[By: Martin Grunburg]
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” ~Socrates
It’s time to perform a quick review of 2018 highlights and lessons learned!
I have selected only my top three (the first that came to mind). BTW: If you’d prefer, you can just listen right here.
Speaking of highlights, the Habits 2 Goals podcast just had its record month for downloads in December 2018!
Below you’ll notice that I’m following a specific process, one I learned from my 10 years’ of experience in EO (Entrepreneur’s Organization), and it goes like this: State the event/experience, then how it made you feel, followed by why it was/is important.
Highlight #1: Reduced Body Fat
I blogged about this experiment/experience here (in detail), including picture-proof of the dunk-tank reading. The short story is that for the first 47-ish years of my life it seemed I could eat whatever I wanted, as much as I wanted, whenever I wanted. However that reality changed fairly quickly, and I found myself experimenting with some simple diet substitutions (new habits) and was able to reduce my body fat from 16.8% body fat to 13%.
How does it makes me feel?
Healthy, fit, strong.
“Health is the first wealth.” ~Emerson
I feel stronger and am running a bit faster and farther in my weekly runs. The idea that I was able to restore/return (in essence) my body composition (lean body mass and fat) to 2006 levels (at age 50) is very rewarding. Finally, I would even submit to you that doing it at 50 vs 35 is even more rewarding.
Why it’s important to me:
Beyond health, which really ought to be reason enough, I believe the real reward is the process and self-efficacy that comes with the achievement of this goal (article written in 2013). It’s also a tremendous affirmation and reminder that DISCIPLINE itself is a HABIT.
Furthermore, the experience is significant because: 1) Using the “substitution solution” and PARR, I’ve developed many supportive habits (aligned with my goal) allowing me with minimal effort to maintain the same composition/weight 9 months later. 2) This affirms the PARR methodology (for positive habit development) and much of the teaching and preaching I’ve been doing since The Habit Factor’s release (book) in 2010 and app in 2008!
More background on PARR (article) and video (HabitStrength™).
Highlight #2: Slacklining
This may be the most bizarre highlight of the year…if not my life.
Chances are good that the vast majority of readers have no idea what slacklining is (see above picture). In short, walking across (approx. 50 feet or more) a two-inch-wide line. By the way, in many ways, once again, this isn’t so much about the specific skill or habit (in this case slacklining) as it is about the lessons learned.
How does it make me feel?
Healthy. Perhaps a bit younger and very, very sore ; )
I must have fallen a thousand times (since I began to learn in late June 2018), and in the very beginning just walking four or five steps without any assistance was near impossible.
Why it’s important to me:
First of all, when I started at the end of June I could barely walk four steps on the two-inch-wide line. However, there is some strange correlation for me between difficulty and addiction level. Today, I’m able to perform a few basic tricks on the line, including bouncing up to my feet from my butt, jumping on the line, turning around and walking backwards.
Furthermore, it’s been a great reminder to me that life is an experiment and to continue to push myself to try new “things” (skills and experiences) and grow!
Slacklining has been a fantastic study in the close association between skill and habit development, which means: 1) people need to regard HABIT development much the same as skill development and 2) once again, The Habit Factor’s method for habit development, PARR — Plan, Act, Record and Reassess — works for BOTH habit and skill!
Sidenote: An additional benefit is the impact on my surfing.
Early on I thought my surfing was going to make slacklining easier. Unfortunately, that was NOT the case. In contrast, it turns out, slacklining has given me significantly improved balance that has benefited my surfing!
Sidenote II: There appears to be a significant association between balance disorders and a handful of degenerative disease. Therefore, at least in theory anyway, reinforcing balance and equilibrium (training) MAY be helpful in ongoing wellness and health.
Above all, the theme of balance and equilibrium is reinforced often in the blog, the podcast and my books The Habit Factor and The Pressure Paradox.
The Butt Bounce
Walkin’ the line (and back)
Highlight #3: Skydiving
As part of a team-building company event, we decided we’d jump out of an airplane. I blogged about the experience in detail here.
How does it make me feel?
Stoked! Alive!
Why it’s important to me:
Unlike the other two highlights above, which took upwards of 6 months to cultivate (significant discipline, skill and habit development effort), the reward from jumping out of a plane was fairly immediate and the experience gratifying, as it was a great reminder how short life is.
Similarly, it also helped to affirm the importance of truly LIVING — trying new experiences, learning new things, etc. Finally, it helped to underscore the idea that no one ultimately cheats death, we can only cheat life!
Other highlights of the year worth mentioning include:
- Wife and I celebrated 20 years marriage
- Summer family trip to Europe (Copenhagen Sweden/Malmo, Paris)
- Oldest daughter turned 18 (youngest is now 16!)
- Meditation (blog)
- Breathing workshop (will be writing and podcasting about this! Still experimenting ; )
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There you have it! Hope you enjoyed the videos ; ) As you head into 2019, think of some ideas about how YOU can attack life as an experiment!
Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2019!
Best,
~mg