In a call today I observed a coach leading a group of 100 other people.
He spoke about a distinction of Movement vs Thinking, and the importance of it.
Imagine for a moment the amount of time we spend sitting at our desks, in our cars, beds and the like. During that time there is a lot of thinking, analyzing, assessing, writing, and talking. We stand, sit, or lie down without much movement that isn’t calculated.
Even with the gym, we move, yes, but it’s often experienced as functional. It’s about longevity and self care.
Going back to the call, a woman that was speaking in front of the group was nervous. It seemed to be quite the experience speaking in front of so many. Likely for the first time.
He paused her and extended an invite. The invitation was to turn her camera off and to dance around her room for awhile before coming back.
What he knew was that the movement of her body would shift and remove that feeling of nervousness. He knew that when we over think, we become rigid and disconnected from our greatest abilities.
He was right. When this woman came back on camera, she was all smiles. It was like the heaviness of her mind and body washed away. With a glimmer in her eye and smile on her face, she was ready for a better conversation.
Have you ever noticed how someone’s mood is contagious?
Consider it.
If you spend much time with someone that is angry, you may find yourself feeling that before you know what hit you. If you are not grounded in your own emotional experience, you will take on the experience of another.
This is an important insight to learn. And it’s one that I am always considering before, during, and after conversations. In my profession, my mood and presence is everything.
When I realized this I started becoming more aware of how people respond to my mood, or I, to theirs.
This woman reminded me of the importance of movement throughout our day. She reminded me that when things start to feel heavy, my face or chest tightens, life feels hard, get up and move.
Move my body in a care free way. Get out of my head and allow myself to experience life in a more dynamic way.
For my quality of life and profession, this has become crucial. I must be aware that I do not come into a meeting with a client of mine, frustrated, nervous, or rushed. If I do, the transformation they invest in, suffers.
I also do not want to bring that same energy into conversations with my family, friends, or dating life.
What a gift it was for this woman and for us watching real time. Her mood put a smile on my face because I knew she was now having fun being on this call. It seemed she was no longer thinking, ‘oh sh**, what did I get myself into?’
This was a great mirror for my life and the lives of some of my clients recently. Making the transition from being a talking head to being an entire person. Meaning using our body in ways that fill us with energy, inspiration and joy.
For me, I made a firm commitment to make this real when I arrived in Austin. The commitment, spend more time in activities where less thinking equals better ‘results’. Results equaling fun and mastery of the skill.
That led me to starting two step lessons. And for the past few weeks I’ve been practicing every weekend. It has been an experience that I will remember for years to come.
I’ve never danced two-step before, nor ever had the interest. I found myself one day listening to country saying, ‘hey, why not learn to two step while here? That would be fun and help me with more advanced dances, too’
Whether you decide to move your body in a life giving and affirming way throughout your day, or to go dancing — choose something.
As Lech Wałęsa, Former President of the Republic of Poland said:
‘It is hard to build anything in frustration, bitterness and a mood of helplessness.’
I would like to insert an addition to this quote….
‘So get up and move’.
