life - Arv' Musings

the ever-expanding universe

You realise that some things were scarier in your head than in the real. But now, with more years under the belt, you see better. And when you were bored, you were just not challenged enough.

habits

learning to pause

Nothing good comes out of flying into a blind rage. A regrettable decision, a loss of mental peace, a few minutes/hours of agitation.

life

on crazy commutes and efficiency

To the couple that trains with me who also happen to be startup founders, the commute is when they get to de-stress and talk about their dayThe hour they train with me is the only part of their day that is solely about them.

coaching

meet The Hacker 3/4

After sort of getting the hang of a thing, he or she is willing to stay on the plateau indefinitely. He doesn't mind skipping stages essential to the development of mastery if he can just go out and hack around with fellow hackers

coaching

meet The Obsessive 2/4

The Obsessive starts out by making robust progress. His first spurt is just what he expected. But when he inevitably regresses and finds himself on a plateau, he simply wont accept it. He redoubles his effort. He pushes himself mercilessly.

discussion

on keeping score

If you could go back to school and tell yourself, would you seriously tell yourself to score MORE marks? Or to learn some skills that you did not know needed to be learned back then?

framework

the 8-fold path

I was reading my favourite philosopher, Bruce Lee, and he talks about Buddhism's eightfold path. Well, can we use that to think about our fitness and health? Absolutely!

dont quit

on being a bit angry

There's that clarity that comes from being pissed. Being angry at yourself and yelling/criticising is you acting. Instead, be productive with it. You'll immediately stop with the act. And move on to action.

Getting Started

on a rite of passage

In almost all cultures, we see a traditional ritual or a rite of passage where "boy becomes a man". Whether it is going on a hunt once you turn a certain age, or getting circumcised, or land diving, it signals a huge transitional moment in life.

framework

4 actions you can take to handle work stress

Are you a bit too stressed at work? The day is a blur and you are constantly working but work also never ends? Well, I was there and I have some ideas for you to look at.

coaching

on looking ripped and getting a 6-pack

What do you think is going to change? Why do you want to get into the shape that Instagram tells us is all around us, the shape that magazine cover models and celebrities look like? Join me on this discussion, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

challenge

on road rage

As an unnecessary stressor in my life, road rage has always featured. Having the occasional small-win here has shown me that it is possible to chip away at any problem. It requires awareness and it seems to require a process. There will be a failure and that's the way it is.

coaching

student story: having the clarity to reject a path

A student of mine got what they wanted - they got thin. And then realised that was not the goal they really wanted as it made them unhappier. The courage to reject it and find their own path, that's the story.

Getting Started

12 weeks on, 1 week off

Even for someone like me who gets up regularly at 3.45 am, it takes a bit of effort to get back on.

framework

transition from work-mode to family-mode

Once you transition, you are fully present with your family. You recharge and rejuvenate yourself. You will find stress levels go down and your productivity improve as well.

framework

if it is not about the 'what', then what is it about?

While there are a few things we should know - the fruit >> the juice, as an example, that's not what is preventing us from doing what we need to do about our health or our fitness goals. Then, what is it about?

framework

on losing work-life balance and sanity

either there's no work at all or there's too much work. As employers and companies and our co-workers adjust to the new way of doing work, to the increased pressures, trying to stay afloat, trying to keep revenue coming in, there's a cascading effect that just rocks everyone.

coaching

is it possible to balance things out?

Most attempt (at eating better or getting fitter) fail because of a lack of balance. As a beginner, you think only an all-out, no-holds-barred approach works. While brute force has its place, the issue with brute force is it drains you at a rapid pace

coaching

buying time

if it is not about cramming more work, then what?! If I don't cram more work in, how will work get done? Plus, work is not a bad word. I am here to do work. That only I can do. That I want to do. And if I don't do the work now, will I have a secure future?

framework

on being too regimented

taking stock daily and weekly and adding these nudges and tweaks, and seeing if they help or not has been useful. And not constraining. I am in control, and that makes a world of a difference.

coaching

a simple drill for listening

I am thinking of a response even as the other person is finishing a sentence. To prolong the conversation, to say something witty. Or whatever. I've stopped listening fully.