Passing On The Knowledge

BECOMING A TEACHER

Passing on learned knowledge so others may benefit from our wisdom, is arguably one of the greatest gifts we have to offer. Wisdom in one of the few benefits we get from getting older, so passing it on is all the more rewarding.

For those that come to us willingly seeking knowledge, it is a joy to impart our wisdom and all the more rewarding to receive their gratitude. For those who we try and impart wisdom but who aren't receptive to learn from us, even when they could greatly benefit from having our insight and guidance, it can be frustrating. We needn't try so hard. For it takes great patience and skill dealing with these individuals and only so much we can do to help them.

I have been on a quest since the beginning of this year. A path of self analysis and discovery, which has given me some amazing and insightful information - tools on how to fix/avoid problems, grow physically, mentally & spiritually. I can already see in just a short space of time how this new knowledge is greatly improving my quality of life and in some cases already, through my teaching - other people's lives too.

Growing Pains
The path towards self mastery is laden with obstacles that can deter us from the path and trick us away from our goals. Overcoming these obstacles is very much a part of the learning process and can be both mentally and physically painful. These challenges we face along the way, which manifest in emotional and physical symptoms are called growing pains. They are a naturally occurring phenomena and if addressed correctly, will help us to strengthen. Many people hit these obstacles and either stop or turn back. This is where many will become inflexible, cease to grow or worse, ill.

It is the job of the teacher to help these individuals to take the necessary steps. It is the skilled and patient teacher who guides the fearful and weak - holding their hands through the process, assuring them they will be ok. It is this skill that we need to learn more of and only a very few are willing to put in their time and efforts, also at great pains & at times it seems, for no return. It's through perseverance and a will to help those that need the most guidance, that we continue to grow more ourselves and develop as great teachers.

Rising To The Challenge

TOUGHEN UP

Rising to the challenge every morning has taken on an extra meaning for me these days. Getting out of bed to do something physically challenging like boxing - before most have even thought about getting out of bed, has given me a new strength of character and ability to take a lot of lesser taxing challenges on the chin without a wobble, throughout the day. 

Agreeing to commit to this morning's challenge with my boxing trainer and most importantly - keeping this commitment with myself - when I could so very easily have taken a few more hours in bed, has meant other aspects in my life have also been set in concrete. It's tough training but by following it through consistently and always taking the challenge, means other tough challenges have also been risen up to - and taken face on. 

Daily Discomfort

My partner and I now stick to a morning exercise routine every day - come rain or shine. It's usually at 5.30am and involves some tough physical challenges like sustained planks. Sometimes, after a late night with a little too much alcohol involved, it can make this challenge even more uncomfortable than it usually is. It's on these occasions that the extra effort to complete these exercises really strengthens our resolve. By sticking to the plan even though the mind has been telling us not to and having discomfort at such an early point in the day - lays down strong foundations for dealing with whatever the rest of the day throw at us. Chances are, as the discomfort becomes tolerated enough over time, a toughness will be built up meaning everything following on from that will feel like a breeze in comparison!

Fresh Challenges

EVOLUTIONARY CHALLENGES

Whenever we set ourselves a fitness and performance challenge, we need to factor in a time scale to work within. If the challenge has no indicated limit, how can we measure our progress over that time frame properly? And how can we gauge the intensity of the challenge against our progress to set up the next challenge?

We evolve over time. Our bodies adapt and grow stronger with a focussed training schedule. It takes a maximum 4-5 weeks to adjust to a training schedule. By the fourth week, the progress & results over a month will give us a much clearer understanding of what our bodies are capable of and help us set up a new higher level for the challenges to come.

To see this phenomenon in operation, try the 100 press-ups in 6 weeks challenge.

Pain Threshhold

LEAVING YOUR COMFORT ZONE

If we want to make improvements in anything we choose - one has to constantly push the boundaries. This means being out of our comfort zone a lot of the time.

It's fear of the unknown that makes us want to stay in a familiar place. Go with what you know, as they say. This is fine to a degree, but I propose that we should be actively learning all the time. If it's the not knowing that makes us feel uncomfortable - we just need to know it to beat the fear. Be it learning a new job, language, visiting a different country/place or training for fitness - we have to keep ourselves away from the easy known path and on to the one of discovery if we want to expand our horizons.

Small Achievements Lead To Bigger Ones 
We have been doing a little morning routine every day that helps prepare the body and mind for the day. Part of the exercise routine includes doing some 1 minute 'planks'. These are relatively easy to hold, but doing three in a row is tougher. The other day, my partner and I missed a set and decided to do six in one go to make up for the ones missed. That was a big decision at the time - suggesting we double what we'd been doing already, seemed too arduous a task! Thing is, once we'd made it to five, the sixth one was really easy compared to how number three had been feeling the day before. This is because we moved the goal. The focus was on six and number three, which was now only half way, flew past as we dug in and pushed towards the final number six. This was an eye-opening revelation.

Don't Underestimate Yourself
We were so surprised at how much easier six planks had been in relation to three that it's now six planks every morning as the norm - and this quota will be re-assessed again as we get used to six over time. This is the right mentality for success and exactly how people who don't push boundaries, get stuck in their ways. They underestimate their potential. Sticking to what we know and do well means we'll never progress and rise above the norm.

Break Habits To Form New Ones
Start small and see what differences can be made by just changing simple everyday tasks, things like - the route you take in every day to work, the places you go to eat and even the clothes you wear. Create new patterns of routine, break cycles of tasks that you do unconsciously every day and try things differently. This will create a more open mindset, free us up to a new way of thinking and put us on a path of discovery away from the comfort zone.

Sticking to the programme

FOLLOWING SOME SIMPLE RULES

Make some positive changes by implementing some simple rules. Write down the plans, then set a time frame to work within. Don't be too hard on yourself - you want to be able to stick to these rules for the duration. Set out your goals and make a schedule. If the time frame is too short, the task won't feel enough of a challenge and if the timeframe too long, the discipline required won't be enough to get you through. The idea is to set yourself up with new and positive lifestyle changes. by removing old habits and forming new ones.

We're currently in week three of a six week training schedule that will help get the body back in shape for the summer and in good physical condition to best enjoy all the fun times that lie ahead. The early starts and hard work - an hour of intense exercise - have stopped the late nights and curbed the drinking levels. Initially, it was hard getting up so early but now, there's no chance of me missing a class as the lifestyle has been adjusted to fit around the exercise routine.

I've just written a blog/page on making plans called Taking Stock which outlines a few changes I've made to help me stay motivated and on track. And I'm using this blog to implement/track any positive changes I'm making by writing it all down. The action of writing intentions and results down really does help cement the changes we want to make and keep us focussed on making them. Then we can re-visit these pages in the future and see how we've got on.