“If you do something you have never done, you will get results that you have never gotten, you will learn something, often about yourself, that you would not have learned otherwise” -Frenetta Tate
This may read like a tongue-twister but it has such truth to it. Today, I tried something new. I learned how to Kayak! I have always been curious about this sport but I never tried it until today!
I’ve talked a lot about ‘doing something different’, ‘trying something new’ and ‘placing yourself in a position to learn and grow.’ Well, today I did just that! As I kayaked around the lake at Discovery Green Conservatory in Houston, Texas; I savored the moment, felt the wind in my hair and the excitement of doing something I’ve never done. Kayaking taught me a lot about life. I am sharing what I learned today, in hopes that it will empower you to, not only try something new but reflect on what you learn and apply the principles you glean to your life.
Kayaking is about STRATEGY
Strategy is a method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a problem. When kayaking, you must know which direction you want to go so that you will know which direction to paddle. You can’t paddle backwards and expect to go forward, or paddle forward and expect to go backward. You must be aligned. I found myself getting confused about which way to paddle to avoid hitting the wall. It is the same with life, to achieve any worthy goal, you must first know, what you want to accomplish and then set objectives that will get you to your desired goal. You can’t just know it, you’ve got to do something. I could not just sit there and say, ‘I want to go left’ and expect the paddle to magically obey me. I had to DO IT. In the moment of confusion, I slowed down enough in my mind to think about what I am doing and recall the instructions that were given. Likewise, sometimes you have to go back to your core and your WHY to get back to your WHAT. It is aligning and re-aligning yourself back to your goals and objectives. You must be aligned; body, mind and spirit. This alignment will take you on to success.
Kayaking is about SKILL
Skill is the ability to do something well. To succeed in kayaking, you must be able to do, at the least, three things: 1.) Balance yourself on the kayak, 2.) Coordinate your arms with the paddle and 3.) Concentrate on your desired goal. There must be constant movement or you will end up stuck or hit a wall. I kept hitting the wall because I wasn’t paddling with enough vigor to pick up the momentum to shift the sail. Certain things will not work without the momentum behind it! In order to keep going, I had to keep paddling. It is the same in life, when we have great momentum, we feel that we can accomplish absolutely anything but lo, if we lose the momentum, we end up stuck. For example, When I felt myself heading toward a wall, I immediately began paddling away from the wall to build momentum so I would not hit it. But there were times when I hit the wall ANYWAY! You will still hit some walls but it is how you bounce back. I could have given up but that would have been ridiculous given the time invested and my victory is so near. No, I allowed myself to hit the wall and I used the wall as LEVERAGE to push myself away from it. In life, use your walls to push yourself further. Don’t get stuck at the wall!
Kayaking is about using the RIGHT TOOLS
In kayaking, you must use a specific type of paddle, facing a few different ways to achieve certain results. If you use the paddles incorrectly, you will go into a direction you may not want to go. It is the same with life, you can’t cut a steak with a plastic knife. It was not created to be used for that purpose. You cut a steak with a steak knife. You must use the proper tools to get the job done because using the wrong ones will take up too much of your time.
When I began to use the paddle in the wrong way, I was not gliding as smoothly on the water. I was putting up efforts that were really unnecessary. But when I corrected to the proper way to hold the paddle, I was able to maneuver more efficiently, it was easier and I was not encountering so much resistance. In life, it is important to understand which tools to use for whatever you are doing. This means that you must prepare yourself. If I did not have a paddle, I could not kayak. Having a paddle is a absolute necessity. So, when I talk about having and using the right tools, this is what I am referring to in my talks.
Key Points:
- To achieve any goal, know what you truly want, develop a plan of action and align yourself.
- When things get confusing, regroup and think about your WHY to get back to your WHAT.
- Don’t let walls stop you. Use them as leverage.
- Understand the proper use of a thing and know what tools you need for success.
Share Your Story: Have you learned any new lessons lately?
Frenetta Tate, President of EmpowerMe365, is a Certified Empowerment Coach and Motivational Speaker. She can be reached at www.frenettatate.com.
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