Lead From Within: Resilience
What is the hardest thing you do, mentally or physically, that you actually enjoy?
Separating mental and physical resilience into two separate areas of focus seems logical on the surface. One can train themselves through meditation and focus work to become more mentally resilient, while separately, performing physical exercises to make their bodies more resilient.
This makes sense. Stimulus and response.
What I’ve learned, and where I continue to see benefit, is that by intentionally and mindfully embracing stressors like progressive-overload weight training, difficult cycling training, and routine sauna and cold showers, I have been able to slowly, but incrementally increase my baseline threshold for discomfort. I’ve recently added in additional Z1/Z2 (base) training on the bike to raise that baseline further.
Mindful embrace of the discomfort seems to be important.
I go into these sessions knowing they will be difficult, and in the moment of greatest discomfort (like within the first 30 seconds of a cold shower where I am gasping for air) reminding myself that the discomfort is temporary and to sit with it until it subsides, and it usually does.
+1 xp of resilience added
Where do I see the payout happening? In the form of greater equanimity at home, and certainly at work. I have four kids (2, 5, 11, and 13) at home, and a team that lead at work. The ability to stay calm and think objectively is a super power, and a competitive advantage.
It’s a practice though, just like anything else. There are still moments when I realize how far I still have to go, and I know there is not a true destination. Only more mindful moments of discomfort preparing me to face the next challenge on the horizon.
Thanks for reading,
Paul
Move forward. Stay in the game
W4: Resilience - Train ourselves to endure challenges
“A few decades ago, scientists conducted an experiment in the Arizona desert where they built “Biosphere 2” – a huge steel-and-glass enclosure with air had been purified, clean water, nutrient-rich soil, and lots of natural light. It was meant to provide ideal living conditions for the flora and fauna within. And while it was successful in some ways, in one it was an absolute failure. Over and over, when trees inside the Biosphere grew to a certain height, they would simply fall over. At first, the phenomenon confused scientists. Finally, they realized that the Biosphere lacked a key element necessary to the trees’ health: wind. In the natural environment, trees are buffeted by wind. They respond to that pressure and agitation by growing stronger bark and deeper roots to increase their stability.” Think Like A Monk, Jay Shetty
“Physical activity reorganizes the brain so that its response to stress is reduced and anxiety is less likely to interfere with normal brain function.” Study from Princeton University
Objectives
Introduce the importance of purposefully developing resilience through mental and physical challenges so that we are able to recalibrate our baseline for handling challenges, conflict, and friction in our daily lives.
Discuss the means of “leaving the comfort zone” that work best for the Coachee
Co-Create a plan for building time for Resilience Training into the Coachee’s week
Key Questions
Tell me about how you train yourself to push beyond your limits.
What is the hardest thing you do, mentally or physically, that you actually enjoy?
Do you have to, or do you get to?
Picture yourself jumping into an unheated swimming pool in late spring. You’re freezing cold. How do you calm yourself down in order to begin enjoying the experience?
Stretch Assignments
At-home activity: The Cold Shower! Finish off your morning showers this week with cold water. Start with just 15 seconds, then work your way up to 45 seconds to 1 minute by the end of the week. (Wim Hof Method)
Outdoor activity: Get outside and find a way to push yourself. Whether that be for a bike ride, a run, or that HIIT class you’ve been hearing about. Shoot for 2-3x this week!