Part 3: Mindfulness
Dr. David Sweet
Transforming Leadership Teams in Japan | 25+ Years of Executive Recruitment Expertise | Author | Podcast Host | Marathoner
Dear Running Samurai Community,
As I lace up my running shoes and head along the Sumida River to the Arakawa, I find myself transported into a world where Zen and mindfulness merge with the rhythmic beats of my footsteps. It's a journey of self-discovery and mental clarity. It’s what I think about when I run.?
This is the third part, and last part on listening. In case you missed it, here are the other two. Also, if you care how much I run on a weekly basis, you can check out my running diary down at the bottom of this newsletter.
Part 1: Music
Part 2: Podcasts and Books
Now, onto Part 3: Mindfulness...
In the classic novel, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” Robert Pirsig embarks on a motorcycle journey across the American West, contemplating life's fundamental questions while exploring the art of motorcycle maintenance. Much like Pirsig, my runs serve as my personal odyssey of contemplation and self-improvement.
For me, one of the first backdrops to running is just observing nature. This morning, typhoon No.13 has blown in and I ran in the rain, listening to my splashes, the hum of cars, a distant bird, the breeze (i.e. typhoon winds). The concept of Zen teaches presence in the moment. I breathe, listen, and feel the earth beneath me. In those moments, I’m truly alive and fully aware.
Sometimes, though, I take my problems out on a run. The rhythm of my breath and the repetitive motions unlock my creativity, much like the revelations Pirsig experienced during his motorcycle journey. I’m sure that the endorphins, or the “runner’s high” also help. Ideas pour forth, solutions come into focus, opportunities present themselves. In fact, the idea for this newsletter and series of articles came during a run.?Often, I'll tell my colleagues that I need to go out on a run first before I decide something.
But it's not all about philosophy and contemplation. Often I need to pay acute attention to what I’m doing. Just as athletes in every sport, I find myself analyzing the mechanics of running. Whether it's intervals or a long, easy jog, I pay attention to my pace, cadence, and form. Just as a soccer player fine-tunes their ball control or a rugby player practices precision passing, I hone my running skills with dedication and precision. As mentioned in a previous article, when someone asks me if I get bored when I run, I reply, “Do you think rugby players get bored when they are playing?” (On a side note, did you notice the Rugby World Cup has started? For more insights, take a look at Simon Jelfs’s? “Just a Rugby Dad in Japan” Newsletter.
So, as you embark on your own running journeys, whether in Japan or elsewhere, remember to take a moment to breathe, absorb the scenery, let your mind wander, solve those problems that life throws at you, and of course, appreciate the art of running. Much like the "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," every run is an opportunity to uncover the deeper mysteries of ourselves and the world around us.
Wishing you all mindful and purposeful runs,
David?
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David Sweet is the founder and CEO of FocusCore Japan, a leading executive search firm. He is author of six books and holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Development. For more information,?follow his running on?Strava?or?contact him at?[email protected]?
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领英推荐
Last 2 weeks running diary: This couple of weeks I had a vacation, so you'll see some changes and shifts.
Monday (28 August):?10K easy
Tuesday (29 Aug):?18K easy with 5x35s hill sprints
Wednesday (30 Aug):?Rest/travel
Thursday (31 Aug):?16K easy, (I missed this one and slept in!)
Friday (1 Sep):?15K easy. (I only ran 11.5K)
Saturday (2 Sep):?16K easy (I only ran 10K) ?
Sunday (3 Sep):?Rest/travel
Monday (4 Sep):?10K easy
Tuesday (5 Sep):?16K
Wednesday (6 Sep):?10K - intervals: 1300x2, 1100x2, 300x2
Thursday (7 Sep):?16K easy + Strength training
Friday (8 Sep):?AM: 10K easy, PM: 8K easy
Saturday (9 Sep):?18K with 9x 20s hill sprints
Sunday (10 Sep):?28K: 3x (8K easy, 1K faster), last 1K super easy
Back when I was actively translating myself, and working on very long documents (often late into the evening), I would find it highly advantageous to take a break at about 6:30 and go and play futsal for an hour with friends. Somehow, the intense work-out would often cause me to effortlessly come up with just the right phrase or reframe for a tricky Japanese passage that I had been wrestling with earlier. Stepping away from my computer screen in this manner would also give me a fresh perspective on the project overall. When I returned to my desk after a couple of hours away at the game, I would inevitably find that I could translate significantly faster and more fluently than I was able to before stopping for footy, and the higher productivity easily outweighed the time "lost" by taking time off to kick a ball around. Truly a win-win-win!
I help creatives get visible by speaking up. Communication coach. Public speaking trainer. Keynote speaker. Tokyo & Barcelona.
1 年You're my hero, David. When you showed off/me the three new pairs of running shoes you bought in Tokyo (??), you inspired me to buy a pair and move my a$$. On most of my morning runs, I try to be present and observe what's going on around me. On other days, I strategically use the time to solve a problem and on almost every run, I get some of my most creative content ideas or solutions. I make voice recordings when I have breakthroughs and then keep moving. It's life changing.
Co-Founder of ZAG Network Web3 SocialFi Network, Brokie Inu & BAZOOKA LAUNCHPAD Project, Author of 2 Books (Everything You Wish To Ask A Headhunter & ZAG's Expert Guide to Personal Branding & Job Seeking)
1 年That ice cold beer with 2 litres of water at the end of the run keeps me going
Japan Focused End-to-End Marketing | Managing Director @ McLaren Group Marketing
1 年Familiar with this book? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2195464.What_I_Talk_About_When_I_Talk_About_Running
Adjunct Professor - WASEDA University : AOYAMA Gakuin : Private Portfolio Manager - TCAS
1 年David Sweet, Ph.D. - Zen and Motorcycles: Great book to read and re-read.