Labeled your issues must be

My title is a play on something Yoda said.

Importantly, affect labelling is also more effective when it involves self-reflecting on and identifying authentic positive emotional experiences. This is different from when people try to trick themselves into feeling better by just stating that they feel good when maybe they don’t. The importance of using affective labelling in an authentic way is consistent with other research showing that people tend to enjoy higher wellbeing when they feel like they are being authentic to themselves and not faking parts of their life.

~ Christian Waugh, from Asking one simple question can entirely change how you feel

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This article picks apart neatly, the big nit I’ve always had with positive thinking: Reality is real. When something has pissed me off. Naming that—literally saying out loud, to myself when I’m alone, “I’m pissed off”—really does help. Positive thinking never works for me, “I’m happy!” when I’ actually mad, just makes me feel stupid for denying the reality of my lived experience.

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Powerful questions

[P]owerful questions are the ones that cause you to become an actor as soon as you answer them or even reflect on them. You no longer have the luxury of being a spectator of whatever it is you are concerned about. Regardless of how you answer these questions, you are guilty Guilty of being an actor and participant in this world. Not a pleasant thought, but the moment we accept the idea that we have created the world, we have the power to change it.

~ Peter Block

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Transitions with Jessica Burdett

How can podcasting be used as a tool for exploring personal and professional transitions?

Exploring the potential of podcasting reveals its role in both research and personal discovery.

Transitions for me are about spaces of change. And they are exciting to me because there’s movement happening and so the fact that there is movement happening means that if you lean into the movement. You can have a lot of really lovely things come out of it.

~ Jessica Burdett (11:19)

The conversation explores how podcasting can serve as a medium for both personal and professional growth. Jessica discusses the role of podcasting in fostering creativity, allowing space for exploration, and potentially contributing to developmental research in coaching. She reflects on how podcasting can help capture stories that provide insights into transitions and identity development.

A significant focus is placed on transitions as moments of change and growth. Jessica shares her fascination with these periods, emphasizing their potential for identity formation and the role of coaching in navigating such changes. The conversation also touches on Jessica’s evolving perspective on auditory learning, noting how podcasting has helped her recognize new learning strengths and opportunities.

Takeaways

Podcasting as a creative space — Its flexibility supports exploratory learning and creativity.

Transitions and identity — They offer a unique opportunity for growth and identity development.

Story-based research — Exploring stories can reveal patterns and trends in human behavior and transitions.

Coaching and transitions — Coaching methods can align well with navigating periods of change.

Auditory learning growth — Podcasting enhances listening skills and expands learning modalities.

Challenges in academic exploration — Researching underexplored areas like transitions in coaching poses unique challenges and opportunities.

Resources

Brené Brown — Known for her work in story-based research, particularly in vulnerability and courage.

Babble concept — A metaphor for creative thinking and learning, highlighting the iterative process of refining ideas.

Polish proverb — “Not my circus, not my monkeys,” illustrating detachment from external stressors.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Ryan Mallon: Bushwacking, Parkour, and Making Your Own Path

The journey from New Jersey to Asheville reveals how a Parkour athlete reshaped his movement training in the wilderness.

Ryan Mallon is a parkour athlete, coach, rock climber, and general outdoorsman. His personal journey includes being an American Parkour sponsored athlete, and an APK ambassador. He’s coached state champion and regional-placing gymnasts, and has competed in World Chase Tag USA. More recently, Ryan spends much of his time in the beautiful mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina, hiking, climbing, and photographing nature.

[Impact is a complicated subject.] I think the best way I can whittle that down—and I think a lot of people tend to agree with this—is bringing things to the public attention always is a double edged sword. […] The more places people know about, and can spread out to, will lessen impact in a singular spot.

~ Ryan Mallon (30:00)

The conversation explores how movement disciplines like Parkour can integrate with natural landscapes. Starting from structured training in a gym, the discussion transitions to adapting techniques for outdoor environments, particularly in North Carolina’s mountainous regions. Topics include the creative process of identifying and utilizing natural challenges for training and the unique perspective gained from exploring untouched environments.

It also touches on ecological concerns and the impact of human activity on natural spaces. Ryan emphasizes a balance between sharing access to beautiful, lesser-known locations and ensuring minimal ecological disruption. Discussions about coaching and community-building underline the value of teaching methodologies that empower others while cultivating personal growth through exploration.

Takeaways

The adaptability of Parkour — Techniques evolve from structured environments to embrace natural challenges.

Coaching as a skill — The ability to break down movements to foundational levels is key to being an effective coach.

Integrating outdoor exploration — Wilderness exploration can serve as a dynamic training ground, blending movement disciplines with nature.

Ecological awareness — Balancing public access with conservation is critical in managing natural spaces responsibly.

Personal evolution through movement — Training in nature fosters growth, creativity, and resilience.

Building community — Combining technical skills and shared experiences strengthens connections among practitioners.

Resources

Ryan Mallon @ryanmallonpk

American Parkour — A community and resource hub for Parkour enthusiasts.

Gaia GPS — A mapping and GPS navigation app used for planning explorations.

World Chase Tag — A competitive tag event that highlights agility and strategy.

Leave No Trace — An organization promoting responsible outdoor practices.

Blue Ridge Mountains — The geographical area central to the speaker’s exploration and training.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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The moment

The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you’re walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself. That’s the moment you may be starting to get it right.

~ Neil Gaiman

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Time amplifies

The small choices we make on a daily basis either work for us or against us. One choice puts time on your side. The other ensures it’s working against you. Time amplifies what you feed it.

~ Shane Parrish from, The Small Steps of Giant Leaps

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I don’t truly know if I’m unique. For me, the only way I can manage to feel as if I’ve enough time in my day is if I’m ruthless with myself about not giving my time away. I’ve spent so many decades feeling harried and busy… only to realize, duh, I did that to myself. I’ve spent so many dark days simply wanting some peace… only to realize, duh, all this craziness, I chose that. Somehow, I managed to slowly let this same idea Parrish mentions seep into my bones. Now I feel like I’m able to relax and simply experience being, through most of my days. Sometimes, I even take naps. My 25-year-old self would be horrified.

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This might get personal

these nine principles for interviewing people about tender, personal, tough subjects are tactics that are helpful in any hard conversation. You want to be clear about your objectives for the conversation, to be prepared to listen closely and actively, to prepare the person you are talking to for a different, deeper sort of exchange. You need to respect the dignity of the person you’re talking with, and respect yourself enough to speak up when you disagree.

~ Anna Sale from, Treat an Interview Like a Relationship – Transom

Whether or not you’re doing recorded conversations with guests, there’s a bunch of great advice in that article. I’m particularly drawn to Sale’s point about how her interviews are enabled by the fact that she is creating a relationship with the guest. In any conversation, everything we do either builds up, or tears down, a relationship bit by bit.

In any conversation, it’s my experience that the more intentional I am, the better it goes. Part of that is intentional listening; listening primarily to understand. Another part is being mindful of the other person; deploying empathy and compassion. Another part is keeping sight of where you are headed, and also where it is not possible to get to; knowing what to stretch for and what to let pass is critical.

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Sabbaticals are not the solution

What is it about digital addictions that make us think the occasional break will suffice?

~ Cal Newport from, Digital Sabbaticals Don’t Make Sense – Cal Newportsense/

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Weekly sabbaticals make no sense, sure. But less frequent sabbaticals are powerful. Take a week off from—whatever, email, social networks, etc.—and your addictions are made obvious. Nothing surprising there. The question is: Do you then consciously bring the addicting drug back into your life?

That’s not hyperbolic soapboxing; That’s a real question for you to consider.

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This too shall pass

This is a news flash to some: It’s okay to experience unpleasant feelings. It’s okay for things to happen that you don’t want to happen. It is possible to notice these things happening and consciously allow them to be there. And it makes a huge difference to how traumatic or not-so-bad the experience ends up being.

~ David Cain, from It’s okay to be here

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I believe that in some people circumspection develops with age.

I love to remind myself: If things are not going as I’d wish, relax because they won’t last. Also, if things are going as I’d wish, relax because they won’t last either.

There will be a last time that I awake from sleep. There will be a last time I have dinner with my mom. There will be a last line of software I write. There will be a last parkour jump I do. There will also be a last wasp sting, a last broken bone, a last heart-break, and the hottest and stickiest time I’ve ever experienced.

Why exactly should I be affected by the flat tire on my bicycle, the traffic jam, the cancelled flight or the irate customer?

In the end, it is all the same.

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The hardest part

What is THE hardest part of parkour/art du déplacement? Knowing when to stop. Once you learn how to push yourself, it becomes very hard to admit that you must rest _now_, when your friends are still training. I am not injured, but if I continue today- if I continue now- I will break. So… mental strength now, so I can continue (forever. The morning I do not awake, is the day I quit!)

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Vim koans

An old Unix master came to Master Wq. “I am troubled, Wq. You teach the way of Vim. vi is holy but Vim is not; its code sprawls, its features crowd memory; its binaries are vast, its behavior inconsistent. This is not the way of Unix. I fear you mislead your students. What can be done?”

Master Wq nodded. “You are right,” he said. “Vim is broken. Let us fix it. Shall we begin?”

Tom Ryder from, Vim Kōans | Arabesque

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