ALISTAIR...Life is a journey

WEEK 9

This is not the end; it’s only the beginning. It may be the last week of the workouts, but I feel I’ve only just started to explore my potential. And I’m hungry for more. These are exciting times for me.

I’ve spent this week consolidating all the insights I’ve gained over the last two months. JOLT Challenge is a transformational experience for anyone who’s looking at changing something in their life, but hasn’t acted on it yet. Overall the programme has given me more inner confidence and a better sense of my external direction. I’m already feeling changes happening inside and around me, and I’m excited to go with the flow – wherever it takes me.

Over the past nine weeks it hasn’t been easy to articulate the value of JOLT Challenge to my family and friends. That’s why I thought I would include another photo which captures one of my key transformations: accepting that my view of success (and happiness) may be different from someone else’s. And that’s fine.

The morning following this week’s workout I decided I needed to write down three words that would movitate me to continue practising and exploring the wisdom of JOLT Challenge. These are now displayed on the wall above my computer: Determination. Drive. Discipline. My Journal and Resource Book are only a metre away from my reach. And I purposely haven’t shelved them so I can actually see them!

Quote for all times is from the sagacious Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Life is a journey, not a destination”.

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I’ve been JOLTed

WEEK 9

The 9 week programme has drawn to a close, but the things I have learnt will be with me for the rest of my life. In many ways, it is a new beginning. Things may be pretty much the same as when I started the programme, but through changing how I think or what I think, I can effectively steer a path towards the desired outcomes. In other words, perception is reality. Perception is only limited by what you think. What lives within each of us is truly powerful and each one of us has God-given potentials.

I would recommend everyone to have a JOLT in their life.

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The beginning of the end

The examination of where I am at after 9 weeks of JOLT Challenge is profound. While in many ways I had some of the same challenges I had when I started out. The difference is my view and attitude toward them is vastly different. JOLT has given me the ability to see things in a more balanced way. I feel more relaxed and comfortable. Just being present makes a huge difference.

"I can see clearly now the rain has gone"

I am much more aware of others point of view. Life is good. Everyone should do JOLT.

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LEON...Mind Court

WEEK 8

The last work week couldn’t get any better, it is an out of the box experience that allowed me to put some of the JOLT learnings into practice. I have been on Jury duties and this gave me an opportunity to really put “Mind Court” in action.

I have realised that active listening and suspending judgement requires a good level of effort and concentration. My week has been involved with a lot of listening to the evidence, absorbing the information, be detached from the situation and suspending judgement until all viewpoints are heard.

As each piece of evidence is heard, the picture becomes a bit clearer. So the challenge for me personally is to apply the same process to my everyday events and experiences... i.e. gathering all the facts and evaluating a range of alternatives and implications.

The blog is now adjourned.

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ALISTAIR…Creativity is King

WEEK 8

I picked up a LRG t-shirt on High Street a few years back: Creativity is King. The mantra has always resonated with me. Creativity happens to be one of the values I identified as important to me in Week 6. I have never been a fan of convention, so any opportunity to break the rules is fine by me.

This week’s workout was lively and spontaneous. I allowed my imagination to fly as we were encouraged to ‘let go’ of our minds and bodies to create something unexpected. I was in such high spirits after the workout!

The ‘Being in the Moment’ exercise reinforced my appreciation for walking and preference for riding public transport: one is so much more aware of what goes on as there is time to tune out, reflect and soak in the surrounding views.

Quote of the week is a classic from Gloria Steinem: “The first problem for all of us men and women is not to learn, but to unlearn”.

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JOHN...I didn't get eaten by the shark

WEEK 8

Week 8 of Jolt Challenge and I really do feel more focused than I can remember being. I used to think detachment was selective listening, now I know it is legitimate tool for letting go. I have always said"What others think of me is none of my business". Pretty cool that it's part of the JOLT philosophy. Just let go and get on with it. As a practice of detachment while swimming in the ocean last night I am sure I saw a shark. I practiced detachment and I am able to write this Blog. I also experienced pattern disruption as I became fascinated with what the shark would do. Amazingly I experienced no fear, which was just as well, as I was quite a long way from the beach. Focus with clarity is a great space to be in. Can't wait for next week to set some new goals and put this stuff into action.

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JOHN...Another JOLT Challenge week

WEEK 7

Last week we dealt with values, this week I have begun focussing on them. Really wish I had done this stuff earlier Stress Alignment, very interesting. Recognizing that stress is normal is reassuring, having ways of dealing with it is very cool. Timeout, massage, a day off is very valuable. Peak performance and flow. Had a great round of golf on Sunday and I didn't feel a thing, everything fell into place.

Life always presents challenges, it's reassuring to check into why you are here, for a reason. Having a sense of belonging that comes from within gives you a happy place to go to that provides the right amount of strength and purpose. As well as all that it reminds you not to take yourself too seriously and to keep your sense of humor. Have a good week.

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LEON...Life is a marathon, not a sprint

WEEK 7

I ran my second marathon last Sunday. It was 5 minutes better than my first attempt. I was totally exhausted, but the excitement and achievement of the race neutralised the ensuring aches, pains, sore muscles and joints. The were moments when a sense of self intelligence came to play earlier in the race. At the half way point I was on track for my goal (trying to be 26 minutes better) but this quickly turned custard when I ran towards Quay st and then Tamaki drive. The sun came out to play and it was just very hot for October. The head winds further slowed my momentum. Disappointment set in as the goal became increasingly less realistic. My old self would continue to be on the path of negative thoughts and beating myself up so to speak. However, the tools I’ve learnt from JOLT challenge so far proved useful.

I put a mental stop sign and noticed the emotions I’m experiencing. I thought of the values exercise and realised there are no reasons why I should be feeling the way I was at that point in time. These feelings and emotions were simply inconsistent with the values I chose to focus on. I was amazed that by just catching my thoughts and emotions, I can consciously change my way of thinking and enjoyed the remaining race.

Another useful gem of knowledge I’ve applied is lowering my expectations and raising my standards. I’ve lowered my expectations in the sense that given the conditions my original goal is no longer realistic. I’ve raised or maintained my standards by giving my best shot in the race.

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ALISTAIR…Stress relief

Week 7

This week’s techniques built on last week’s theme of unlocking our values, so we can better understand the way they shape who we are and how we think and behave.

Stress is something that we all experience from time to time. My typical way to deal with it is to hibernate and try my best to get through the tough times. This has given me varying degrees of success. Enter the Humour Box: a self-designed container of goodies that give me ‘lift’ whenever I feel under pressure. It’s a fantastic toolkit, and I found myself reaching into it at least twice this week. 

Other food for thought this week: What are my strengths? What is my purpose in life. I realized I’ve become quite caught up in seeing myself through other people’s eyes or paying too much attention to the achievements of others to truly reflect on my own needs. I made a decision to take action around mapping a clearer and sustainable path for myself.

I was quite taken with the following quote this week from Ferdinand Foch: “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire”.

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JOHN...Values, it should have been a school subject

WEEK 6

What a week. Up until now JOLT has been quite gentle: This week however it has changed pace big time. Controlling the little man on our shoulder "the inner voice" is an extremely interesting experience. He's always going to talk, it's managing what he says that makes the difference. 

Then there is the process of actually examining and determining one's values. That's how I spent Sunday morning of the long weekend. Go the All Blacks/ what are my values/Go the All Blacks/Align my values. I know why they won now, it's because they valued The William Webb Ellis trophy more than the French, well only just. What a week, during it I couldn't help thinking how much different life might have been if I done this values examination process when I was much younger.

Should have been a school subject. Now that I have done it I can't wait to get on with the rest of my life.

Have a great weekend.

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