John Beede: Mountaineering, values, and growth →

Published January 20, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 20  ·  

John Beede: Mountaineering, values, and growth

What lessons and insights can be drawn from mountaineering, personal growth, and facing challenges?

Climbing Mt Everest and the 7 Summits is a huge accomplishment, for John Beede, it’s only the beginning of the story. He discusses his book The Warrior Challenge: 8 Quests for Boys to Grow Up with Kindness, Courage and Grit, and his reasons for writing it. John shares his experiences from mountaineering and climbing Everest, and why climbing is important to him. He reflects on his journey overcoming PTSD, what he’s learned from climbing, and advice for others starting out.

Well, how do you get young men, especially, interested in learning grit, in learning self-awareness, in learning stepping up as a human being or choosing their values? Those are pretty intense subjects even for adults.

~ John Beede (7:36)

John Beede is an adventurer, author, speaker, and one of few people to climb the tallest peak on every continent, including Mt Everest. He has traveled to 67 countries, survived avalanches and PTSD, and more recently has “settled down” to enjoy competitive kite surfing. John is also the author of 3 books, sharing what he’s learned through his adventuring and mountaineering. His newest book is called, The Warrior Challenge: 8 Quests for Boys to Grow Up with Kindness, Courage, and Grit.

The discussion centers on the transformative experiences of mountaineering, particularly climbing Mount Everest and other peaks, and how these adventures mirror challenges in personal growth. Topics include the psychological and emotional impacts of extreme conditions, such as post-traumatic stress, and the healing process that leads to growth. John emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, cultivating self-awareness, and fostering grit, especially among young people.

The conversation also explores practical tools, such as the 5-2-7 breathing technique, and its role in managing stress and achieving focus. Insights into vulnerability, teamwork, and the value of being present highlight how personal experiences can inspire others. John relates these lessons to writing and speaking, creating accessible narratives to connect with a broader audience.

Takeaways

The significance of boundaries — Setting boundaries is essential for personal and relational health, enabling clarity and mutual respect.

The power of storytelling — Sharing personal experiences can inspire others and create meaningful connections.

Lessons from mountaineering — Facing physical and emotional extremes provides deep insights into resilience and teamwork.

Practical stress management — Techniques like 5-2-7 breathing offer immediate tools for calming and focus.

The value of vulnerability — Embracing and sharing vulnerability leads to personal growth and stronger relationships.

Encouraging young people — Teaching values like grit and courage can help young individuals navigate life’s challenges.

The universality of growth — Everyone, regardless of their journey, has opportunities for learning and self-improvement.

Resources

John Beede

The Warrior Challenge — John Beede’s new book exploring quests for boys to grow with kindness, courage, and grit.

Essentialism — Greg McKeown’s book about focusing on what truly matters by eliminating unnecessary distractions.

Breath — James Nestor’s book discussing the science and techniques of breathing for health and mindfulness.

Wim Hof Method — Techniques for breathing and cold exposure to enhance health and resilience.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Reflection: Day 20 →

Published January 20, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 20

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST — “The degree to which we have developed our independent will in our everyday lives is measured by our personal integrity. Integrity is, fundamentally, the value we place on ourselves. It’s our ability to take and keep commitments to ourselves, to “walk our talk.” It’s honor with self, a fundamental part of the Character Ethic, the essence of proactive growth.” ~ Stephen Covey

Our practice of reflection is an explicitly inward-facing activity. We’re repeatedly, intentionally being aware.

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)

Reflection: Day 19 →

Published January 19, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 19

WHAT CAN I DO TO BE SO GOOD THEY CAN’T IGNORE ME? — Continuous improvement? A “big swing?” A simple but insightful solution? The path to “the best” is not obvious and likely does not pass directly through the most-obvious next thing.

It’s not necessary to move beyond simply observing our thoughts. Simply practicing _observing_ your thoughts will make you more aware of your thoughts.

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)

Reflection: Day 18 →

Published January 18, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 18

NOTICE THE SPACE — “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~ Viktor Frankl

Reflection is about self-focus. Each day you’re practicing holding up a mirror. Specifically, you’re observing your thoughts, in response to a prompt.

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)

Reflection: Day 17 →

Published January 17, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 17

ORDER — “Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

One day, these triggers from me will end. To what trigger under your control could you attach this nascent habit of self-reflection?

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)

Reflection: Day 16 →

Published January 16, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 16

DISTRACTION, BUSYNESS AND CONSTANT SWITCHING ARE MENTAL HABITS — “We don’t need any of these habits, but they build up over the years because they comfort us. We can live more simply by letting go of these mental habits. What would life be like without constant switching, distraction and busyness?” ~ Leo Babauta

Trigger. New habit.

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)

Reflection: Day 15 →

Published January 15, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 15

IMPROVE ONESELF — “So now, are you not willing to help yourself? And how much easier such assistance is! You need not kill, imprison, or assault a man; you need not come into the market-place, you have merely to talk with yourself, the man who will be most readily persuaded, and to whom no one can be more persuassive than yourself. So, in the first place, pass judgement on your actions; but when you have condemned them, do not give up on yourself, nor be like those mean-spirited peole who, when they have once given way, abandon themselves entirely, and are, so to speak, swept off by the flood.” ~ Epictetus, 4.9.13-4

Today’s a good day to look closely at the trigger you’re experiencing. There are always ways you can change a trigger. Tinker—if not for real, then at least as a thought experiment—with changing the daily trigger for this journey.

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)

Reflection: Day 14 →

Published January 14, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 14

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND — “Each part of your life can be examined in the context of the whole, of what really matters most to you. By keeping that end clearly in mind you can make certain that whatever you do on any particular day does not violate the criteria you have defined as supremely important, and that each day of your life contributes in a meaningful way to the vision you have to your life as a whole.” ~ Stephen Covey

Trigger. New habit.

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)

Alex Pavlotski: Ethnography, leadership, and trajectory →

Published January 13, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 13  ·  

Alex Pavlotski: Ethnography, leadership, and trajectory

What are the intersections of movement practices, leadership, and cultural anthropology?

‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ is a statement that Alex Pavlotski lives by as a cartooning ethnographer. He explains ethnography and anthropology, and shares his thoughts on parkour and where it’s headed. Alex discusses leadership and his project Word Magick, as well as his goals for an illustrated thesis. He unpacks his observations on parkour practice, community, and defining our own future.

I think the first thing about movement practice is that it’s deeply humbling. The first time you crawl around on all fours for hours, you understand that you have so much more to learn. And then I guess, I don’t know, at some point, it felt real; weird and real.

~ Alex Pavlotski (4:48)

Alex Pavalotski is an anthropologist, comic artist, blogger, and parkour practitioner based in Melbourne Australia. He is the creator of Parkour Panels, a satirical comic where he discussed relevant issues in the parkour community. Alex earned his PhD in 2016, and traveled extensively while working on his thesis, training with and studying global parkour communities.

The conversation examines how movement practices like parkour intersect with cultural anthropology and leadership. The discussion highlights how parkour’s growth has mirrored historical patterns of other movement practices, blending physicality with philosophy as practitioners age. Leadership is portrayed as a cultural force, shaping movement communities and the way they evolve over time. The influence of space, language, and shared values in defining these communities is explored.

Another focal point is the anthropological study of leadership, where the capacity to shape culture and practice is critical. The conversation also critiques the commodification and institutionalization of movement practices, suggesting that they risk losing their authentic and transformative potential. The potential of comics as a medium to communicate complex ideas, such as movement or leadership, is also emphasized.

Takeaways

Parkour as cultural evolution — The practice reflects historical patterns and adapts to contemporary environments.

Leadership’s influence — Leaders shape not just practices but also cultural interpretations of movement.

Manipulation in communities — Awareness of harmful leadership and group dynamics is crucial for healthy community growth.

Formalization and risk — Institutionalizing movement practices can lead to both opportunities and challenges.

Comics as communication — Visual storytelling offers a compelling way to explore and share ideas.

Trauma and learning — Physical and emotional struggles in movement lead to meaningful growth.

Anthropology’s role — Ethnographic studies provide valuable insights into how movement connects people.

Global dynamics — Different cultural approaches to parkour highlight varying values and goals.

Resources

Alex Pavlotski

Parkour Panels — A satirical comic by Alex addressing issues in the parkour community.

Word Magic — Alex’s project exploring leadership and community dynamics.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Reflection: Day 13 →

Published January 13, 2021  ·  All posts on Jan 13

WHAT AM I DOING WHILE ON “THE BENCH”? — If there is somewhere I want to be, begin walking. Identify something which I can do now, or very soon, which is interesting. Remember that efficacy is active, not passive.

You’re using the arrival of this email as your trigger. Do you recall that I mentioned on day one that I was introducing you to being reflective upon being prompted?

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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)