Comments on: Who Am I

By: Arno

Arno — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:50:05 +0000

Hi Louise,
Your comment: Although I am aware of what’s going on I am finding it frustrating to not be able to change my thought patterns and focus on with my training.
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Don’t focus on changing thought patterns. Simply do this:
1. When you notice the negative thoughts, say “Stop!”
2. Shift your attention to your breath and your senses.
This will shift attention out of your head and into your body. Then do whatever task is next.
Arno

By: Louise

Louise — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:37:28 +0000

Hi Arno. Excellent forum – your books have really helped my climbing and self-coaching but I have far to go! I currently have an immature habit of comparing myself to another climber at the gym. My mind creates a state where I admire their excellent climbing but then get anxious about following (and not climbing so well) the same route. I make excuses as to why they can do it and I probably can’t (I rarely pluck up the courage to follow unless they are not around). I try to not watch them if they are at the gym at the same time as me and to focus on my climbing but I usually give in! It’s not a crush ; ) I am by nature pretty competitive which is linked to a perfectionist streak – I am aware of and try to manage this. Although I am aware of what’s going on I am finding it frustrating to not be able to change my thought patterns and focus on with my training. Any advice gratefully received!

By: Richard Squire

Richard Squire — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:02:39 +0000

This is Great Stuff Arno. You have done a wonderful job getting to the “center” of fear and overcoming it. Thank you.
Richard

By: Brenden

Brenden — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:46:30 +0000

Arno,

A great post to start the new year and good instruction to help shift focus and get out of our habitual processes.

Best,

Brenden

By: Arno

Arno — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:57:36 +0000

Hi Louisa, Thanks for your in-depth comments. I agree with the yoga/meditation cross-over to climbing. I do some of both and have seen the benefit.
You are describing the “dissociate to redirect attention” in your comments about talking to yourself. This is an excellent way of self coaching so do continue to do that.
Concerning trusting your placements… build some experiential trust in your gear by falling on it. But (BIG BUT HERE) make sure you place plenty of back up pieces so if the piece pulls you have sufficient back up.
Yoga/climbing camp? I’ve thought of this and actually scheduled one with a climber who has a yoga studio but there wasn’t enough interest. I think we didn’t market it well. I’m open to it and will look for such possibilities in the future.
Now I just need to make it to the UK…
Arno

By: Arno

Arno — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:48:36 +0000

Hi Kyle, I have not heard of Ramesh Balsekar. Tell me more. Arno

By: Louisa Cilenti

Louisa Cilenti — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:16:35 +0000

Hi Arno
Having recently embraced yoga to complement my climbing, i can see the parallell’s between what you are saying and the principles that underpin yoga (in fact much Eastern)philosophy. You have managed a tremendous feat in summarising a very complex concept, (attention – who is paying attention) in a powerful and engaging way, that gets you thinking beyond the surface of things. I get it more and more. Whenever my body is close to its physical limits, i’m now aware of my mind’s pattern, it starts to freak out, there’s a quiet voice saying “you can’t hold this, you’re done in. Don’t blame me if you carry on climbing, take a harder fall and hurt yourself.” I usually hesitate and fall, disappointed. I’m slowly learning to train my mind to watch out for these thoughts and not to take them literally, as real, not to allow myself to be intimidated and give up. On a recent onsight (one of my most satisfying of last season), as the pump set in, i was able to stay concentrated. I smiled to myself, took a deep breath and told myself “Come on Lou, don’t give in, you’re bang on solid, fight for this, its in you, look at the moves, you can do this, just move, ready….” I know it won’t always work this way, i have a strong tendency to tame, but slowly slowly as i pay attention and come to know my thoughts better and their traps, i feel a confidence growing that i can stay in control when i get scared. I can choose not to pay attention to my doubts, to remain detatched and focus on positive thoughts. I’m also honest with myself now about how much energy and effort is required to do this when onsighting at the extreme end of / beyond my comfort zone (eg first route at a new grade). I have made a New Year’s pact with myself only to get on the route if i’m really motivated by the line and willing to give it my all. Its also got to be a route where there isn’t an obvious ground/ death fall potential (as long as there are gear possibilities, even if marginal, i will trust the quality of my placements).

Daily yoga and meditation practice is a great help in bringing clarity to my separate Self, to help me detach from my random and negative thoughts, still my mind, and focus on my intentions. I have no boubt about the cross-over benefits to climbing. Its a shame that the UK climbing walls are slow to offer yoga classes tailored to the climbing experience. Would you consider offering a yoga/climbing camp?

Best wishes,
Louisa

By: Kyle Ricketts

Kyle Ricketts — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:00:51 +0000

I exist, I am in this moment, here and now. If I can try and keep this mantra going, it helps greatly. But then again, that is still in the mind. Have you heard of Ramesh Balsekar?
Kyle

By: Arno

Arno — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:53:28 +0000

Hi Tressa, How have you been? Seems like a long time since I saw you at Fosters. Yes, considering thinking as something I do, rather than who I am, was an idea that struck me also when I first read it. Eckhart Tolle stated in “A New Earth” something to the effect that attention is our essence, not thinking. And, attention is simply focused awareness. So awareness, some may call it consciousness, is our essence. Understanding this allows us to see thinking that our mind does and doing that our body does as things that are part of us but not things that control our lives. We can use our minds to think and our bodies to do, directed and controlled by our attention. Definite shift in how I understood my world.
Arno

By: Tressa Cherry

Tressa Cherry — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:29:18 +0000

Hi Arno!
I LOVE your Warrior’s Way eLessons and spend time meditating on your comments. In this particular lesson, I found two profound jewels. First, staying in the present by focusing attention on awareness on the present moment (simple in concept but challenging in practice). In my study and practice of meditation, I am aware that thoughts drive the conjuring up of the “past” and “future.” I’ve read about focusing on awareness in the moment many times and how to non-critically be aware when thoughts creep in and then to simply let them pass on, returning my focus to awareness. However, your presentation of “attention” to awareness struck me far deeper than “focusing” on awareness. This shifted a long-held concept for me. I’ve always “driven” focusing on awareness by thinking about it, like flexing muscles consciously, muscles that grow tired over time. However, the idea of “allowing” for attention to awareness to occur feels like a natural opening of space in my mind/body, relaxing that thinking muscle.
Secondly, I’ve never considered thinking as something I do when compared to believing it is something I am, “my essence,” just as you stated it. When I read those words, I had to pause and let the amazement flow through me as to how liberating and healing that idea was.
Thank you. I truly enjoy contemplating your thought-proving ideas.
Tressa