Author: armstrong.wou@gmail.com

“Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”—Orison Swett Marden

No one likes to struggle, but struggle is an inevitable part of life.  While struggle should not be sought after, it should be welcomed (to some extent, at least).  There is no growth without struggle.

While we tend to look to beyond the storm clouds for when the struggle will end, there is something to be said for engaging in the struggle.  What are we to learn from this?  What good can (and will) come from this?  The opportunity is present, if we choose to look for it.

I have often felt that I have not struggled in my life.  Indeed, I have not struggled to the magnitude some of my friends have.  So, at times, I feel unqualified to talk about struggle.  And, perhaps, I am.  I find, however, that I am less inclined to struggle, per se, because I am less inclined to perceive my circumstance as  a struggle.  Perhaps, it is merely denial.  But, more often than not, I see it as a normal part of life—and my struggles are minor by comparison to others.  To be completely honest, the notion that I have not gone through great struggles sometimes worries me.  I think of Arthur Ashe’s response to the question of whether he ever asked “why me?” in response to contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion.  His response was, in essence, “If I were to say, ‘God, why me?’ about the bad things, then I should have said, ‘God, why me?’ about the good things that happened in my life.” I tend to take this a step farther and ask: “God, why not me?”  I find myself waiting for the shoe to drop, so to speak.  This is not to be asking for suffering.  Rather, it is an acknowledgement of “there but for the grace of God…” and of the knowledge that I am not above anyone.  Indeed, as I have watched friends suffer, I have realized that I would have handled it with the strength they have.  And, maybe, this is why I don’t “suffer”—because I am simply too weak.

There is no way in the present to know why suffering happens.  I believe, in hind-sight, we can always see that our suffering works for the good of others. This offers little comfort to the sufferer.  It does, however, give us the courage to see the opportunity in suffering.  Good will come from the pain.

For those who are hurting, my thoughts and prayers are with you.  Your strength encourages me.  Know that you do not struggle in vain.  While you might never make sense of what you are going through, know that you are a blessing to us all.  Remain strong.

Quite often, I search for quotes to help frame my mindset for the day.  Attitude shapes attitude, after all.  Today was no different.

It is easy to find “motivational” quotes. Try to find quotes on “motivation”. Google “motivation quotes”, and a long list of responses for “motivational quotes” appears.  I love motivational quotes, but, today, I was specifically interested in motivation.

It occurred to me, however, that motivation is not driven by platitudes. Motivational quotes can help.  I certainly have passed on my share of quotes by Zig Ziglar, Orison Swett Marden, Napoleon Hill, James Allen, John Wooden, et al.  I appreciate these and many less famous writers (not to mention numerous unpublished friends, who inspire me).  When it comes down to it, though, motivation can only be driven from within. Motivation is a choice we must make every moment.

I teach a course called “Exercise Motivation and Adherence”.  I have been learning as I go, and am really just starting to figure out why some things have worked and other things have not.  We talk some about theory, but I have more interest in the practical application.  Theory directs us, but, practically speaking, it is only a reflection of reality.  And the reality that has become increasingly clear is that no one is going to change unless they want to change.  Lock them in a room with Tony Robbins, and they still aren’t going to change until they decide to change.  And, once we decide to change, we still need constant motivation to maintain the new behavior.  Change just becomes more stable with good habits.

When I get up in the morning, the first decision I have to make is what kind of day I am going to have.  From there after, it is a matter of keeping the momentum—which is never easy.

Maybe some people make the decision to be positive more easily than me.  Maybe they just are better at deflecting the negative forces that are seeking to deflect their path.  For me, though, it is an opportunity that takes constant mindfulness and regular “resets”.

So, there are, seemingly, no great statements to teach me about motivation.  Instead, I have to seek inspiration and keep reminding myself that I have made a choice to be positive.  I have to be diligent, lest negativity grab hold.  We, indeed, have a choice.

Carpe momento!

 

“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”–Hans Seyle

Attitude is all about choice.  We all face stress in our lives.  In fact, anything that disrupts the normal (physiologically, this is “homeostasis”) is a stressor.  Whether stress be positive (eustress) or negative (distress) is often a matter of perception.  I see three possible responses to circumstances (i.e., stress).  One can see stress as a burden—a destructive force.  One can see stress as a challenge—something that can be overcome, but nonetheless wearing on the body.  Or one can see stress as an opportunity—a potential stimulus for growth.

Having a grateful attitude (gratitude or grattitude) is a simple matter of flipping the switch on our response to our circumstances.  It is a matter of seeing the opportunity—the good in what is happening.  It is seeing the purpose in everything.  It is moving “from have to get” (Andy Lausier).

There is a fine line between negative stress and positive stress—a “burden” and an “opportunity”.  It is our attitude that moves us. Choose to be positive, one will positive.  Choose to be negative, one will remain negative.

It is a blessing to have a choice.  Stress can destroy or it can be the stimulus for growth.  Carpe momento!

My son is a three-sport athlete—football, wrestling, and lacrosse.  I make it no secret that I love these sports.  Any sports participation is beneficial for a young boy or girl, but, as we transition to lacrosse season, I have been considering how beneficial it has been for him to be wrestling.  Lacrosse and football are great.  They have a tremendous social benefit, as well as a physical benefit.  (I would suggest that athletics contribute significantly to one’s well-centeredness—Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social development.)  Wrestling, though, is a bit different.  I have often said that wrestling is unique in that there are three levels of competition: team v. team (in duals), individual v. individual, and wrestler v. him- or herself.  The wrestler (at least at the older levels) must manage the diet to “make weight” and must also defeat the voices in the athlete’s head during both training and competition.  “Can’t” gets you pinned.

The last match of the middle school season was on the high school varsity mat under a spotlight.  I feared it might be intimidating for my 11-year-old.  Instead, he dominated his match.  For a somewhat shy, sometimes insecure, boy, this was a great boost to his confidence.  Win or lose, the middle school boys and girls were learning that success or learning (there are no losers in wrestling) rested on their shoulders alone.  There was no one to blame.  No one to cover your mistakes.  Only you and your opponent.

I enjoyed my son’s successes and “failures” this season.  He went 12-4 in duals.  His losses were learners.  As I reflected on the season, I thought about how wrestling was him alone.  He wrestled for a team, for sure, but it was his win or loss that counted.  In football and lacrosse, he can make a mistake and it will go unnoticed, or he can do something great, but the credit is shared with the rest.  He is beginning to emerge as a leader.  He is also being seen as a wrestler.  Personally, I am not sure that the two can be separated.  In football and lacrosse, one will ask: “What position?”  In wrestling, one might ask: “What weight class?”, but for the most part, one stands simply as a “wrestler”.

Individual sports teach a valuable set of lessons.  They prepare us for life in ways team sports do not.  Above all, individual sports teach responsibility.  They teach the athlete to be accountable for his/her actions.  There is no one at whom to point fingers.  Yes, referees can make bad calls, but rarely does a single bad call make the difference in the match.  And, when a bad call makes a difference, the athlete’s character is revealed (as was the case of one of our high school wrestlers who lost the state title on a questionable call in over-time).  Herein is where the notion that, “in wrestling, there are only winners and learners” is played out.  Our high schooler’s acceptance of his loss was exemplary.  “He/She did…” carries no weight in individual sports.  Nor does it carry any weight in life (as much as we wish it would).

We are responsible for our own success and failure.  There is no one or nothing to blame.  We own it.  We choose our shots and our defensive tactics.  We determine our actions and reactions.  No one else.  We need only be grateful for the opportunity to “compete”.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

Sometimes, we just accept things as the way they are and adapt our behavior accordingly.  My daughter’s school bus is habitually late.  This frustrates me (‘infuriates’ might be better), because I have a long commute to work and, when the bus is even a couple minutes late, it can add a significant amount of drive time (I need to catch the highway traffic just right).  I am also compulsive about punctuality—e.g., on time is ten minutes early.  So, I never want to be that parent who is holding up the bus.  Unfortunately, not every parent shares my obsession.  In fact, most at the bus stop have accepted that “the bus is always late”.  Thus, when the bus is on time, we are most always waiting for someone running to the bus. It happens.  I am not faulting parents (per se).  This has just struck me recently of how lackadaisical we have become about considering others as we go about our days.

Quite regularly, “the commons” has come to mind.  I have shared several times my affinity for Garrett Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons”.  This work is second perhaps only to the bible in shaping my world view.  More recently, I have considered it more from a more local, community point of view.  The concept of the commons can be viewed as situational and from small to grand scale—from a one-to-one relationship to a Universal view.  In all situations, we impact others to some degree.

If I am late for something, like the bus, I affect others negatively.  In the case of the bus, I now delay the arrival of the next stop.  I make others late.  I cause parents to blame the bus driver.  In the theme of the commons, it can easily be seen how the impact multiples—consider what happens if one person is late at every stop, for example.  Not only does this tardiness delay the children’s arrival to school or another parent’s departure to work, but it shifts attitudes.  (Admittedly, I am not very good at maintaining the positive attitude I have shaped in my morning routine.)  This in turn affects how people drive on the road during their commute.  It affects how we interact with others.  It can easily make someone’s or some many’s day go sour quite quickly.

Now the bus is just an example.  There are countless situations that we take for granted.  We don’t think our actions have much impact.  On the contrary.  This is the concept of the commons.  Situationally, the actions of one have little consequence, but when these seemingly minor actions are taken by many the consequences become exponentially greater.  Likewise, the positive actions we take individually may not seem to have great consequence for the commons, but when small actions are taken by even a few the affect in pronounced.

As we go forward today, let us seek to have a positive impact on the lives we touch.  A smile.  A ‘thank you’.  A small act of courtesy can go a long way toward making our communities better.

Carpe momento!

Social.

We cannot avoid interacting with others.  Short of becoming a hermit or recluse—which is not suggested for anyone seeking “well-centered fitness”—we have to interact with others.  Thus, our Social “infrastructure” is of interest.  Most people with whom we interact will be chance encounters.  Many will be those with whom we must interact because of work, living, or other circumstances.  Some of these will be pleasant and well-received, others we might prefer to avoid.  Over such relations, we have little-to-no control.  Where we build a strong Social “infrastructure” is with the important (this is not to say that every interaction is inconsequential) relationships in our lives—family and close friends.

Jim Rohn has proposed that “we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.”  These, then, are the foundation of our Social “infrastructure”.  These may include one’s significant other (which goes without saying—if it doesn’t, one needs to fix that), close friends, and/or family.  In some situations, one might be challenged by the reality that work or other circumstances cause a portion of these five to be individuals who contribute less than favorably to the “average”.  In such cases, one needs to seriously consider how to remove people such as these from the equations.  In such cases, one needs to unweight the influence of these and add weight to the influence of others with whom significantly less time is spent.  Personally, I think Jim Rohn’s point might be better made in saying that one is the average of the five people who are allowed the greatest influence in one’s life.  Time spent together is not necessarily the greatest factor in influence.  It does allow, however, for greater influence.

Take care with whom you spend time, and how your time together is spent.  We build a certain sphere of influence, beginning with the most influential relationships and radiating out.  We choose who we will allow to influence us.

Friends can be hard to find.  This is particularly difficult when one moves to a new area.  When good friends are found, however, such relationships should be nurtured and kept.  Despite its flaws, social media can be useful in maintaining relationships despite distance.  It is easier now to keep in close contact with friends as one moves around.

Social media also permits one to have “friendships” despite having never met the person.  Such relationships should be strategic.  That is, we want social media friends who add value to our lives.  One should not “friend” someone simply to add numbers to their friends list.  These should offer the opportunity for mutual impact and growth.  As well, a level of investment should go into these like with any relationship.

Mentors and Mastermind groups offer another significant level of relationship in one’s strategic investment in Social “infrastructure”.  While these tend to favor a professional over social relationship, they can be both and can certainly be influential.  I would recommend that anyone dedicated to being “well-centered” consider identifying one or more mentorship relationships, as well as establishing at least one Mastermind group.  Mastermind groups tend to be more mutual, while one tends to be more on the receiving end of a mentorship relationship.  Nevertheless, there is value for all parties involved in successful relationships of this kind.  These are always focused on growth and should align with one’s values and mission to be most effective.

Our approach to Social “infrastructure” must be strategic.  The may sound as though I am asking the reader to use others for their personal benefit, but this is not exactly what I am proposing.  Indeed, our relationships should benefit us, but not in a way that is one-sided.  Rather, I am proposing that one seek relationships that are of mutual benefit.  We cannot be strategic in our relationships without having a sense of what we value—what is of most importance to us.  We must seek relationships that are consistent with our mission.  We must be transformational rather than transactional.   We must seek those who help us grow and desire the best for us.  In turn, we must offer the same.  Relationships should be relatively few and deep.  As we move from our locus of closest relationships, we should nonetheless seek to maintain a level of depth to the relationship.  Superficial relationships add little to the Social “infrastructure”.

In all relationships, carpe momento!

“We need to stop thinking about infrastructure as an economic stimulant and start thinking about it as a strategy. Economic stimulants produce Bridges to Nowhere. Strategic investment in infrastructure produces a foundation for long-term growth.”—Roger McNamee

Emotional.

I have described the Emotional dimension as the keystone of well-centered fitness.  Our emotional well-being secures the other dimensions—Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Social.  At the same time, it is dependent upon these other dimensions.  One’s Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Social wellness provides the “infrastructure” for the Emotional dimension.

It seems that a common political practice is to think about infrastructure as “an economic stimulant” as Roger McNamee pointed out.  In such situations, much of what is done is largely cosmetic, such as resurfacing highways.  This was done along my commute, and there are now long ruts (i.e., potholes) that stretch for miles.  Needless to say, these do very little to help my Emotional well-centeredness!

The Emotional component of our growth plan needs to be strategic rather than an “emotional stimulant”.  In other words, while daily affirmations, self-talk, and motivational podcasts and music can help, our growth plan for Emotional well-centeredness must focus on “infrastructure”.  This strategic “infrastructure” plan requires an investment in our Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Social dimensions.  Without such a daily investment, our emotional state remains quite fragile and susceptible to the wear-and-tear of daily traffic.  It is not enough to say, “I will be positive, today” or “I choose to be happy”.  Doing so, is like repaving a bridge that is structurally weak.  One might appear content and happy, but will crumble at the first sign of stress.

There are countless things one can do on a regular (daily) basis to provide Emotional “infrastructure”.  Daily (preferably morning) journaling is one thing that lays a solid foundation for Emotional well-centeredness.  Key to this is consideration of the five dimensions and setting appropriate goals.  Rehearsal of one’s values and mission statement should be a daily activity.  I have found great value in considering the “opportunities” that the day presents (remember, this is an activity of choosing to look at our circumstances in a more positive light, as opposed to thinking of them as burdens or challenges).  My friend, Andy Lausier, refers to this as moving “from have to get”.  In other words, I don’t “have to…”.  I “get to…”.  It is a subtle but effective practice.  Jim Harshaw refers to the “productive pause”.  This is taking time during the day to just stop and regain clarity on one’s goals and purpose.  We need to slow down and hit the reset button from time to time.  Prayer and meditation have their place in our frequent pauses.  In addition, the role of exercise and diet cannot be overlooked.  Reading, too, provides critical “infrastructure” for our Emotional well-centeredness—particularly when we include subject matter that is uplifting and inspirational.  Moreover, we need our Social connections.  Mastermind groups and mentors can surely keep our Emotional “infrastructure” strong.  I have mentioned before my practice of having a daily “15-minute Check-in” with my wife.  This has become a necessary part of our day.  And, of course, one must consider his/her environment, be it work, home, or social.  Who and what we surround ourselves with has a dramatic impact upon our Emotional state and cannot be overlooked.

Practice they things which give you Emotional strength.  Do not attempt to put a cosmetic façade on a collapsing infrastructure.  We can only briefly mask the structural weaknesses.  Seek emotional stability.  Move forward with a positive momentum that will not be easily halted by the certain negative forces that will work against you.  Take time to strategically build the “infrastructure.”

Carpe momento!

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”—Benjamin Franklin

Intellectual.

As schools are a critical part of strong communities, the “infrastructure” of our intellect is critical for growth.  As an educator, I believe strongly in continued learning.  Reading, it is said, is fundamental.  More important than having knowledge is the desire to learn.  In all honesty, one of the greatest frustrations of being a college professor is the dearth of students who sincerely want to learn the material being offered.  It is unfortunate that a diploma has become a commodity to be purchased.

To gain knowledge is to question existing knowledge.  An Intellectually “well-centered” person questions everything.  It is not a matter of disrespect for the person delivering the knowledge.  Rather, respectful discourse is the heart of a liberal education.  A number of years ago, I had a student challenge me on a point I made to the class.  He had been taught something different in another course and what I was presenting was quite different.  The discussion, to an outsider, might have seemed contentious, but there was a mutual respect between student and teacher and a level of comfort that gave the student permission to challenge me.  I considered that I might be wrong (I was not, however), and the discussion was of mutual value.  It bothered me, however, that the rest of the class was less engaged.  One student even commented: “Dr. Armstrong, just tell us what you want us to know.” No!  She was missing the point.  This was an expensive private college.  I did not take my responsibility lightly.  I sought to educate not just to deliver information.  Disagreement if necessary for the advancement of knowledge.  Where would we be, for example, had Pythagoras not questioned that the world was flat? Question everything.  The Universe does not progress, otherwise.

I do not propose that college is necessary or for everyone.  Nonetheless, knowledge and understanding is for everyone.

Critical to an educated population is the foundations of education—the so-called “three R’s”–Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (apparently, Spelling is of lesser importance!).  With a good foundation, anyone can continue to learn.

Desire to learn is of critical importance.  Skills of inquiry are often underutilized.  In an age of social media and questionable “news reporting”, it would be helpful to have a population that is capable of discerning fact from fiction.  Instead, we often accept everything we read or hear without question.  In addition, we are seeing educators forced to “teach to the test” and standardized content.  It is no wonder to me that the most common question I get from students is: “Will this be on the test?”  It would be better that a student ask, “How does this relate to the world around me?”

Daily reading should be a part of our daily growth routine.  It matters less what we read than that we read.  Of course, like with computer programming, “garbage in, garbage out.”  A solid “infrastructure” comes from reading from a diverse content.  Read what expands your comfort zone.  Read what challenges your current understanding.  Dare to question your long-held beliefs.

As a professor, I have observed that, like I was when I first graduated and entered the field, my former students seem confident that they know all there is to know.  Personally, however, I am grateful to have realized that I know less at 53 years than I did at 23 years.  I am of the mindset that an education does not lead one to a place of knowledge.  Rather, it leads one to a place of ignorance.  In other words, an education should reveal what we don’t know.  Ignorance, then should lead one to want to learn more.  I believe that the moment I come to believe that I know all that I need to know (or worse, that there is to know) is the time when I become no longer useful as an educator.  Likewise, the moment we stop learning is the moment we cease to be a productive member of society.

Society’s investment in schools has a compounding return.  We all benefit from an educated population.  Likewise, we owe it to society to seek to be educated.  Degrees serve a purpose, but the strength of society is not in the number of diplomas that hang on walls.  Rather, a society is measured by the extent to which knowledge is used to serve others.

The well-centered individual is a learner.  Lessons are found in books and classrooms.  Moreover, the greatest lessons come from experience.  Carpe momento!

“The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men who are capable of doing new things.”—Jean Piaget

 

Physical.

In my personal opinion, the Spiritual and Physical dimensions of “well-centered fitness” are, which dependent upon, foundational to the other dimensions—Intellectual, Emotional, and Social.  Yesterday, I addressed the Spiritual “infrastructure”.  Today, I want to consider the necessary “infrastructure” to the Physical dimension, as it pertains to personal growth.

The Physical dimension is best considered as one’s physical health—the absence of disease and the capacity to perform physically.  One cannot perform at any desired level if one is sick.  Physical impairment affects the capacity for human performance.

Now, to be clear, I don’t consider the physical limitations or disabilities (oh, how I don’t like these terms!) to be restrictions to human achievement.  They merely affect the effort required.  The example that immediately comes to mind is Kyle Maynard (No Excuses).  With regards to “physical achievement”, Kyle has achieved far more than I, being “able-bodied”, ever did.  [For those who might not know Kyle Maynard’s story, he was a champion wrestler, has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and many other amazing things as a quadruple congenital amputee!]

To a degree, our potential level of physical performance is determined by our genetics.  As Pers Olaf Åstrand famously said, “If you want to be an Olympic champion, then choose your parents wisely.”  Nonetheless, we determine what we achieve with what we are given.

The necessary infrastructure for Physical well-centeredness includes: health, nutrition, opportunity, and desire.  Without adequate emphasis on health, performance will be impaired.  We cannot perform when we are sick.  Nutrition fuels our health, energy, and performance.  Opportunity has to present itself, but, more importantly, we have to seek and take advantage of opportunities.  Lastly, we have to have the will to improve.

I pride myself in rarely getting sick.  I joke that I don’t have time to get sick, so I don’t.  There could be some truth to this.  Moreover, I focus on what keeps me well—sleep (though I pretty much limit myself to 6 hours a night), reasonably good nutrition (I am not a fanatic), regular exercise, and not being intimidated by germs.  I trust my immune system.  We get along.  I take care of it with proper exercise and nutrition.  I allow it to be exposed to the environment so that it can build defenses (the immune system need to be exposed to pathogens to build “acquired immunity”—excessive antibiotics and anti-bacterial soaps and the like serve very little in promoting a healthy immune system).

I have a friend who is a serious germophobe—to the point that she will request new silverware, if the waiter sets it down on the table rather than on a napkin.  So, one day at lunch, I decided to mess with her.  I took my Taco Bell soft taco (I said I am not a fanatic about nutrition), touched it to the ground for a brief moment, and proceeded to eat it.  It, of course, freaked her out–“The germs!”  I, however, asked her: “When was the last time I was sick?”  “You are never sick,” she responded.  “And how many days of work have you missed in the last month?” I asked.  (She had several sick days over the preceding month.)  My point was made.

Now, I am not telling anyone to eat off the ground or to go looking for germs.  (Please, don’t go licking door handles or anything!)  My point is that good health begins with not worrying about having bad health.  The human immune system is amazing.  It can do the job, as long as we take care of it (sleep, exercise, nutrition).

We must eat right.  I have written on diet before.  While I don’t hold nutritional credentials, I don’t have to be a nutritionist to emphasize eating a balanced diet that is not excessive in calories.  In other words, begin by not eating too much (maintain an optimal body composition) and avoid “junk foods”.  Small changes in diet can have compounding effects.

Exercise.  Students of exercise are taught about “Nieman’s ‘J’” (named for exercise physiologist, David Nieman).  Nieman demonstrated that the risk of upper respiratory infections (URTI) significantly decreases with moderate intensity regular exercise.  Interestingly, the benefit is only up to a point, and individuals performing prolonged, intense exercise have a risk of URTI greater than that of sedentary individuals.  So, a balance approach to diet and exercise is warranted.

Opportunity for Physical well-centeredness includes time for exercise, access to health care, access to good food, etc.  Now, some can claim a “lack of opportunity”, but in most cases, this is nonsense.  It is true our opportunity may be limited—for example, I would like more time to exercise, but I make the most of the time I have.  The inaccessibility to “healthy” foods is often given as an excuse for poor health and obesity.  It is true that many Americans live in what are termed “food deserts”—neighborhoods that lack grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and healthy restaurants (and are thus restricted to buy foods at convenience stores and fast food restaurants).  This is, indeed a problem, but it is not an excuse.  It is possible to eat healthy on a tight budget.  It is how one spends their food budget that matters.  Fast food is cheap, but it alone does not make one fat.  Excess body fat is the result of the imbalance between caloric intake and expenditure.  Of course, there are health issues that go along with eating a diet that is largely cheap, processed food.  But it is too much food that makes us obese.  I managed to live for a period of time on a food budget that was between $100-150 a month and remain healthy.  (Lived on organic rice bought in bulk, oatmeal, eggs, inexpensive fruits and vegetables, chicken, etc.)  It was boring, but it was healthy.  I remained lean, fit, and, moreover, free of illness.  We have minimal dietary needs.  Flavor and sweets are not among them.  Water is necessary.  Pop/soda, juice, and/or alcohol are not.

Physical well-centeredness is a matter of choice.  It requires desire and effort.  No matter what physical challenges one may face, we can almost all accomplish more physically than we presently are.  The will to achieve a higher level of Physical well-centeredness is a critical “infrastructure” need.  Without it, no progress is made.

Carpe momento!

“We need to stop thinking about infrastructure as an economic stimulant and start thinking about it as a strategy. Economic stimulants produce Bridges to Nowhere. Strategic investment in infrastructure produces a foundation for long-term growth.”—Roger McNamee

Municipalities often grow faster than their investment in infrastructure—i.e., roads, schools, utilities, emergency services, etc.  As I consider proposed growth in and near my own community, the historical lack of planning in surrounding communities and the required level of infrastructure necessary to support proposed growth got me thinking about the role of “infrastructure” in one’s personal growth plan.  Often, we jump into goals and begin to pursue dreams without adequately addressing “infrastructure”.  As a result, we are disappointed or find ourselves in a position of struggle.

Over the course of the next several days, I am going to address this idea of “infrastructure” as it relates to one’s “well-centered fitness”—i.e., the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social.  It may require more than just a handful of short blog posts, but it is something I want to begin to consider.

Spiritual.

I actually found myself saying to someone recently that “it all goes back to ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’” (the 1969 article by Garrett Hardin—an article that I got to read and consider as a university undergraduate student and that continues to shape my worldview).  My personal views of the Spiritual dimension are largely influenced by ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’ and the Bible, as a foundation—my “infrastructure”, so to speak.  I consider the Universe to be my commons.  I know that I cannot take indiscriminately from the commons without making comparable contributions.  As members of the commons, we cannot fail to consider others in the decisions we make—family, friends, neighbors, etc.  Our actions always have a compounding affect.  Unfortunately, many people (and from time-to-time, myself included) do not consider the needs of others in making decisions.  The consequences may appear small, but they are never limited to this one seemingly inconsequential situation.  The consequences grow and magnify across society.  I believe this to be well-demonstrated in the mix of society and politics, today.  So, if we want to “fix” society, we need to begin with ourselves and the Spiritual infrastructure of our personal growth, our families, and our communities.

Spiritual “infrastructure” can be a delicate subject to address.  First, the term “spiritual” can be quite nebulous.  It has diverse meaning and can be easily misunderstood or misrepresented.  I consider the Spiritual dimension, simply, to be the notion that there is something greater than self.  In other words, one considers that they are not alone in a vast Universe, and we are all connected on some level.  One’s religion and faith practices can support or hinder one’s Spiritual growth.  Thus, being “religious” does not necessarily equate to being “Spiritual”, nor does one’s “spirituality” equate to religion.  These are both separate and unified considerations in the Spiritual dimension of well-centeredness.

Labels erode the Spiritual infrastructure.  Labels of religion, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, citizenship, etc. serve only to divide people and, thus, work against Spiritual well-centeredness (to destroy the “Commons”).  I concede that we may not be able to get completely away from labels in society (though we can surely try), but we need to understand the negative effects they have on our communities—particularly when we consider diversity as divider as opposed to a unifier.  (In my humble opinion, most efforts by well-meaning folks who purport to promote diversity actually have the opposite effect.)

For our Universe to be truly Spiritual, we need to understand the blessing of diversity.  We need to understand that diversity is understood as the unique contribution of every individual not the categorization of people.  We don’t have to agree to be unified.  We simply have to make it our mission to want the best for everyone.

Religion and politics are especially damaging to Spiritual well-centeredness.  As a person who claims to be a Christian, I am particularly concerned by the statement made by Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…. Many will say… ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23, NIV).  I view this statement as a stark reminder that it is not what I claim to be as much as who I am that matters.  I do not want to build my infrastructure on doctrine, personal interpretations, and political ideology.  Rather, I want to build a foundation of understanding and compassion.

In my interpretation of the “wellness model”, the dimensions are interconnected, but the Spiritual and Physical supply the base to what I consider a pyramid of “well-centeredness”.  Thus, these dimensions provide the “infrastructure” for the other dimensions.  These also have their own necessary “infrastructure”.  Personal growth begins, then, with the Spiritual and Physical dimensions.  Spiritually, we begin by understanding that we are not the center of the Universe and that everyone has a unique Purpose and contribution to make and to be accepted.

Grace and peace.

Carpe momento!