#thIMPULSE - EDITION 06.2020 - World Environment Day - An Impulse about Change
My perfect run…
…or how to change in milliseconds.
This is an extract of my monthly column thIMPULSE released the 5th of June.
For the complete Edition, subscribe at: http://bit.ly/3a2A4NC .
The first “official” run I can remember was a run with my dad.
At that time I was probably around 9-10 years old.
I was heavy into football so I imagined myself sporty, fit and unstoppable.
My dad on the other side, was not – at least not to my knowledge at that time - doing any kind of regular physical activity (which is wrong as I found out recently).
So we were going for a walk and somehow I started to challenge my “unsportive” dad for a run to return home.
He laughed and agreed.
I ran off, quick and ahead.
One quarter into the race, it looked good for me.
Approaching roughly half of the race he overtook me.
Three quarters into the race I saw only his heels from far away.
Then it was all over…I could not see him anymore.
Running, like most of the physical activities, alters the physiological state. Many studies support the fact that people who exercise regularly benefit from a positive mood boost, lower rates of depression and have an improved self-esteem.
Physiologically our bodies release endorphins that, by interacting with the brain receptors, reduce the perception of pain and trigger a positive feeling in our bodies.
Tony Robbins takes this one step further: “Motion creates emotion”, by modifying the physiology of the body consequently our mental state gets altered.
This change can be achieved by, as described above running, but also by jumping up and down or simply by changing your posture.
You can observe in the mirror your posture when you are happy as opposed to when you are sad.
There will be a difference and you can play with this difference on purpose. If you are feeling down, just shift your posture…try…
This can be even further reinforced according to social psychologist Amy Cuddy, when considering her “power poses” (which in research literature are very controversially discussed but from anecdotal standpoint are very often backed up*).
The bottom line of Cuddy: “adopting expansive postures causes people to feel more powerful.”
For details check out the popular TED talk of Cuddy: https://bit.ly/2Xy7bEO .
Another great resource for this phenomenon of posture is the first rule – the lobster story - of the great Jordan B. Person book: 12 Rules for life – an antidote to chaos:
“Emotion is partly bodily expression, and can be amplified (or dampened) by that expression.”
However he goes even one step further with the importance of posture:
"To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life, with eyes wide open.”
So if you want to change one thing very quickly right now: change your posture!!
For me it is the pleasure of movement, the hormonal rush and the immediate possibility of changing my mental state that make running attractive for me.
Additionally I feel the tranquility and peace of nature around me (if you choose to run outdoors).
When I am conscious and calm I even include a practice Eckhard Tolle is describing in his book "The power of now", to focus on a state of presence. It is to intentionally feel and experience all senses while running and contemplating the beauty of the surroundings and nature instead of engaging in thoughts.
On a psychological level, my feelings are getting soothed, my emotional state changes and I can create space for alternative thoughts or just no-thoughts.
And finally I got the chance for revenge a couple of years back.
17k “Isar run” in winter with my dad.
I paced off quickly, my dad on my side.
At the 10k mark we were running side by side, easy.
At 12k I could still see his heels.
At 15k he was already crossing the finish line and was waiting for me.
AND he was 67 years old at that time!!
A great lesson I got taught by my father.
“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” John “Coach” Wooden
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