Week 7: Getting Clear

August 26th, 2007 Z Man

Double duty responsibilities at work showed in my game this week as I collected 44 out of 80 points (55%).  It was still a great week in so many ways, although my points are nothing to write home about.  Last weeks team call with Sarano and Tony’s thoughts on the topic of guilt (I put beating myself up in this category) was a fantastic lesson that prepared me well for this week.  Throughout the week, it was easy to stay at peace despite my choice to not engage fully in my game.  Instead, I chose to focus my energies on the task of assimilating my new responsibilities and ensuring that I stayed in personal balance.
 
This focus paid off as I prepare to enter another week.  My inbox is zeroed out.  My voicemail is clear.  My desktop is clear.  My projects in both jobs are time blocked.  I am CLEAR, and this was achieved without spending the weekend away from my family.
 
As with any week, there were fantastic opportunities to practice directed attention.  One of the most revealing was watching myself resist work that required me to dig into sleeping hours as well as a calendar of events that provided limited space for falling still.  By staying present, I was able to avoid being engaged in the emotional drain of this future think.  This happened numerous times throughout the week, and I was proud of myself for not buying into my resistant thoughts.  The ability to create this separation resulted in tremendous work output and concentration throughout the week, enabled by not fighting myself while performing actions that needed to be completed.  Additionally, I have found numerous opportunities for scheduled directed attention to allow me to practice more often.  Examples include meditation, this weekly blog entry, reading/mindmapping, time with my family, and swinging the sticks.  The last couple of weeks have been like a light switched on, and I am enjoying the process.
 
My opportunity from last week would be to improve my attachment to the progress in my golf game.  My coach provided me with some new footwork and lower body action that will break my swing before taking it to the next level, and while I was only able to practice a couple of times, it was painful to see my inability to perform the new skills.  I was present enough to notice my thoughts and feelings in falling short, but not yet skilled enough to detach from concern about the outcome of each shot or the session.  This also happened at home with some honey-dos where I noticed my resistance, but could not get far enough outside for it to not affect my peace of mind.
 
Sarano also asked us to post our first half report card.  Here’s mine listed by focal area:

Organization:  1st pass tackling of the mess in our monster storage room.  Eliminated paper notes from my life.  Operating at “easy speed” every day.  Reading speed up 290% to 1,750 wpm. (A-)  Keep cranking on environmental mess.
 
Family:  New level of presence with my children.  Learned communication structure for turning conflict into intimacy with my wife. (B+)  Apply communication structure in all circumstances.  Create dedicated special time for each twin.
 
Relationship:  Established pattern of reaching out daily - Learning that people very open to talking.  Finding opportunities to be vulnerable. (A-)  Are my goals ambitious enough here?
 
Recreation:  41% reduction in handicap to 13.  Need to do even more work to get to single digit in next 45 days. (B)  Need to be disciplined in finding the space in my calendar to double up on this area in order to achieve goal before winter.  Also, need to bring driver into my game.

Health:  Reached Level 2 in Rope Work and Yoga.  Need to take diet more seriously and raise intensity further to achieve 10% body fat. (C)  Consistency need to achieve 10%BF  has not been present.  Need to get much more disciplined about diet to have any chance of achieving target.

Entry Filed under: Game 36