Sometimes I ask myself why I decide to take these steep hikes. I could be sitting with my feet in the stream. Or, reading a book. Yet, I wake up in the morning and think about what hike I want to take today. When they are steep like this ridge hike, I spend a certain amount of time rethinking what I was thinking. After all, I have all this time panting and sweating my way up the trail to reassess my decisions.
Hiking is a metaphor for life. You set a goal (like get to the top of the ridge), and there are deviations along the way. Beautiful spring flowers to stop and consider. A squirrel the dog decides to chase. Boulders you have to get around. A deer on the ridge. High water in the stream requiring you to boulder hop to get across. Some are unexpected. Some are unpleasant and some just make you scream with delight.
At times, we don’t think we had a choice in our decisions. Or, that once made, we are stuck with our choices. Here is where choosing our perspective comes into play.
We can focus on:
-the journey (the details)
-the goal (the end game)
-the moment (feelings)
-the environment (flowers, water, heat)
-breathing
-appreciating
-gratitude.
So many options. So much that we control. So why do we fill our heads with outside noise like social media? I’m noticing my own bad habits around this. Are you, too?
It’s easy to reset on vacation. The challenge happens in the day to day. What is a good habit to put in place of the wasted time? I recently updated my LA library card. I’m going to have a book downloaded and ready to read. I’m going to have a movie primed to watch while I am on the Nordic Track. What about you?
If you don’t think Vistage peer groups get value at every meeting-from the speakers, the conversations and the input from your peers, don’t click here.