Taking in some air

‘It is not about how much air you have, it’s about how you use it!’ Hanli Prinsloo

I recently did a free diving course with Hanli, a world champion freediver, hailing from Cape Town. She taught us about the 3 phases of breath hold as we all stretched ourselves in the pool and out at sea to dive both deeper and longer. The first phase is the ‘feel good’ phase. Your lungs, full of oxygen, feel as though they could last forever. The second phase is the ‘awareness’ phase. Here your body recognizes you’re not breathing and begins to react. It feels uncomfortable and you begin to tense up. Then the 3rd phase begins - the ‘fight’. Now the diaphragm is contracting. You feel as if you are about to die. But you have to push through!

The interesting thing about the fight phase is that the contractions you are experiencing have nothing to do with the amount of O2 you still have left. In fact the body is reading higher CO2 levels and the diaphragm contracts to expel it. You can fight by telling your mind that you do, in fact, have air!

Its the same with insight. It feels good to have those ‘aha’ moments. Reflecting on our new goals, especially around new years brings a sense of positivity as we look ahead to the difference we can make to our lives. As we begin on our new path we reach awareness phase. Your new way of life goes against all the long held habitual patterns you have lived with for so many years, and it begins to hurt. And that is when you must fight!

Fighting is about acting on your insight. Fight with the reality that you do have what it takes to change. All that resistance is simply your sub conscious hanging onto a comfort zone. Those negative thoughts are not true! Every little step you take feels like short term pain. But short term pain leads to long term pleasure - and that is where you want to live.

The amazing thing about breath hold is that it really is all in the mind. Your body has breath. Your mind just needs to hold onto that. You have what it takes to break through the wall of chaos that exists between insight and action. Your mind just needs to hold onto that!

May 2010 be different for you.

Leadership Energy

There is classic mexican proverb that says ‘Whats down in the well, comes up in the bucket’

Many of us, especially at this time of year, could do with a whole heap load more of energy. Our own ‘energy wells’ are depleted leaving us little to draw from. Rather than make new years resolutions that fade away into oblivion, why not rather focus on keeping our energy wells full during 2010? Energy can be broken down into 4 key areas - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. 2009 has dished out what has been an emotionally & mentally draining year for many. Given these wells are all connected some might find that it has impacted on their physical and spiritual lives as well. So break it down. Which areas need attention? What do you need to do differently in 2010? Each well can be filled with activities that range from 2 minutes to a weekend, but the key is to focus on them daily! Nutrition, sleep, exercise fill the physical. Healthy relationships, positive thoughts fill the emotional well. Learning about something you love fills the mental well. Prayer, walks on the beach, quite time fill the spiritual well. Or find an activity that works across the board, like surfing does for me!

The point is, if you do not fill the well there is nothing to draw from. Unfortunately it is human nature to wait for a crisis before we make a change, but so often it is to late. Energy is not a luxury, it is a necessity. May you be strong enough to put yourself first so that you may contribute not just time, but energy to your families, businesses and ultimately to the world.

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Travis Gale has spent the last 5 years running his own development business in South Africa’s corporate world and is currently involved in various long term partnerships with clients across a number of industries. Furthermore he has travelled to conferences internationally hunting down latest trends and insights. Having cycled around the world and survived a tsunami, his passion for crossing borders often lends itself to an interesting blend of stories and insight. He sees himself as a ‘change catalyst’ and displays strength in facilitating insight into the right spaces. Find out more at www.appletreelive.com

Leadership Principles for the 21st Century

Leadership expert Travis Gale will write a regular feature sharing relevant tips and advice in the area of leadership development and growth.