While reading this week's assignment, I couldn't help but to think of my last Coaching Call with Chinrinee. When she told me about taking an employee, (who had been found sleeping on the job- several times) out for coffee, and be present for that person and simply listen, was I believe the epitome of empathic listening.
As part of this experience, "Cathartic communication" (Steil) was a large part of the 2 1/2 hours. Chinrinee spoke of the employee crying with frustrations, few of which were work related. After reading the article, it became clear that in order for the employee to begin to discuss the work-related issues, there needed to be this purging of emotion.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Beyond Ironman
I sat down tonight wondering what I had to say about this week's reading's and subsequent discussions. Then I opened an e-mail, which turned out to be a Blog, which I consider now to be a gift.
Also, I'm trying to figure out if there is a final project here also.
Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.
Jo Ann
Also, I'm trying to figure out if there is a final project here also.
Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.
Jo Ann
Message received via Triathlon Club Member
Monday, March 8, 2010
Beyond the “IRONMAN”
Initially I was going to BLOG about my 2009 IRONMAN experience, but as I ran yesterday, on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon for 20.2 Miles (man was not made to run that far…at least not this man…haha) in prep for my upcoming marathon, I realized a state beyond the IRONMAN.I have felt and witnessed this experience before, but only now have reflected on it…the powers of writing a BLOG…who knew. The experience is a timeless event that transcends mere sport. It is the enjoyment of the purity and grace of athleticism. No thinking, emotionless and natural.Last year I believed that it was the journey that counts and not the end goal…well today I believe its simpler than that…it’s the moment that counts.The moment is you disappearing into existence… you are one with the wind and the sun. Time doesn’t exist, goals don’t matter, pace is irrelevant, and sport and body mechanics flow like water through a clenched fist…smooth, flowing , uncatchable yet tangible.I’d like to share two of similar experiences I had.The first time I experienced this was when I was out in the Cascade Range in Oregon and a few of my friends and I decided we were going to run up and down the “Three Sisters” three volcanic peaks each 10,000 feet plus elevation. I was in the best shape of my life at the time, worked out 4 hours a day and ran crazy events like mud and mountain runs. My friends were also in outstanding shape. One was a pro athlete and the other two were Division I athletes from Stanford University. One morning we assaulted the North Sister. It is the most dangerous of the Three Sisters, due to its level of erosion, and thus rock is unstable at the top. Every three steps up is two steps down, due to the sliding of the rock. About 500 feet from the pinnacle, I was very proud of myself after leaving my friends in the dust up the face. My legs were cramping and I was feeling the early stages of dehydration but that was all irrelevant because I was just about to conquer this frustrating beast of a mountain. I took one quick look at the top and was just about to make by final ditch effort before I looked down the face and noticed a very unassuming individual gliding up the mountain effortlessly taking pictures here and there of the horizon. I froze in wonder. My friends and I had no packs just water bottle belts and yet this man flew past them carrying full camping gear on his back. He was still 600 feet below me, and so, I redoubled my efforts and internally promised myself that this guy wouldn’t catch me. He did not even notice that I was above him. He kept on stopping to take pictures. Soon, even with all my effort, he floated by me to the peak like I was standing still and with a friendly wave continued up the peak where he disappeared over the edge. When I finally reached the summit he was there on the edge sitting drinking hot tea that he just warmed up on high powered stove. He just looked out into the vast gorgeous expanse as if nothing else existed. My stumbling and heavy breath rudely knocked him out of his moment but he did not fret at all and offered me some of his tea. He said to me “well done that is some hard work getting up that shale”. I replied, “you made it look so easy.” How do you climb so effortlessly you’re in fantastic shape? He answered “I have an unfair advantage over you… I have done this for many years… I was born on a mountain top and am a Mountain Ranger from New Zealand.” I just stared at him, unbelieving. As if reading my mind, he continued, “Friend I have learned over many years to let go of the summit and not assault the mountain, do not treat it as a conquest, be one with it and enjoy the moment.” He took a swig of his tea and got back to looking beyond the IRONMAN.Ten years later, last year June 2009, I found myself climbing another mountain this time on a bike and on the fringes of the French Alps north of Nice during IRONMAN FRANCE. I was about one third of the way done of the 112 mile bike course and had climbed about 4000’ of the total 6000’ plus elevation gain, and feeling pretty proud of the fact that I was about to conquer another mountain when a group of riders flew past me at an ungodly speeds up a very steep angle. As I challenged myself to stay above 10mph, the riders easily glided up the mountain at 20 plus MPH without breaking a sweat. Their bikes were no high-end tri bikes… just a simple aluminum frame cheapos. They had no water bottles and carried packs on their backs. They were soon out of sight. They all had the same look and aspect of the mountain ranger that I met and I couldn’t help but reflect on that moment in Oregon. At the end of the race, I spotted some of the riders back in the transition area in Nice, and I asked how they climbed that mountain so fast and effortlessly. They responded matter of factly Spanish accents and easy smiles on their faces, “What mountain…That?” they pointed to the Alps, “… we rode there since we were kids.” They continued “To you it’s a mountain…to us it’s our home.”As I look back now, it is those moments that are the true definition of pure athleticism. It’s got nothing to do with pace, times or rankings. It’s got everything to do with the now and the moment. It is natural. It is beyond the IRONMAN.Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you should not set goals, work on pace, form and time. What I am suggesting is that once a week you leave the watch, the goals, the time and the ego at home and travel beyond the IRONMAN. There you will find your true self. There you will find nature.Written byUMAN
Posted by Granite State Triathlon Club at 5:31 PM
Beyond the “IRONMAN”
Initially I was going to BLOG about my 2009 IRONMAN experience, but as I ran yesterday, on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon for 20.2 Miles (man was not made to run that far…at least not this man…haha) in prep for my upcoming marathon, I realized a state beyond the IRONMAN.I have felt and witnessed this experience before, but only now have reflected on it…the powers of writing a BLOG…who knew. The experience is a timeless event that transcends mere sport. It is the enjoyment of the purity and grace of athleticism. No thinking, emotionless and natural.Last year I believed that it was the journey that counts and not the end goal…well today I believe its simpler than that…it’s the moment that counts.The moment is you disappearing into existence… you are one with the wind and the sun. Time doesn’t exist, goals don’t matter, pace is irrelevant, and sport and body mechanics flow like water through a clenched fist…smooth, flowing , uncatchable yet tangible.I’d like to share two of similar experiences I had.The first time I experienced this was when I was out in the Cascade Range in Oregon and a few of my friends and I decided we were going to run up and down the “Three Sisters” three volcanic peaks each 10,000 feet plus elevation. I was in the best shape of my life at the time, worked out 4 hours a day and ran crazy events like mud and mountain runs. My friends were also in outstanding shape. One was a pro athlete and the other two were Division I athletes from Stanford University. One morning we assaulted the North Sister. It is the most dangerous of the Three Sisters, due to its level of erosion, and thus rock is unstable at the top. Every three steps up is two steps down, due to the sliding of the rock. About 500 feet from the pinnacle, I was very proud of myself after leaving my friends in the dust up the face. My legs were cramping and I was feeling the early stages of dehydration but that was all irrelevant because I was just about to conquer this frustrating beast of a mountain. I took one quick look at the top and was just about to make by final ditch effort before I looked down the face and noticed a very unassuming individual gliding up the mountain effortlessly taking pictures here and there of the horizon. I froze in wonder. My friends and I had no packs just water bottle belts and yet this man flew past them carrying full camping gear on his back. He was still 600 feet below me, and so, I redoubled my efforts and internally promised myself that this guy wouldn’t catch me. He did not even notice that I was above him. He kept on stopping to take pictures. Soon, even with all my effort, he floated by me to the peak like I was standing still and with a friendly wave continued up the peak where he disappeared over the edge. When I finally reached the summit he was there on the edge sitting drinking hot tea that he just warmed up on high powered stove. He just looked out into the vast gorgeous expanse as if nothing else existed. My stumbling and heavy breath rudely knocked him out of his moment but he did not fret at all and offered me some of his tea. He said to me “well done that is some hard work getting up that shale”. I replied, “you made it look so easy.” How do you climb so effortlessly you’re in fantastic shape? He answered “I have an unfair advantage over you… I have done this for many years… I was born on a mountain top and am a Mountain Ranger from New Zealand.” I just stared at him, unbelieving. As if reading my mind, he continued, “Friend I have learned over many years to let go of the summit and not assault the mountain, do not treat it as a conquest, be one with it and enjoy the moment.” He took a swig of his tea and got back to looking beyond the IRONMAN.Ten years later, last year June 2009, I found myself climbing another mountain this time on a bike and on the fringes of the French Alps north of Nice during IRONMAN FRANCE. I was about one third of the way done of the 112 mile bike course and had climbed about 4000’ of the total 6000’ plus elevation gain, and feeling pretty proud of the fact that I was about to conquer another mountain when a group of riders flew past me at an ungodly speeds up a very steep angle. As I challenged myself to stay above 10mph, the riders easily glided up the mountain at 20 plus MPH without breaking a sweat. Their bikes were no high-end tri bikes… just a simple aluminum frame cheapos. They had no water bottles and carried packs on their backs. They were soon out of sight. They all had the same look and aspect of the mountain ranger that I met and I couldn’t help but reflect on that moment in Oregon. At the end of the race, I spotted some of the riders back in the transition area in Nice, and I asked how they climbed that mountain so fast and effortlessly. They responded matter of factly Spanish accents and easy smiles on their faces, “What mountain…That?” they pointed to the Alps, “… we rode there since we were kids.” They continued “To you it’s a mountain…to us it’s our home.”As I look back now, it is those moments that are the true definition of pure athleticism. It’s got nothing to do with pace, times or rankings. It’s got everything to do with the now and the moment. It is natural. It is beyond the IRONMAN.Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you should not set goals, work on pace, form and time. What I am suggesting is that once a week you leave the watch, the goals, the time and the ego at home and travel beyond the IRONMAN. There you will find your true self. There you will find nature.Written byUMAN
Posted by Granite State Triathlon Club at 5:31 PM
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Catching up
Tonight I was coach to Chinrinee, and we talked about the Four Player Model. Typically, Chinrinee is a Mover. In her job, she is a Teacher/Trainer, so she has become comfortable in moving things along. This past week she challenged herself to take on the role of Bystander. In order to show an employee that she was truly listening, she went with that person to a coffee shop, away from work. (I love the strategy, and I plan on using it myself.) She allowed the employee to talk about personal issues that wouldn't normally be discussed at the office. After
2 1/2 hours, a more personal relationship was established, and the employee is able to come to work and feel better about the job.
We also discussed the importance of silence. It was a great gift given by Chinrinee to sit quietly and listen. So often we feel obliged to fill in the quiet, when we are learning how healing and powerful silence is.
2 1/2 hours, a more personal relationship was established, and the employee is able to come to work and feel better about the job.
We also discussed the importance of silence. It was a great gift given by Chinrinee to sit quietly and listen. So often we feel obliged to fill in the quiet, when we are learning how healing and powerful silence is.
I've been on a sharp learning curve with the technology that is such a big piece of this course. I've been trying to figure out this whole Blog thing. The other day I was clicking on something, and Blogs of people I don't know were popping-up, and I felt like I was intruding in some one's life.
That said, I understand that the blog is a journal. I'm sure I have journaled on the discussion page, and discussed on the Blog. For that, I apologize, and will try to improve upon.
Now about meditation. I need to disagree with Rinpoche when he writes in his "Meditation Instruction" that we need, ". . . simply to sit". I do agree though that meditation can be defined as, "Taming our mind" (Rinpoche). I practice meditation daily, while I am working out. Before getting hurt in November, I would run distances, and it was a big part of my life. While running, I am able to spend the first few miles focusing on my physical self; Body awareness and just getting the kinks out. After that, I would sort out issues, problems, the upcoming day's agenda. Following that, I would experience an incredible feeling of well-being, that despite any issues or problems, everything would be O.K. Finally, after running some distance, answers and ideas would come to mind. This would happen without any conscious forethought. Just great ideas happening at random.
Since November, I've had to re-invent my running meditation. Currently, it includes an I-Pod and Cardio machines at the gym. The change of environment, from the great outdoors to the small room I'm forced to share, has been a challenge. The good stuff still happens, but less frequently.
On another note entirely, when I taught Special Ed. High School Science, I used meditation as a tool to change the behavior of my students, as well as myself. Whenever the room was getting loud, or there was a student in need of some redirection, I would sit down, close my eyes, touch my thumbs to my middle fingers, and if was particularly loud, whisper, "Serenity now". Yes, a Seinfeld quote. The students knew that when I did this, they need to change something about their own behavior. Also, responding with silence was a powerful tool with these adolescents.
That said, I understand that the blog is a journal. I'm sure I have journaled on the discussion page, and discussed on the Blog. For that, I apologize, and will try to improve upon.
Now about meditation. I need to disagree with Rinpoche when he writes in his "Meditation Instruction" that we need, ". . . simply to sit". I do agree though that meditation can be defined as, "Taming our mind" (Rinpoche). I practice meditation daily, while I am working out. Before getting hurt in November, I would run distances, and it was a big part of my life. While running, I am able to spend the first few miles focusing on my physical self; Body awareness and just getting the kinks out. After that, I would sort out issues, problems, the upcoming day's agenda. Following that, I would experience an incredible feeling of well-being, that despite any issues or problems, everything would be O.K. Finally, after running some distance, answers and ideas would come to mind. This would happen without any conscious forethought. Just great ideas happening at random.
Since November, I've had to re-invent my running meditation. Currently, it includes an I-Pod and Cardio machines at the gym. The change of environment, from the great outdoors to the small room I'm forced to share, has been a challenge. The good stuff still happens, but less frequently.
On another note entirely, when I taught Special Ed. High School Science, I used meditation as a tool to change the behavior of my students, as well as myself. Whenever the room was getting loud, or there was a student in need of some redirection, I would sit down, close my eyes, touch my thumbs to my middle fingers, and if was particularly loud, whisper, "Serenity now". Yes, a Seinfeld quote. The students knew that when I did this, they need to change something about their own behavior. Also, responding with silence was a powerful tool with these adolescents.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Some thoughts
I'm reading about "Reflective Dialogue", waiting for Chinrinee to call, and thinking more about our first session. I was, (and still am) concerned about not understanding, or misunderstanding, some of what was said. Then I started thinking that it could be a benefit for me, almost a forced lesson on listening. Chinrinee's beautiful accent can be hard for me to understand, so I have the opportunity to listen as hard as I can, and truly focus on what she is saying.
The language used in this course is difficult for me. I can't imagine attempting this in a second language. I'll have to ask Chinrinree about my NE accent, and if she has a similar experience.
Getting back to the lecture, I was thinking about different ways in which we could slow down the dialogue, and evoke listening. It might be a good experiment to ask everyone to write their comments and contributions to meetings on paper, or on the Whiteboard, for all to see. It would provide a permanence that we miss by speaking, as well as provide accountability.
The language used in this course is difficult for me. I can't imagine attempting this in a second language. I'll have to ask Chinrinree about my NE accent, and if she has a similar experience.
Getting back to the lecture, I was thinking about different ways in which we could slow down the dialogue, and evoke listening. It might be a good experiment to ask everyone to write their comments and contributions to meetings on paper, or on the Whiteboard, for all to see. It would provide a permanence that we miss by speaking, as well as provide accountability.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Tonight was a night of firsts. I had my first coaching session using Skype and had my first conversation with Chinrinee in Thailand. Pretty amazing.
I asked Chinrinee about her educational experience. She told me that she was a , "lifelong learner", and that her education has taught her to, ". . . deal with uncertainties" and to ". . . have confidence". I must admit, I did have some difficulty understanding all of what was being said, and I found myself taking lots of notes, and staying very focused on what Chinrinee was saying.
Over the past 9 years, she has been working as an executive in Health Management and Administration. She said that it was challenging for her to start her journey as a student, and to have this new view. Finally, Chinrinree identified three goals, to facilitate learning, to keep learning herself, and to help others to learn.
If I'm incorrect in anything I wrote, Chinrinee, please fell very free to correct me. I am in awe that I can click on my computer and talk with a woman on the other side of the world, just on her way to work. I am looking forward to out next session on Wednesday.
by Jo Ann
I asked Chinrinee about her educational experience. She told me that she was a , "lifelong learner", and that her education has taught her to, ". . . deal with uncertainties" and to ". . . have confidence". I must admit, I did have some difficulty understanding all of what was being said, and I found myself taking lots of notes, and staying very focused on what Chinrinee was saying.
Over the past 9 years, she has been working as an executive in Health Management and Administration. She said that it was challenging for her to start her journey as a student, and to have this new view. Finally, Chinrinree identified three goals, to facilitate learning, to keep learning herself, and to help others to learn.
If I'm incorrect in anything I wrote, Chinrinee, please fell very free to correct me. I am in awe that I can click on my computer and talk with a woman on the other side of the world, just on her way to work. I am looking forward to out next session on Wednesday.
by Jo Ann
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