.

You have it, I have it, everyone has it! The only way it comes out in your life, however, is by letting go of the... strain and struggle!

I know, you might want to struggle with this idea and offer me a long list of reasons why it can't be so. Stop, be quite, and just consider the possibility!

The next time you feel yourself really, really struggling, just give it up!

You might just find yourself...falling forward...

p.s. Comments, thoughts?  email me here!

--- Oliver Wendell Holmes

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