Los Suenos Institute
Describing My Experiences With Flow States
by Sueños on 04/14/17
As an avid adventurer and adrenaline junkie, I've found myself having experienced states of flow quite frequently. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, it's more colloquially known as "being in the zone." It's a type of absorption truly unlike anything else. It's like your cognition and actions merge into a single action. Kind of like when you type a sentence. As you think of what you should say next, your fingers are informed of what keys to hit and the sentence appears.
With flow, however, it's a much more perplexing phenomenon. It's in a sense a way of letting go, and trusting your mind and body to work properly as one. I really honed the skill during my martial arts training. Each student would line up in front of the black belts with their hands at their sides. The black belt would then strike you randomly(not hard more like a gentle tap). The aim was really to test your reflexes, and if you got hit, you were doing push-ups. Class after class everyone would block their strike no problem. Everyone that is, except for me. After about 100 or so my sensei gave me this advice, "Do not think about blocking, just block." Which, at the time, seemed like quite possibly the least helpful advice I'd ever received. However, the black belt doing the striking had gotten the memo too. I walked up to him, and before I could properly prepare myself he struck. With no issue I blocked his punch.
It's a total absence of anticipation and complete dedication to the moment. Now it's important to find activities you can do to activate these states, because you can use them to your benefit outside of that context. They don't necessarily have to active either! I know a lot of people experience these states when they do something incredibly meticulous, like coloring intricate mandalas or even knitting a scarf.
A lot of people talk about meditation as way to induce this state through a sort of self hypnotizing. I've found this especially true when I apply it to my snowboarding. I really enjoy riding in the trees because it's almost always full of fresh snow. This is due to the large and obvious amount of danger that comes with riding 20-30 mph in densely wooded areas. If I don't meditate before I ride, I will with some degree of certainty catch my shoulder on a branch and end up face first in a decent amount of snow. However, if I take a moment to meditate beforehand, it's almost an instant flow state.
I hope this gave you some insight into what is quickly becoming the latest buzzword in positive psychology. If you've experienced a state of flow, I'd be really interested in reading about your experiences in the comments below. As always, thanks for reading, and if you like this article, feel free to share!
This is a guest post by one of our coaches Diego-Andreas. If you like this post, and want to read more like it, check out his blog at www.wonderingintomyself.com
What Earning My Third-Degree Black Belt at 18 Taught me.
by Sueños on 04/13/17From the ages of 10-18 I studied martial arts intensively. I earned my first degree black belt when I was 14, my second degree when I was 16, and my third degree when I was 18-years-old. It was a moment I'll never forget. Each taught me something a little different. My first degree taught me what I was capable of when I set my mind on a goal. My second degree taught me that you always have more to give, even when you feel completely exhausted. The lesson of my third degree was best summarized by the Bruce Lee quote, that hung on the wall of our Dojo, "Success is the journey, not the destination."
It felt like I had been working for my third degree my whole life. Every brick I broke, every sparring session I won, each Kata I performed all culminated in the piece of black fabric with three beautifully embroidered lines, but it was the moment that I had my belt tied on me by my sensei, that I realized something much greater. I had learned so much more from every time I went home with sore hands from not breaking a single board. Each punch in the throat, and every kick in the head was a reminder to keep those hands up. Failure, in this case, was a much better teacher than success.
As I joined the dozen other black belts eager to welcome me among their ranks, I couldn't help but sit with this feeling of, "Well now what?" This was literally IT. This was everything I had spent the last eight years working for. I wasn't really too sure what to do with myself, so I dropped out. My final exam for my third degree black belt, was the last day I practiced martial arts.
What I learned from my experience was the journey, the grind, the exhaustion, was ultimately what made it fun. Having something to continually reach for is what inspired me to go to class four days a week. Now, as I resume my practice, the goals I set are arbitrary. They mean nothing more than the significance I've given them, yet they are the driving force of my practice.
So, if you find yourself having earned the thing you've always wanted, it's time to set new goals. It's time to define new heights. Because the reward is in the journey itself, not the things it brings you.
This is a guest post by one of our coaches Diego-Andreas. If you like this post, and want to read more like it, check out his blog at www.wonderingintomyself.com
Why Staying Active is About so Much More Than How You Look
by Sueños on 04/11/17
As we begin to roll into the summer months, you may begin to start wondering how your beach bod is holding up. Of course it's nice to feel great about how you look, but there are so many other benefits to staying active. These include improved mood, memory,a reduced chance of Alzheimer's, and more. Regular cardiovascular activity isn't just great for how you look, but how you feel!
One of the most obvious effects of working out is the high you feel after working out. That improved mood is often referred to as a "Runner's High," and is the result of of endorphins being released. Endorphins are essentially the body's own form opiates, and they're used to block the sensation of pain. (That means you really have to get sweating). This effect isn't limited to cardio either! Heavy weight training can produce this effect as well.
It isn't just about the great temporary mood boost. In a recent study, people answered a survey about how active they were daily, and then had their telomere lengths measured, showed that people who are more active tend to have longer telormeres. (Telomeres are kind of like the caps on the end of your shoelaces but for DNA. Think, longer telomeres, lower, visible, signs of aging). This may well provide a future link between exercise and slower aging.
Evidence is also beginning to surface that staying active throughout your life, may also lead to a lower risk of Alzheimer's. This makes sense as cardiovascular exercise has also been shown to increase our ability to form new memories and recall old ones.
It's incredible the types of changes you notice in your life when you start working out regularly. When I began my exercise routine, after just a week I noticed myself being overall more energetic, and it felt like my performance at work increased exponentially. I cannot tell people enough how critical their fitness is to obtaining what they're passionate about. So, I wish you all great workouts, and incredible gains.
It isn't just about the great temporary mood boost. In a recent study, people answered a survey about how active they were daily, and then had their telomere lengths measured, showed that people who are more active tend to have longer telormeres. (Telomeres are kind of like the caps on the end of your shoelaces but for DNA. Think, longer telomeres, lower, visible, signs of aging). This may well provide a future link between exercise and slower aging.
Evidence is also beginning to surface that staying active throughout your life, may also lead to a lower risk of Alzheimer's. This makes sense as cardiovascular exercise has also been shown to increase our ability to form new memories and recall old ones.
It's incredible the types of changes you notice in your life when you start working out regularly. When I began my exercise routine, after just a week I noticed myself being overall more energetic, and it felt like my performance at work increased exponentially. I cannot tell people enough how critical their fitness is to obtaining what they're passionate about. So, I wish you all great workouts, and incredible gains.
This is a guest post from one of our coaches Diego-Andreas. If you like this post, and want to see more like it, check out his blog at www.wonderingintomyself.com
5 Things to Expect From Our Summer Dreaming Experiences
by Sueños on 04/10/17
We're preparing for our summer experiences, and we could not be more excited! Today I wanted to help give you an idea of the incredible experiences you will be having, and the amazing things you will do. Hopefully this will help you get a better idea of what to pack when we see you later this summer!
Long, Beautiful, Sunny Days
Despite Utah's snowy, cold winters, the state can have some blisteringly hot summers. A typical day time temp in July is about 90°F(about 32°C). Make sure to pack sunscreen and chap stick! The night usually brings about some cooler temperatures, but the variation isn't typically huge. Still, a light jacket or a sweater may be something worth throwing in your bag.
Sore Muscles
Adventuring plays a huge role in all of our experiences. In any given day, expect to walk/hike 5 miles total. Additionally there is plenty of kayaking. If you aren't a typically active person, you may want to consider starting a modest work-out routine before your visit. This will ensure that you still have plenty of energy for the break-out sessions, and that you can stay active with us all week!
A Lot of Laughing
For a lot of people, this is the first time they try a lot of our activities. Some have never been on a kayak, others have never done yoga. You will tip over, you will fall, that's okay. In fact, it's what makes everybody such a tight knit group by the end of the week. You'll all come strangers, but you will leave best friends.
Incredible Seasonal Dining Experiences
We do our best to source the best ingredients, and treat you to some of the finest views. We want to support local agriculture, and we do our best to keep it local. As a consequence our menu changes frequently, and if you join us for more than one experience, you may never eat the same thing again. We do our best to accommodate for any allergies, eating preferences, etc. but we need to know at the time of your booking, so we can have adequate time to prepare.
To Finally Relax
We do our best to help you find your natural center and maintain it. We like to create an oasis of sorts. Cellphones, we've noticed, have a bad habit of pulling people out of the experience. We leave ours on silent in case of an emergency, but we ask you to leave yours in your room. At the end of the day it's fine to take a call, but on the whole, we want everyone present and engaged in the experience.
Hopefully this helped give you a better idea of what to expect during our experiences. We can't wait to share our beautiful mountain getaway with everyone this season. If you haven't already booked your experience, follow the link at the bottom and reserve your spot today! Our Coaching Certifications and Energy Focused Living experiences are filling up fast!
http://www.lossuenosinstitute.com/newcoaching.html
THE INTERVIEW. What I Learned About Interviews As A VP of HR
by Sueños on 04/07/17
Whether it is your first interview during corporate recruitment
days at your college’s placement department or you are a seasoned corporate
professional, knowing the mechanics and techniques of the interview
process is vital. The interviewing process begins with your resume.
I will not review how to prepare an effective resume at this time. There
are many resources available online and at your local library. You do
though need to be conscious that your resume begins the first step of the
interview process. Your resume answers very specific
questions they have about the type of candidate they are looking for. Therefore,
weather you are interviewing for the first time or looking at an upper level
management move refresh your resume to reflect the new position and the culture
of the company you are interviewing with. The interview should
be looked at similar to how you prepare for a presentation. Most people
do not have the skills to wait until you get to the podium and wing it.
Equally when it comes to an interview the amount of preparation a candidate
does becomes very evident throughout the interview. Culturally for
many first-generation white collar applicants to be humble and not draw
attention to yourself is considered a very positive trait. In today’s
corporate interviewing process this will be misinterpreted as a lack of
confidence!
Take the following steps to prepare for your interview:
1. Research, find out as much about the position, the
company, and industry as you can. Utilize the internet, to look
through annual reports, position descriptions, industry news
2. Research, find out as much as you can about yourself. Review previous performance reviews.
Recent college grads can review report cards or comments on term papers.
What you are looking for is anywhere anything where you have been given
feedback about your performance professionally or scholastically.
Take the time to review your resume. Know your resume, dates, companies, accomplishments, majors,
hobbies, interest. It is easy to forget during the pressure of the
moment. There are few things which makes someone look as bad as the
candidate not remembering the very information which they put on their resume
and is in the hands of the person interviewing you. It gives the
interviewer the feeling that you are being less than forthright.
3. Rehearse, make a list of the possible questions you
may be asked. If there are any gaps or possible sensitive areas in your
resume develop the most direct, transparent, and succinct response possible.
Do not sound defensive or apologetic. If you were terminated
this is not the time to go into any long explanation, with details and
graphs. Keep it direct and succinct. “It was not a good fit”, while
a cliché I have found it is usually truly the case the majority of the
time. Whether lack of fit was as a result of a new boss, a change in
company direction, or no longer feeling challenged by the position, it is not
important. No need to assign blame. Put it behind you and move
on. Stay focused on your positive attributes! Constantly keep in the
forefront the answer to the number one question, how can your skills,
talents, creativity, energy, help the company make money. Remember every
company is trying to hire or promote individuals who will help them make more
money! Whether it is by finding solutions, improving processes,
increasing sales, it always comes down to how can this candidate help us make
more money.
4. Look The Part, even if you are an existing employee wear your
best business suit. I worked in the high-tech arena for some time, which
is by far one of the most casual dress environments in the corporate
world. However, when it came to an interview even if it was an in-house
candidate a good business suit made a difference. This applies equally to
males and females. If they can visualize you in the part it is more
likely you will get the part.
5. Visualize, now that you have
completed the 4 previous steps, researched the company,
researched yourself, rehearsed, and look the part. I want you to
find a quiet place and a comfortable chair. I want you to close your eyes
and visualize yourself entering the conference room for your interview.
Visualize yourself calm, confident and prepared. I want you look around
the room the interviewer is coming towards you shake her hand, make eye
contact, and smile. If it is a panel interview make eye contact with
everyone on the panel and smile. Wait to be introduced and shake
every one’s hand if possible and appropriate. Always say yes if offered
something to drink. A glass of water always gives you time. When
needing a little time to think before a response, simply take a small
drink. No one will ever notice the pause. Visualize them asking and
you responding to the questions you prepared earlier. After you respond
to the last question thank everyone for their time, shake everyone’s hand, and
smile. Visualize yourself walking out of the interview knowing you wowed
them!
