Fit for Life: Into the Eye of the Storm
Saturday, March 28, 2020
I am giving credit to my good friend Matt Stocker of Trinity Fitness in Pennsylvania for the content in today’s article.
He did a presentation a few months ago and told a story based on analogies of being in a boat at sea.
In his story or presentation, he gives 8 different details of an at-sea voyage that parallels how we conduct our everyday lives, and all the obstacles we will encounter.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHe describes ways to cope with adversity in everyday life as a sailor would do at sea.
I feel that in the current situation we are all in, this article could provide the same value to you that my friend's presentation did for me.
Hope you enjoy, and think deeply about our situation, then take action and overcome the fear and mixed emotions that today’s adversity brings us all.
How to keep sailing when the wind isn’t on your side.
1. Stillness. Sometimes we all need a quiet place to gather our thoughts, generate a vision and plan our next move. Find a spot to sit quietly, think, strategize and create a plan of action. The seas are calm, and NOBODY’ S boats are sailing now, so take advantage of the time you have and use it wisely.
2. Be persistent. When this is all over, there will be lots of shipwrecks, but the ones that are persistent, and willing to endure the changing tides will prevail. In his story he states that sometimes we need to drop the sails and start rowing. We can’t wait for the wind or perfect conditions to take us where we want to go, and right now the conditions are less than perfect, so start rowing.
3. There’s always a solution. Creativity and resourcefulness combined will enable us to find a solution to every problem. We can’t keep doing things the way we “always” did and expect to solve the problems we are all facing today. Get creative, get resourceful, and find a solution.
4. Don’t fear the rocks. Fear halts the wind and will cause you drift aimlessly away from your destination. Use the rocks as a guideline or a gauge to measure where you need to go and what you need to avoid. Attack what stands in your way, and navigate around obstacles, don’t fear them.
5. Use your crew. Great captains have a great crew and rely on them. We are no different. Lean on family, friends and coworkers to help you through. I am relying heavily on my team to help me bond our community and keep everyone engaged with the network we created at Providence Fit Body Boot Camp. I also want to be there for my family so if they need someone to shine a light, I can be available.
6. Be prepared for the voyage and prepare to get lost. They are telling us weeks, but we need to prepare for months of uncertainty. Instead of conducting business as usual, we are conducting business with the mindset that this is the new normal, and we will need to operate like this for a while. Hopefully it ends sooner than later, but we must prepare for the worst.
7. Remember the port you sailed from. I keep telling myself that I started my business from nothing, and I am still in a better position today than I was 5+ years ago, so whatever happens, I’ve been there and prevailed before. We have all been in rough seas before, so today is no different. Think of where you were before this started and have the confidence to get back there when this is over. Tough times don’t last, tough people, do.
8. Take care of the Captain. It doesn’t matter what type of adversity I go through, from the death of a family member to a crushing blow to my livelihood, I NEVER stop taking care of myself. Never miss workouts, sleep, or let your nutrition slide. If you are the captain of your team or business, YOU need to be operating at full throttle. If you neglect yourself, you can’t pour into others at the level of intensity needed. You must be a priority before anything else, or you will be operating below your full potential.
So, there it is folks, a step by step process to take when you are either in a storm, or the wind dies down.
Right now, we are in The Perfect Storm like George Clooney and his crew looking for a boat-full of fish.
The waves are crashing, and we can’t see an end in sight, but we need to keep pressing on, or we will stay stuck in the eye of the storm.
Now is the time to turn on the jets, course correct, generate solutions and be prepared for a long voyage. If we keep pressing forward, we will find light at the end of the tunnel.
If we operate out of fear and irrational behavior, you can be sure you will crash onto the rocks.
Stay positive, stay strong and be resilient.
Committed to your success,
Coach Matt
