Shadow Stabbing
Posted: March 12, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, ego, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, greatness, growth, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Humble, Humility, jogging, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, spirit, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 3 CommentsA great man is always willing to be little-
Let’s engage in a rather broad conversation this morning shale we?
“What on your part constitutes growth”
Ripped abs, slimmer fitting clothes, blasting your back and chest performing super sets at the gym (don’t forget to pose in the mirror), bragging about numbers and how many reps fought through, taking a picture of yourself in some ridiculous yoga pose?
Humility may be one of the most misunderstood and under appreciated aspects of our daily experience. Humility does not necessarily mean lowering yourself below other folks, letting said people walk all over your very existence, cut you off in queue at the grocer or even treat you like you’re inferior to breathing the same air as they are. Embracing humility means being neutral, letting go of the urge to get the last word in, placing yourself above others and basically telling a bunch of self-righteous fairy tales. We expend far too much of our daily energy, squandered in the mindless striving for importance: Getting “ripped,” asking someone to admire your ass after an hour-long leg workout.
The stark truth of the matter is that you don’t have to get drawn into daily ego-competitions (sword fights anyone?!? Anyone …) and petty games anymore.
Notes:
We grow as individuals when we free our mind and spirit of the need to feel bigger, superior to those around us.
Sunshine
Posted: March 11, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awaken, blogging, cultfit, exercise, fitness, free range, Freshly Pressed is Overrated, gluten free, happiness, health, Heart, hipster, hope, jogging, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 11 CommentsAn awake heart is like a sky that pours light-
*Originally posted at CultFit.org some time ago (adjusted a tad for today).
Having recounted the positive events that have happened over the last year I feel more positive about where I currently am at and I hope you feel the same? For many though, they feel there is nothing to rejoice about: Not now and certainly not in the near future. Many are immersed in a fatalistic time zone. There’s an app for this, sadly.
We need to realize that our lives are not controlled by fates outside of our inherent ability to modify, adjust, or temper what is not working for us. The all so real truth is that all of us get depressed and when this depression gets really bad? We are stuck in our own misery, our very own pity party (yes, there is even an app for pity parties as well).
Hold out your left hand and start peeling back your fingers for of all the ‘things‘ you have going right in your life, right in this moment: Heart still ticking, still breathing, family, friends, leftover meatballs etc. Now on your right hand let’s start peeling back fingers for ‘things‘ we enjoy and promise ourselves to “Make The Time For” even if we don’t have the time – to practice present hedonism. Pursue the events in your life that make you feel good about yourself and your outlook on life. What follows are a few of the things I enjoy, maybe you will enjoy the same:
• An evening Walk while eating an apple.
• Playing bicycle Tag with the little ones – Your it!
• Email, call or message a friend and say: “Hey your pretty special! Not that special but special none the less.”
• Practice Meditation and Yoga.
• Nature is heaven on earth. Less time inside and more time outside, Playing in the fluffy white stuff.
Notes:
Why spend so much time abusing and punishing your mind, spirit and body? Take care today.
Key to the Highway
Posted: March 8, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, smile, Smiling, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 13 CommentsHope, Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering ‘it will be happier’…-
Did you happen to know that your gorgeous smile is actually contagious? Not my smile mind you, yours! The little nugget of your brain that is responsible for facial expressions, smiling when happy or mimicking another persons smile resides in the cingulate cortex (this is but one part of that squishy thing between your ears). Smile at someone today or with someone today, it’s likely they can’t help but smile back. If they don’t? Their either preoccupied taking a pic of their feet, a Detroit Red Wings supporter or they’re making a conscious effort not to smile back at you.
Looking at the bigger picture, each time you smile at a person, their brain triggers them to return the favour. You are creating a symbiotic relationship with a complete stranger that allows both of you to release mood enhancing chemicals in your brain. These very same chemicals activate reward centers and help you live a brighter, healthier life. WOW! All of this from a simple smile 🙂
Here’s the deal peeps: This kind of information is fleeting and falls on deaf ears far too often. No one wants to read a bloated self-serving book about smiling and magazines don’t fly off the shelf informing readers to smile. We can’t always control what happens to us, however I will guarantee (with complete confidence) that gracing your picturesque face today with a smile can seriously change your internal and external experiences in life. Your smile is something that should be worn at every available opportunity. Less Lululemon and more smiling!
*Science content has been removed due to it being boring and tedious.
The Workout-
A gentle early morning Walk, whilst Smiling and enjoy the company of a Friend.
Notes:
Quick reminder that tonight is your chance to get a sneak peek behind the CultFit curtain. A dashing group of us will be attending the Buddhist Boot Camp book signing and Q&A session at The Bookworm in Omaha, NE this evening. I’m curious to ask Timber Hawkeye his thoughts about smiling?!?
Also over the weekend I will be putting together the annual CultFit Meetup calendar. Sadly, there will be only a handful of running events this summer although all the cool kids these days ride on two wheels … If you know of an event in the Midwest you would like us to attend? Please email me at: cultfit@gmail.com
Fool in the Rain
Posted: March 5, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, Giving thanks, gluten free, gratitude, happiness, health, Hesitation, hipster, hope, intensity, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, nebraska, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, running, star wars, technology, trail running, walking, weather, WOD, yoga 10 CommentsThe most wasted of all days is one without laughter-
There is a glitch in the system. Being grateful, humble and full of joy is inherently easy when the sun is shining, when the kids are being good (for once) when our dreams start to come true, when the world seems to be for our taking. There’s always a “but” and today’s but is a biggie, like Sir Mix A-Lot big! But … Gratitude is a glitzy system. Are you grateful when you step on a Lego at 5am? When your perfect treadmill trot goes sideways? When you quite can’t find stillness, awareness and comfort in your daily yoga practice. Every door seems to be slamming us in the face? F! Gratitude!!!
“This is the last time I step on a mother bleeping Lego …” Like any system, the system of gratitude relies on triggers. Sometimes it takes a smack in the head, a Lego, someone saying “Hello and Good Morning” with a genuine smile. Some may find an early morning run a rather pleasant trigger, a cup of coffee or snuggling with a loved one before going to work. Small, grateful triggers to set the tone for the day.
The Workout-
Open the door to happiness in your life, step outside, begin your day with a smile, join a friend for a workout – walk – run – yoga … whatever.
Notes:
What was your grateful trigger this morning? What small moment changed your outlook on the day and brought a smile to your face? For me, I simply stepped on a Star Wars Lego piece, I think it was a Light saber?!?
Such Great Heights
Posted: March 4, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Buddist Boot Camp, exercise, fitness, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, natural, Omaha, paleo, perspective, running, Simple Life, simplicity, Spirituality, Surrender, The Bookworm, The Village Grind, Timber Hawkeye, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 8 CommentsReason lost the battle, and all I could do was surrender and accept I was in love-
The very essences of our being lies in the ability to surrender. How often do we have to push ourselves to the limit, only to be left depleted, sore and broken? Our inane culture rewards those who go faster (amrap), hotter (vanity soaked yoga) and longer (trivial distance events). None of these are healthy to our inner selves. It’s a lie we pay forward, the way that we live.
We all have limits – Surrender to them.
Surrender to the “What If” in your life: Become fuller, more robust, richer, hardier and more open to possibility. When we surrender to the “What If“, we open up spiritually and bring limitless possibilities into our lives.
Imagine your life without all the pushing, striving, soreness, sense of loss and pictures of your feet in a magenta saturated Insta-look-at-me photo. Consider a world in which you plant a seed, nurture it slowly and patiently watch it grow …
Surrender is a beautiful word (yup, a dude just said beautiful). It implies a total release to the tensions of our days. Surrender indicates acceptance, letting go no matter what is happening in this present moment.
There is no “What If” today, nothing to see and nowhere to go. Surrender.
** It’s not often I ask for frivolous favors from you. Today, I ask of you to reflect on the message above and in the very near future, re-write this post in your very own words. Not at the last-minute like myself but rather in a very personal and open way.
Notes:
There are quite literally only .001% of the readers, reading this morning who know the murky behind the scenes details of CultFit. Here’s your chance to get a peek behind the curtain. This Friday the 8th of March at 6pm a few members of CultFit will attend the Buddhist Boot Camp book signing and Q&A session at The Bookworm in ‘Muricas home town: Omaha, NE. Timber Hawkeye is a brilliant speaker, writer and a breath of fresh air in today’s world.
If you would like to meet beforehand for a coffee, tea, glass of wine (<-Hint) by all means drop me an email at: cultfit@gmail.com
CultFit 