Pop your ears lately?
While Bill John, the founder of Odyssey and I began working together in the corporate teambuilding, teaming, and high performance arena back in 1987... It was only three years ago where our paths crossed once again and I became a full time asset to Odyssey and their clients. Prior to that time I had my own consulting business and was residing on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is on that island in the middle of the Big Blue (Pacific Ocean) that I was reminded of an essential leadership tool.
We lived down on the beach - sea level. The closest town (Waimea - of Parker Ranch fame) was a 15-20 minute drive up the slopes of the Kohala mountains at 2,500 feet above sea level. My wife, family, and I made this drive frequently. One morning as I was driving up the hill with the sun rising over Mauna Kea for a meeting with leaders from the community, I noticed the need to pop/clear my ears. This was not new, though this time I realized something...I shouldn't be popping my ears. Why, because I'm not supposed to be ascending the hill so fast. I'm supposed to be walking or maybe on a horse or mule at best. Going up the hill more SLOWLY. That is how my body (this gift) is/was designed to go up hills. At a pace that is gradual enough that my body can adapt to the pressure changes in a smooth efficient manner.
Where else am I moving/ascending unnaturally too fast that it is causing enough stress that I have to intervene? How do I intervene and deal with the stress? Sure, I can do it, survive, crunch down and 'Git 'er done' and maybe instead of popping my ears I...
• Take ibprofen everyday for my 1pm headache
• See a chiropractor 3 times a week
• Wear a tooth guard at night
• Take something to help me sleep
• Get edgy towards my internal/external customers and/or the people I say I care most about.
• or... you fill in the blank
Regardless, I have to do something to cope with the velocity and capacity that I am attempting to deal with. Some choices...
1. Reduce the speed - Speed kills.
2. Reduce the capacity- I don't have to/ nor can I do it all.
3. Pause for 30 seconds, take a breath, notice my shoulders are raised to my ears or that my jaw is tense or that I'm excessively gripping the steering wheel, etc. etc. and then release the noticable tension with an exhale.
Grammy award winner James Taylor says...
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. Any fool can do it, there ain't nothing to it...."
Slow down. Pause. You and the people you live and work with are worth it.
PS... Step #3 above works best. Do it first, at least 3 times a day
Todd Demorest,
Lead Trainer, Odyssey Teams, Inc.
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