Training for the unkNOWn (TFTU). I had a spectacular day today. When that happens, things get really interesting.

Three main points, and one bonus, about TFTU from today are:

* on ramping your spirit

* use nourishing self-talk

* segment intending

The bonus is the reminder and provocation to get, and stay, in action. Anything is better than nothing, and you’ll feel alive and proud once you engage (and the opposite if you don’t).

Bring your TFTU to activities you love and use them as ways to put yourself under pressure, so you get better and better at being uncomfortable.

Today for me was really spectacular. My legs and lungs were feeling good, which provided an onramp for my spirit to engage. The flow state allowed me to score many sweet goals, assist on loads of goals for others, and make really good hockey plays all over the ice.

Damn it’s a blast playing this well and I noticed my confidence expanding and my self-talk flowing positively.

But there are always bad moments, and I love these, because they offer the opportunity to engage my nourishing self-talk. Today I made many bad plays, but recovered really fast and made the next right play. Then the next beautiful play after that, allowing the Upward Spiral to get spinning. Stoping the negative is huge because when bad plays compound is where train wrecks start.

In between shifts I review my time on the ice and use segment intending to make a clear intention for my next time on the ice. With the bad plays, the reminder is to play harder on the puck, make clear, decisive passes, but to be looking up before I do, and to keep my legs moving. With the good plays, the intention is to keep calm hands, being patient, using my eyes and vision, and keep being strong.

This was the third game in three days, and my play got progressively better and they were all different. By continuing to show up and pay attention, I grow my baseline of the player and person I am. And I’m reminded how good it feels and how powerfully useful it is to bring TFTU alive, both by showing up day after day, and doing so with intention and joy.

The provocation I offer today is to get, and stay, in action. Get yourself uncomfortable. Put yourself under pressure. And enjoy the feeling of being fully alive.

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