Greetings!

“Overwhelmed.” It’s a word I hear a lot these days. And not just when I’m muttering to myself. Many people seem to be in a heightened state of striving, or even struggling, for various reasons – making them feel quite overwhelmed.

Not having a magic wand to convert stress into an endless foot massage (which, if I’m honest, is what I would turn my stress into if I could), I am instead discovering the magic of practice. I find that applying a practice mindset — one of testing and trialing, of honing and adapting, rather than an accomplish mindset fixated on getting things done — helps me move through that overwhelmed feeling, foot massage or not.

I realize that “practice” means different things to different people. Some people practice yoga, meditation or other mindfulness techniques to ground them in the present. Others join a sports team and practice to increase fitness, enjoy camaraderie, and maybe even for the thrill of winning a game or two. And some practice a musical instrument to maintain or build their skill at something they enjoy while offering an outlet for self expression. I’ve come to realize that whatever we may choose to practice — over and over again — we really can achieve progress. 

Endurance

For example, I am an endurance runner. I do this both for the benefits of “endurance fitness” and to practice “enduring” long and challenging efforts of whatever type or stripe. I have no illusions that my endurance ability is anything special, however I am constantly inspired by other athletes, and so I practice improving my own endurance regularly. And I have indeed seen progress over time.

I am convinced that most of us are only just beginning to tap our deeper potential to endure and even thrive. Further fueling this feeling recently was an abrupt awakening to the contrast between my own long distance milestones and what other humans — or even members of other species — tackle as a basic matter of survival. This moment of realization came to me at the tail end of my Chicago Marathon experience last fall. I blog about it here, in a brief love story about me and a bat who broke my heart and yet who inspired me a great deal. He made me see endurance in a whole new context.

Running a City

My dear friend Sarah Climenhaga is also a distance runner and thoughtful wildlife advocate, as well as a cyclist who pedaled her way around the world with her husband and three children. Talk about endurance! Now Sarah is running for mayor of the City of Toronto. I almost never mention politics, however in this instance I am pleased to share news about someone whom I see less as a politician and more as a talented listener and doer, charting a course towards a more joyful, thriving city. Whether enabling better public transit and safer cycling, promoting local businesses, or advocating on behalf of those who can’t always make it to City Hall to speak up, she has the long run in mind. I encourage you to check out her campaign. 

And by the way, for added excitement, Sarah is training — practicing! — for the May 6 Toronto Marathon. In doing so, she’s running through many local neighborhoods and taking notes about the state of the city’s streets, as you can see in this great Twitter thread written during one of her recent training runs. If you’re in Toronto, you may want to consider joining her. Runners of different distances and all levels of practice are most welcome. Go, Sarah!

Thinking of Thinking

Turning inward for a moment, lately I have been seeking ways to practice thinking better. One approach I have found to be helpful is using different mental models to understand and explore ideas from multiple perspectives. It turns out we really can make progress by practicing how we think and feel, which I believe can alter — for the better — our actions and the reactions of those around us.

I found this piece by Farnam Street very insightful when it comes to practicing the use of different mental models. At first glance it may feel a bit corporate, but upon a closer read it proves to be widely applicable for just about anyone, well beyond the context of business. My personal favorites are The Map is Not The Territory and Complex Adaptive Systems. Then again, that might just be the Availability Heuristic in play. I guess I’ll have to keep practicing on this front.

I know people like to say, “practice makes perfect,” but perfection seems neither realistic nor entirely desirable. I will gladly take progress as my reward, and I will keep practicing.

Yours in connectedness,
Lorraine

PS Photos: (Above) Me during a morning practice run in New York City. (Below) Taking time out to reflect after that run. Photos by Christopher Foss. 

PPS Have you heard the old joke about the tourist visiting New York City who asks a stranger, “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” The stranger replies, “Practice!” (Sorry. I couldn’t resist.)

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