Patterns of performance

Nature is one inter-connected dynamic pattern. If you look closely into nature, patterns exist everywhere.

Depending on your perspective and where you look, nature could reveal its chaotic or disjointed side to you. For example, I have had horrific reactions to the photograph below which was taken with my macro lens. I will share the context of this photograph at the end of the blog (just to keep you in suspense).

Yesterday, South Africa lost the 2nd cricket test to Sri Lanka with a day to spare. Given all of the expert opinion in the cricket fraternity; this result was against all odds. Captain Graeme Smith was at a loss to explain the performance of his team.

If one considers patterns, this result may not be so ‘outrageous’ and/or mysterious. Like in nature, patterns also exist in sporting performance. These patterns are created by energy flow and the habitual nature of humans (athletes). More specifically, attitude and thinking patterns of human systems (teams) generate patterns of behaviour both on and off the field.

To outline the pattern of performance surrounding the South African cricket team, take a look at the tables below.

1^st Test Pattern

Vs India (Dec 2010)	Vs Sri Lanka (Dec 2011)
Played at SuperSport, Centurion; 16-20 Dec 2010	Played at SuperSport, Centurion; 15-19 Dec 2011
India batted first	Sri Lanka batted first
India bowled out cheaply in 1st innings: 136 runs	Sri Lanka bowled out cheaply in 1st innings: 180 runs
SA only batted once	SA only batted once
Convincing win by SA by an innings, with lots of time to spare	Convincing win by SA by an innings, with 2 days to spare

2^nd Test Pattern

Vs India (Dec 2010)	Vs Sri Lanka (Dec 2011)
Played at Kingsmead, Durban; 26-30 Dec 2010	Played at Kingsmead, Durban; 26-30 Dec 2011
India batted first	Sri Lanka batted first
SA bowled out cheaply in 1st innings: 131 runs	SA bowled out cheaply in 1st innings: 168 runs
SA lose with a day to spare	SA lose with a day to spare

In order to understand on-the-field patterns of performance, one needs to examine off-the-field patterns of behaviour, as well as the attitudinal mind-set of the team. Given the convincing victories after the 1st tests, it can be hypothesized that the SA team may have gone into the second tests in an arrogant and complacent manner.

If the SA team wants to change some of its patterns of poor performance in the future there are many questions that could be asked regarding its activities and its use of time in the build-up to the test match. Here are some basic questions that could be considered:

What did the team do with its time after the victory in the 1st tests? Did the batsmen utilize this time and put in extra practice (given the fact that they only batted once), or did the team fly back immediately to the respective home cities to bask in the glory of victory? What happens to the players on their return home – are they monitored? Are the SA bowlers only prepared to graft, if they bowl on a green wicket that has pace and bounce and gives them an extra advantage? When does the team re-connect for the Christmas test? Does the team always have a Christmas Eve party at the hotel together with family members? How focused are the team during the festive season test match – are they distracted by the festive mood that surrounds them?

If may not be necessary for captain Smith to logically explain his team’s poor performance against Sri Lanka. However, he may need to seriously consider the fundamental pattern of performance of the team that the tables above highlight. More importantly, doing the same things over and over again in the same way, yet expecting a different result is ‘insanity’ according to a popular phrase.

If a team wants to break its pattern of poor performance it needs to go about its preparation in a different way; in particular challenging the old habits and routines that may be embedded in the team’s culture over time.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a peaceful and balanced 2012, and especially hoping that you challenge the self-defeating beliefs and destructive habits that do not support your highest vision of the ‘Best You’ you can be.

The photograph that caused such an emotional reaction is that of the glue that weeps from the strelitzia nicolai flower.

Skimboarding – a refreshing experience

Before going on our walk on the beach, I remember debating whether I should take my camera. The fundamental reason for this dilemma had to do with my rather strange notion of walking for relaxation and walking to take photographs were two different endeavours that did not mix – they were I felt, mutually exclusive activities. Since we were only going on a walk with the purpose to relax; not specifically setting out to take photographs, I didn’t want to lug a camera bag along.

I can get a little obsessive and pedantic in my approach as I look at a potential scene from a variety of angles, considering all of the possible camera settings, before I take a shot. There is a lot of build-up to taking a photograph. This obviously can have an impact on those around me as I enter my own photographic world. This can take away from the relaxation that a walk on a beach can offer.

I verbalized my ‘internal debate’ to my wife as we were ready to leave for our walk. ‘Take the camera’ was her spontaneous reply. I had just completed a photographic course and she was aware that I was keen to improve my photographic skills, given any opportunity.

On an isolated part of the beach, we came across six young guys having fun. There was a jovial atmosphere as each waited for the ‘right’ moment to throw his board into the incoming waves and to launch himself into whatever maneuver he was trying to execute once he was balanced on the board. There was no crowd to cheer them on. They were not doing what they were doing for financial reward – since skimboarding is not a professional sport in South Africa.

I silently thanked my wife as I removed my camera from the bag to set myself up to capture this special moment. As I watched their remarkable skills through the lens, I couldn’t stop thinking how their enthusiasm and joy for their sport was in such contrast to some of the arrogance and sense of entitlement that some professional athletes convey in the sports that have extensive media coverage and excessive financial backing.

Poetry in motion

Lift off!

Exhilaration

What goes up must come down

The sole aim was to crack the ultimate ride, to pull off the most amazing maneuver. It was so refreshing to witness how the joy of the challenge to perfect a skill can be totally wrapped up in a process of love and freedom. This was something that our national team sports could take on board since an energy field of staleness and lack of creativity tends to prevail when they are performing.

There was no financial gain to be had for the six skimboarders; no ‘hero worship’ status that an audience or public was affording them; no media clicking away to sell television rights for millions of dollars.

As they wrapped up, I felt a little sad. I didn’t want the excitement and joy to end. As I walked away, I looked out to sea and saw two whales doing their own dance.

Concluding the breach

Standoff

Standoff

On a recent visit to the Kruger National Park, I witnessed an interesting 20 minute standoff between predator and prey.

The squirrel remained motionless; but continued to squeak incessantly, as if attacking the eagle verbally. The eagle remained silent, visually focused, with an intensity that I could feel, watching 25 odd meters away.

The eagle was positioned in such a way that the escape route down the tree was blocked. But being below the squirrel put him at a disadvantage. Being perched above the eagle must have felt so unusual and uncomfortable for the little squirrel. He was exactly in the position that the predator would have loved to be in. But paradoxically being in this position was giving the squirrel the best chance of survival.

So how was this going to play itself out?

The predator was expected to make the move, but when would that moment arrive? The tension was building. The longer the motionless state of affairs; the more intense the energy became. Eventually, the eagle made the move to strike, but gravity and the inability to open his wings in the restricted space worked against him. He found it impossible to gain the necessary momentum and speed to reach the squirrel. His outstretched wings struck the branches as he attempted to thrust himself upwards towards the squirrel. At that very moment, the squirrel raced along the branch to the right and descended the tree as if in free-fall. The eagle had to gain his composure before he pursued. In this lost time, the squirrel had found his place of safety under some rocks next to the tree.

One usually thinks that everything goes according to plan for the predator. But context can level the playing field where both predator and prey have a 50-50 chance in the unfolding scenario. That’s a fair encounter.

In order to make sense of any unfolding process it is always important to consider context. Context helps to (a) define the meaning of behaviours; (b) assist with interpretation and (c) offer possibilities to consider when attempting to predict the outcome of events.

I was rooting for the squirrel and I was happy that the context helped play its part in his get-away.

Death of the ego

It has been interesting to follow the reactions and comments of the management of the South African rugby team after the quarter-final loss against Australia in the World Cup. It is obvious that the team has had to deal with emotional pain. But what is this pain about? In order to get some understanding of this pain process one needs to unpack some of the fundamental messages that have come out of the camp.

Firstly, at the end of the match, the coach spoke about death and that the change room felt like a funeral. A day after the match, the assistant coach spoke about injustice and death. Then at the press conference held at the airport, the coach heaped emotional and indulgent praise on his captain and vice-captain for being icons and excellent ambassadors for their country. He spoke of it being a privilege to have worked with them and that no one could take his journey of the past 4 years away from him.

Before the tournament there were a lot of expectations on the team, and rightly so. It was a very experienced team. It was also a laager team in which it had become a closed system with little or no inflow of new outside energy. It appeared untouchable; it was in a protective cocoon that the coach had created. According to reports, the senior players enjoyed the leadership style of the coach. The reasons for this may be obvious.

During the tournament the team did not perform to potential, given its level of experience. Two of the group matches were below par. The team was lucky to beat Wales by one point but after the match, the leadership spoke of how important winning was and that it did not matter how this was achieved during the World Cup. After the Australian match the team had to face the harsh reality of experiencing the exact opposite – they had lost the match despite all of the possession and territorial advantage. It could not convert its dominance into winning. The opposition had now won ugly. The opposition had done to them what they had believed in and had verbally made known in the media.

The loss against Australia felt like death to the team. But death of what? In brief, by losing, the team was having to deal with the death of its ego (which needs accolades and wants to feel important and successful). In this death process it had moved through the disbelief phase (this can’t be happening to us); the blame phase (this is unfair) and then the denial phase in which management does not acknowledge or want to address some of the issues or reasons that may have contributed to the loss but instead turns its focus within the team and gives excessive public praise to team members for practising and behaving in ways that are actually expected of professional athletes.

Some of the comments after the loss suggest that an inflated ego had evolved in the team over time. The underlying messages of self-importance that were conveyed by management suggested that the opposition were considered unworthy and/or undeserving of beating the team. The team felt that there was an injustice and unfairness in the final outcome. There was also talk about the incompetence of the referee that prevented their success. In doing this, the team was negating its own responsibility for its failure.

Did the team let the country down? I don’t feel that they did. They tried their best, they prepared and trained like professionals need to; but on the day they were not good enough. They lost. They lost because they did not have the capacity to turn dominance and attack into points. The team has always been more comfortable with its defensive patterns and its tenacity to tackle and absorb pressure from the opponents. Its attacking and creative ability has always been in doubt. The team needs to accept this.

In sport there are no guarantees. The game of rugby does not owe any team or player anything. As we move into the future, I hope that we can develop a more egoless and mature approach to our sport. But I wonder if we can?

The brave African buffalo

Will experience be enough?

Pieter de Villiers, the coach of the South African rugby team, can be given credit for achieving the seemingly impossible – he has managed to keep the bulk of the 2007 World Champion team together for 4 years. Now is the time to see if his policy of retaining (and nurturing) the older more experienced players will pay off.

The South African rugby team will be the most experienced team to play in the tournament. 60% of the team have had previous World Cup experience. This is unheard of in the physically demanding sport of rugby with its high attrition rate. The previous most experienced South African team to go to the tournament was in 2007 (where the team had 37.5% of players with previous World Cup experience).

Two years ago the coach was faced with a dilemma that required serious contemplation. Was he going to embark on a process of succession planning of players that would introduce new energy into an aging team or was he going to opt for a ‘no change’, non-disruptive decision that would appease his senior players? Now 5 days before the start of the tournament, the South African team has all of the necessary experience to call on – but will this be enough to achieve its objective of retaining the Webb Ellis trophy?

de Villiers can have no excuses if the team fails. He has a team that has made his life easy as a coach. When de Villiers decided on taking the path of least resistance of allowing the team to age naturally, he aligned himself with the experienced players in a symbiotic way. He needed them and they needed him. But nothing comes without a price – what you win on the round-a-bouts you tend to lose on the swings.

Experience is akin to aging. Unlike in the business world, in sport there is a critical tipping point where experience may not translate itself fully into exceptional ongoing performance. This is mainly due to the excessive physical and competitive demands on the field of play.

But at what point does age (experience) begin to hinder peak performance? What may be some of the possible ramifications of having an aged, yet experienced team?

1. A lack of creativity, making the team predictable. The older a team, the more in-grained their patterns of play. There tends to be a rigidity in performance. Therefore the opposition will have a clear understanding of what the SA team is about – they come with no surprises.

2. The team plays a direct, physical game; trying to intimidate the opponents. If this does not work, the older players tend to get irritated and frustrated. They become less accepting when things go wrong on the field. This may result in ill discipline.

3. de Villiers talks about the value of having ‘old heads’. In a physically demanding sport such as rugby, ‘old bodies’ may not be quick and alert enough in the later stages of a match. In the past months, the team has started well and been dominant; only to fade as the match unfolds in the last quarter.

4. Older players are more prone to injury. In tournaments, injuries play a major role in disrupting a team’s internal balance. During the recent Tri-nation tournament, de Villiers used the excuse of injury to rest more than 15 senior players. It would be sad if he has tempted fate and have to deal with the actual harsh reality of injury to key players.

5. Finding a place for the captain may pose a problem for the coach. A recent statistic reveals that Smit has only won 2 of his last 10 games as captain when picked in the starting line-up.

So will the team be able to draw on all of its experience to ensure consistent top-class performance throughout the tournament, culminating in a victory in the final of the World Cup? While I have my doubts regarding the energetic and creative levels of the team, I certainly hope that they can pull it off. Two factors will enhance the chances of victory – the defensive ability of the team and the kicking skills of Morne Steyn. Experience and creativity may have less of an impact on the final outcome.

The start of a new day over Sandton

Growing with time

It has been some time since I last posted an article. I have been out of my practice, visiting family in Zurich and have not had the time to sit quietly and focus on writing something meaningful.

The solitary endeavor of keeping still to write goes against the natural interpersonal energy flow of excitement, movement and heightened activity when you are traveling and out of the usual routines. In fact, writing seems such a waste of time in such contexts, especially when you only have limited time to spend with loved ones who live abroad.

Experiencing the sense of limited time, re-connected me to my work with many of the clients who were in their 60′s and in the semi-retirement or retirement phase of their lives. During my consultations with these clients, I became aware that the retirement phase of life may confront one with a complex time-paradox. On the one hand there seems to be the feeling that there is so much time available since career activities have ceased and the usual routines of work are no longer there; yet concurrently there is the feeling that one is running out of time as the aging process unfolds. ‘Having too much time, yet running out of time’ was a paradox that most of these clients seemed to be dealing with (amongst other unique personal struggles).

There also seemed to be an added dimension to this paradox – that of wasted time and regrets.

I remember a client telling me about how and when he felt this paradox in its full intensity. It was always in the early hours of the morning when he could not sleep. All alone, in the stillness and quietness of the night, a reflective process unfolded. An internal panic got activated as he began to review his life that he had already lived (going back in time). As he did this he noticed all of the mistakes that he had made. He felt a lot of regret and had a strong need to correct the mistakes, yet these existed in the past and there was nothing he could do to change what had happened. The panic intensified when he realized that he had wasted so much time and that this was now lost time which could never be recovered. As his focus moved to his present circumstances he felt that he just sat around during the day doing nothing with all of the time that was now available to him. He had no meaningful present day activity, he was full of past regrets and as he looked forward, his future appeared to be bleak with reduced possibilities and limited time.

These intense feelings only abated and receded into the background of his mind when the early morning sun rays appeared to herald in a new day.

I don’t think that this internal reflective process is unique to those in their sixties. We have all experienced lying awake in bed in the early hours of the morning when we cannot escape ourselves and when there are no activities to distract us. During these times, we examine our faults, ponder our existence and the meaning thereof, attempt to resolve the conflicts that we have, plan how we can live more purposefully and think about how we can utilize our time more constructively. However, on a fundamental level, love and our relationships with others are usually on the center stage of this examination.

Maman

Louise Bourgeois’s sculpture, Maman, is being exhibited in Zurich. Maman is a huge spider that towers over those who walk past or under her. She seems to come from a different age. There is a weird beauty to her. As I encountered her, I wondered how long it took Bourgeois to complete her. What an amazing accomplishment!

Finding your own unique solution

I have been seeing a client who suffers from hypertension. In the initial stages of our process, her major concern was the need to reduce her high blood pressure. Before coming to see me, she had seen her GP who had prescribed medication. However, she was reluctant to take the medicine due to the possible side effects that had been listed. Her alternative was to embark on her own process of trying to resolve her physical condition by coming to see me.

She was in her mid fifties, and looked healthy. She had no weight issues, did not smoke and exercised routinely. In addition, she was a vegetarian. What struck me was that her lifestyle did not match the general profile of one who suffers from hypertension. Given this, one could not suggest more exercise or modifying her diet to help reduce her blood pressure. In other words, there were no obvious solutions to her ailment.

I have always been fascinated at how the body reveals an internal struggle (issue) via a physical symptom. Metaphorically, I think of hypertension as being excessive, trapped internal energy that needs to manifest in a creative way in the external world. In other words, there is an excessive amount of internal pressure that builds up that is looking for external release. That’s why exercise is usually so helpful for those suffering from high blood pressure. Further, I believe that hypertension is a ‘fight response’ to an external threat that a person perceives that does not switch off, causing an over-revved energy system over time.

In discussion, she stated that she perceived her heart to be a powerful muscle and that its rhythmic pump was strong, thus exerting extra pressure within her arteries with each beat. While this gave the impression of physical strength, what struck me about her was that she was extremely sensitive. In my interactions with her, I noticed that she was overly reactive and quick to respond to any external stimuli (which were some of my ideas that I presented to her). She felt her emotions strongly.

My client was keen to find her own unique solution to her hypertension. This proactive stance was the foundation on which she was going to base her healing. She bought a blood pressure monitor to read her pressure when she felt the need. She wanted to measure her variations during the day and draw her own conclusions about her blood pressure pattern. She started doing research on the topic of hypertension. She gained more knowledge. She surfed the net and came to our sessions with remedies (information) that she could try. She became aware that there were many opinions regarding how to reduce blood pressure, but these were general remedies. We discussed the information in more depth until she was satisfied that she had a more comprehensive understanding of what was being suggested by those who were working in the field. She compared suggestions, looked for similarities and noticed unusual differences that were being offered by articles that she had accessed.

She then decided to run some experiments on herself. She tried some remedies and tweaked them in her own unique way and then measured the effects on her blood pressure. She tried to give the remedies a chance by following them routinely for a period of time. In our sessions she reported some success, but she had not managed to reduce her pressure significantly enough for her own liking.

At that point in our process, I introduced the idea of trying to cultivate a ‘calm-submissive’ attitude toward her external environment, similar to what Cesar Millan of the Dog Whisperer suggests that dogs need when interacting in a pack. Since she was a dog lover, she was intrigued by the concept and wanted to monitor herself on this level in her everyday interactions.

Teddy in a calm-submissive state

Some four months into our work together, she reported that she had managed to consistently reduce her blood pressure; which was now falling within the average range. After a month of achieving this success, she shared her unique formula with me. She takes two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water every morning and evening. On an interactional level, she does not feel it necessary to defend her views or to take the opinions of others personally. When she hears something that unsettles her, she takes time to connect with her breathing pattern before she responds (if she decides to). Otherwise, she has learned to let things go. And just before taking her blood pressure she goes through a ritual of settling herself by closing her eyes, connecting with her breath and then calling up images of love.

While this story may inspire you to embark on your own exploratory journey to seek your own unique solution to whatever ailment (or difficulty) you may be encountering; it is always wise to consult with the relevant, trusted professionals so that a healing process unfolds in a caring, supportive context.

Your inner voice

All thoughts have the potential to become realities. However, a reality will only be created if you act on the thought.

There are many thoughts that get activated by an inner voice. It is said that the source of this inner voice lies somewhere deep in the heart. In the initial stage, this voice may be so soft and gentle that it is only heard if you keep still and remain silent. As time goes on it may grow louder.

The time between ‘thinking’ and ‘doing’ varies from person to person and depends on the complexity of the idea and the circumstances that you may find yourself in. Sometimes, you can sit with an idea for years without responding to it. The thought may gather more and more momentum and strength before a point is reached and you are ‘forced’ to act on it by an internal energy.

However, there is also the possibility that the inner voice may retract and ‘lose heart’, never attempting to engage you again if you continue to ignore it or deny its existence.

Listening to your inner voice and acting on it may activate drastic changes in your life. This realisation may scare you. I remember the anxiety that I went through before my 6 month sabbatical became a reality in 2003. The thought of going on a sabbatical had been with me for two years. I had the need to emotionally rejuvenate and develop new insights into my work. I was also thinking of writing a book during this period. But taking the sabbatical would mean me having to close my practice, with no financial income, and the fear of not being able to establish myself again on my return was an obstacle that I was struggling with. Despite this, my inner voice grew louder and louder. I can still recall the conversations that I had with a close friend regarding my dilemma and panic. He listened to my fears and reassured me that sometimes you need to just trust life’s wisdom which is usually conveyed to you via the thoughts that emanate from the inner voice.

I went for a 9 Km run this morning. The last time that I had run this particular route was just over a year ago.

Running along the James river in Richmond

Acting on the spur of the moment, without too much contemplation, is a liberating feeling.

A week ago, I woke up with a strong feeling of wanting to visit my son in Richmond, Virginia. I ran the idea past my wife, and then called my son to discuss the possibility of visiting him. Initially, he was taken aback by the idea and thought that I was teasing him. But once he realised that I was serious, he thought that I had ‘lost it’ because of my impulsiveness. Overseas travel is usually carefully planned many months in advance.

Now in Richmond, I can look forward to many more runs along the James river. Of course, there will also be the joy of spending time with my son who I last saw a year or so ago.

Happy Easter

Silence and stillness are golden

When you are silent, you are able to listen so much better. You are able to absorb all the relevant information that is usually right in front of you. When you are silent, you are also able to see so much better. You have more time to notice things, to read feedback that is coming to you from others or from your environment.

It is not easy to be silent. The normal tendency is always to give an opinion, to make a clever comment or to take on an expert position and talk and talk and talk…. Many of us feel uncomfortable with silence, so we talk to fill the space.

In June 2009, I wrote an in-depth article on choking and the self-fulfilling prophecy of the South African cricket team. After their loss against New Zealand, I went back to re-read this article. I called up all the links and re-read all the talk that had come from the team in June 2009. The sad story about the South African cricket team is that the same mistakes, the same talk and the same emotional reactions occur from tournament to tournament. Two years down the line and very little, or no learning has occurred. The system is stuck. The same recurring self-fulfilling pattern is so embedded that no one in the system can ‘see’ or ‘hear’ anymore. Those involved have no more answers to the questions being posed.

Many years ago I stumbled onto a quote that still sticks with me because of its relevance to what we tend to do when confronting problems. Unfortunately, I do not have a reference for the quote, but use it respectfully to share it with you. It goes something like this….’First they raise the dust, then complain that they cannot see’.

I do not want to re-look and re-write about the choking issue again. Instead, I want to dedicate this article to silence and stillness as a response to the choking tag. As you keep silent you become sensitive to the energy flow that is around you; your stillness and silence allow you to open up your senses to the information that may be calling out for you to see. Many of the Eastern masters practice tai chi, yoga and/or meditation as a way to enter the internal world of self, to achieve emotional and mental balance and to open up all of the senses. When you function from an emotionally balanced place very little unsettles you. Dealing with your wins, and reacting to your losses is not accompanied with excessive emotionality. You are able to ride the ups and downs in much the same way.

Achieving emotional balance should be one of our fundamental goals as we go about our life’s business.

The stillness of night

A quantum tragedy

Quantum change is radical change. It is change that is drastic and instantaneously catapults a person or country into a totally different place. On a negative level, a quantum change is called a tragedy or catastrophe. On a positive note, it is called a miracle.

A week ago, Japan had to deal with a seismic quantum impact. Earth quakes, tsunamis, radioactivity and severe weather all converged to challenge the idea that life just continues in a harmonious, predictable way. While I was so saddened to see the devastation on such a large scale, I was in awe of the responses of the Japanese people as I watched some of the television coverage. I was struck by their humbleness and respectfulness in dealing with the chaotic tragedy – no looting, no excessive emotional outbursts, no hysteria; just an inherent acceptance of life’s power that goes beyond the illusion that we can control life’s forces.

The reports of how skilled workers are putting themselves at risk of severe radiation at Fukushima nuclear plant to help contain the nuclear threat highlights how ‘self’ can respond in a subservient and sacrificial way in times of crisis, to ensure the well being of the wider community. In his blog, Tom Atlee talks about the role of honor and heroism in nuclear catastrophes as a cultural story that the Japanese live by.

Shireen Sapiro - Living a miracle

Last week, I had the pleasure to meet and work with Shireen Sapiro, a 20-year-old paralympic swimming gold medalist. When she was 13 she was involved in a horrific boating accident, resulting in her being hospitalised for 6 months. She had to undergo 18 operations and had to learn to walk again. Her story is one of heroism. First, she had to accept her fate. This is not easy since there is usually a part of oneself that resists a tragedy that turns one’s life upside down within a second. Consciously choosing to accept ‘what is’, is a precursor to the courage that is then needed to deal with the changes in one’s life circumstances and the realisation that ‘life will never be the same again’.

Resisting ‘what is’ and wishing for ‘what was’ is a normal reaction to severe trauma. But there is something miraculous about the human spirit in some people that gets activated and counters this reaction. In a previous article the first component of being ‘the best YOU you can be‘ has to do with conscious choice; where there are at least two possibilities in any situation we encounter. On a fundamental level, the options may be as simple as ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The true miracle of the human spirit is wrapped up in the choices that people make when faced with quantum tragedy. Shireen Sapiro and many of the Japanese people are living examples of being optimistic and present in the struggle. Fully encountering ‘what is’, is the essence of being a hero.

My thanks to Shireen for allowing me to share her story.