Listen to this eLesson here: eLesson_2012-0514a

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I want to feel powerful, don’t you? Don’t you want to feel like you can deal with whatever occurs while climbing? There can be many definitions or formulas for power. One formula describes power as a function of energy applied during a given amount of time. Let’s use this as we investigate how using attention effects how powerful we are.
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Power = energy / time
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Your ability to use your energy effectively in a given amount of time is dependent on how well you use your attention. Therefore the Warrior’s Way defines power as the amount of attention one can focus in the present moment on the current task. We could say that warriors use attention impeccably because of this ability. Attention is focused on executing a task, using the precise amount of energy in the most optimal amount of time. Knowing which task needs attention, and then focusing 100% of your attention on that task, allows you to exert the maximum amount of power.

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We have intellectual power when we use our minds and experiential power when we use our bodies. Passive, habitual thinking distracts attention. Active, critical thinking demonstrates we have our attention focused on what we need to think about. Doing this allows us to use our intellectual power effectively to gather information about a risk. Then we release our experiential power when we make a decision.

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Experiential power is demonstrated by how effectively and completely we commit our bodies to climbing. Do we apply just the amount of energy at the precise time to execute a task? Or, are we rushing through the stress or stalling out?

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In the next several lessons we’ll investigate areas that impact power. We’ll investigate:
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• The importance of resistance
• How to grow power
• Efficient use of power
• Maintaining power
• Controlling power, and more.

Warriors are powerful because they use attention impeccably.

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