One’s presence can be measured by one’s impact over time. The greater your presence the greater your potency. I like this view of presence not just as the practice of being in the moment as an internal process but as the act of being truly “there” in the world. Having an impact through the bigness of your spirit. How often Read More …
Sometimes when I’m with someone I feel very proud of my connection to them, I want to celebrate publicly the love I have with them and the partnership I have formed with them. Sometimes however I feel that I want to possess them. Keep everyone’s mitts off of them. Keep them in my realm where I can feel more secure Read More …
My grand master todo list probably has 1000 items on it. My projects list probably has 30 items on the go right now. When I setup my daily list I often put 15 items on it. I rarely get to the bottom of this list and I don’t imagine ever getting to the bottom of the 1000 item one. Nor Read More …
In partner dance our physical connection with another dancer can be a point of support, of direction, of communication, and of energy transference. All of these connections have tone, they create a connection from our partner directly to our core. They receive the presence of our partner and give our physical presence in return. However a connection does not need Read More …
When you’re learning a new technique you need to give yourself the time and space to build a solid mechanical grounding. I recommend a three stage process to building this first level of proficiency: Stage 1. Crispness Break down a complex mechanical motion into component parts and then execute each component as a distinct and crisp action. In swordplay break Read More …
Our mind is constantly monitoring our safety and security both emotional and physical. Fast reactions to surprising situations can provide us with the adrenaline, reflexes, and responsiveness that we need to create safety. As astronaut Chris Hadfield shared in his recent TED talk at Ted Vancouver, these animal responses can also make things much much worse — especially in space. Read More …
Bluntness is information-centric communication. Sharing only the feedback without the social wrapping is high value communication. Lots of content packed into a short space of time. However delivered without the right structure and blunt information can destroy receptivity and lead to a low level of information transfer. Bluntness is not demeaning or personal. It is not about hierarchy, position, or Read More …
I’m feeling very vulnerable today. This feeling dovetails well with a conversation I had with one of my swordplay students last night. In the conversation my student and I talked about dealing with nerves in tournament and performance environments. I told him that I still get nervous when I compete, even though I have competed hundreds of times. I still Read More …