Freedom Philosophy

“We see the world as “we” are, not as “it” is; because it is the “I” behind the “eye” that does the seeing.

Attributed to French Author Anais Nin

This quote can apply to “seeing” but can also apply to eating and tasting as well. This re-scripting exercise may help you enjoy the food you are eating at home just as much as the food you enjoy out at a restaurant.

You will need a nice quiet place where you will be able to concentrate and feel comfortable. It may also be helpful to do this exercise shortly before you have a meal so that your natural desire for food is high. You will need a pen or pencil and a small piece of paper or notebook. You will also need to have been out to a recent delicious meal at a restaurant. If you can’t think of a recent positive experience, take this as an excuse to treat yourself to a nice dinner out before continuing.

Part 1

A night out for Japanese

Start the exercise by taking a few deep breathes to calm your body. Let your mind settle down. Think back to the last time you went out to a favorite restaurant. Remember the atmosphere. Think back to whom you were with or if you were by yourself, the sights you saw. Remember the atmosphere of the restaurant and how you felt as you went in to eat.

Recall how the plate looked when it arrived and how you felt as you tasted the first bite. Without being critical of the words, write down the words that come to mind on a small piece of paper. Keep thinking back on this positive experience of what a meal can be until you have 5-10 words written on the paper. After you have completed your list, spend a few minutes looking over the words. Are there any words there that surprised you? Which of the words hold the highest impact for you?

Part 2

Now, change the setting of this reflection to your home. You are sitting down to the table in front of your favorite meal at home. Everything is presented just like you’d want it. Imagine how it smells. What are you going to eat first? Imagine this meal at home providing the same enjoyment as the meal in the restaurant. Describe this meal with some of the satisfying words you used to describe the meal you enjoyed earlier. Now envision this meal as complete and yourself as satisfied. How do you feel?

Reflection:

“We see the world as “we” are, not as “it” is

Through this exercise you have begun to change. Do you think you can use this experience and the positive thoughts associated with the “at home” imagery when you next approach a meal at home? Tonight when you are at home eating look for where those positive experiences play a role.

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http://www.topendsports.com

For my stretching related self-change project for graduate school I ended up doing a fait bit of research trying to find electronic resources to use as I worked to increase my flexibility. Other than being cheap, I wanted to have an easy-to-follow list of stretches with diagrams that I could have available as a link embedded in the reminder messages I set up through Google calendar to my blackberry.

I didn’t want something fancy or revolutionary. I wasn’t looking for a whole new approach to stretching but, more or less wanted, a turn-key series of stretches I could follow almost without thinking. I wanted something with enough guidance so I’d be inspired to do it correctly but not so regimented that I’d have to pay close attention to do it right. For those who haven’t found it yet, Top End Sports has heaps of good information ranging from testing, training, nutrition, sport psych, sports medicine, and some basics about sports biomechanics.

If you get too far into an area you know a lot about you will probably find the site accurate but a little short on detail as I did about the biomechanics of cycling. However, for general information, some fitness tests, and a list of basic stretches with helpful diagrams this is a very useful resource.

In the message reminders to my phone I have included a link to http://www.topendsports.com/medicine/stretches . While I vary the routine whenever I want to, I basically just work through the stretches 3 to 5 cycles each until I get through the whole list. Sometimes I skip upper body stretches or mix and match for shorter workouts but the list is invaluable as I mix it up to keep my flexibility training program fresh. If you’re looking for information to help inspire you to greater flexibility this site has been my number one ally as I move forward.

Helpful Graphics

Counselling Study, Health, Wellness, & Nutrition fitness flexibility

Scene from my daily run in Yamanashi

When I was on faculty at Hopkins School in New Haven, CT, I worked with a guy called Dean Nicholson. He was an avid NORBA Masters class racer and 15 years later probably still is. At the tender age of 24 he taught me to schedule an appointment with myself every day. I still remember him giving me an overview of the strategy.

Think about it, he said. If people call up and ask if they can meet you at 1pm and you have a conflicting appointment, it is easily accepted when tell them you aren’t available – after all you have a conflicting appointment. The same thing doesn’t hold if you tell them, ’sorry I can’t make it, I’m going cycling, running, or climbing’ take your pick. None of those reasons fly. People take offense to being turned down so you can work out. Why is that so? Why are we any less important than other people? The solution is to schedule in an immovable appointment with yourself.

Don’t tell anyone what you’re doing and honor it as if it were an appointment with the dean of faculty from Yale University. You wouldn’t miss an appointment with an administrator from Yale and why are they any more important than you are.

Dean was a very fit and very wise man. I haven’t forgotten his words and in this self-change project I have taken “the appointment with yourself idea” further with Prestwich, Perugini, and Hurling’s (2009) smart-phone reminders.

Everyday I get a message on my phone thanks to google calendar and google sync for blackberry that corresponds to an open block of time. Depending on the time availability and location I either do a simple workplace stretch or a more full-blown flexibility workout. Also included in these messages are various motivational phrases such as Tommy Lasorda’s

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.”

Dean gave me an easy to implement tip on facilitating determination. Google Calendar and Blackberry makes is easy to remember and even lets me know if I try to schedule something over one of my workouts with the simple phrase, “Conflict with another appointment on this calendar”. This is every bit as matter of fact and firm as Dean would have loved to see. I’d like to write more on the topic but I have another appointment.

Prestwich, A., Perugini, M., & Hurling, R. (2009). Can the effects of implementation intentions on exercise be enhanced using text messages?.

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