Monday, February 4, 2008

The Power Of Choice!

You may be considering the title at this very moment, thinking that I'm about to make a political statement, or state my position on,,, but I'd rather be arrogant and consider myself too wise to banter on a topic so 'grey'. I know some wise individual out there is probably considering to not make a statement is cowardice, I consider it more energy management.
I will express here something I think topically applicable to sport as well as life, which is much of what I spend my thoughts on these days while doing countless numbers of bike fits, saddle fits, and minuet (forgive the potential misspelling) aerobar adjustments. We all know the most power is to have a choice, in anything. We choose nearly every aspect of how we go about living our life. Assuming this is at least 50% true would denote that we are least capable of being 50% happy considering that we have the opportunity to make 50% of our decisions. Fifty percent of what we would do, would be based upon our own direction. Wait a moment... Are you always happy with your decisions and choices? That is an entirely different topic, but a valid questions to pose. Do you follow a process of how you go about living or choosing your life? Should we, consider pleasure, plan for it, and remain persistent until we achieve it?
I'm 36 years of age and I've taken pride in taking details into account and executing them for most of my life. I can share outrageous stories about my life which you might seriously doubt took place just considering where I stand today. I could list off a number of detailed experiences that would have most considering I might have been 'blessed' to have had such opportunity. I should be able to look at these experiences and accomplishments with feelings of enjoyment, happiness, and gratefulness, shouldn't I? Of course, and why might I not? Well, this is what I am wanting to consider today, recognizing that we each are in a place "to be or not to be?" Yes, that is the question, but it is the answer as well. The process is denoted above, in 3 simple steps. What do we want? The process of how we will obtain it and what our outlook is supposed be until then. So, why is it so hard for some of us, myself included? Because we stand in our own way. Psychological research denotes that between the ages of 9-14 year of age we fabricate the neurosis by which we will live our lives. Yes, I said neurosis. Why? Because we are talking about difficulties with attainment and happiness and ultimately joy. So, isn't it a neurosis? OK, so the medical community no longer uses that term, but lets consider why? Because "they" (smart people) have since learned that neurosis simply referred to mild mental and emotional issues, usually involving some form of anxiety or classifiable phobia with no real loss of reality. So, case in point could we consider our self-imposed torment or neurosis early on in our lives and the end result is we live our lives out from this "childish" frame of action or more appropriately reaction. It is only in healthful circumstances that we exceed these circumstances.
Let me explain with more detail, I'll stop defending my choice of terminology already. So, let's say during my families divorce during the age of 8-9 years I felt a deep distrust toward each of my parents for acting selfishly. Now, lets say this created a distrust in life circumstance, so I now look at life with a mild hesitation (can we agree this is a form of fear, thus my choice of term). You see this is the Amygdala, a small mass in your brain that is responsible for coordinating autonomic, endocrine system, and some emotion centers. Back to the example, I would first have to recognize that how I think of situations is a result of my experience, then I could detail my feelings to more easily deal with them, next detail my concerns or fears. I believe this technique was sourced by Byron Katie, and if you don't know this women's story you should look it up, it is quite extraordinary. Then I would take these details and clarify them further, asking more specific and pointed questions: Is my feeling true? Can I absolutely know it is true? How do I react when I think these thoughts? and finally, who would I be without these thoughts? The end result is that we harbor great emotion and anxiety because we fail to have the skills to effectively reprogram our lives toward what we want and who we want to be. So there you go, more evidence that, with significant physiological influence over why your day to day perspective matters. I know it is hard to accept that things so meaningful and dear to us can be so uncomplex, we may even harbor the idea that we are "thinkers" and consequently now you have to face that some of these thoughts may not be thoughtful, rather limitations. All think, some of us far too much for our own good. If there is emotion ask yourself from where? Why? Is it worth it? Really!
Now, You no longer have to prove anything to your father, mother, siblings you don't have to prove your tough or smart. Just realize you are reactionary and hate be told what to do, or make peace because you fear the fact that in a room 1/3 of people will love you, 1/3 will dislike, and 1/3 will be indifferent. Facts, facts of science, life, and you. Now, what? Do you pursue that goal? Of course, because now you can pursue it fully, with enjoyment and without the baggage that results in grief, that eventually will rob you of the happiness of the journey. You know it, you've heard it, "it's all about the journey." So, go and live it!!!!!


1 comment:

Bradley D. said...

Coach, very interesting and applicable to our daily lives. Too many of us bogged down with attachments (emotional, physical, material) which limit our true sense of living "free". I guess I'll go get on my bike and enjoy the journey!