What gives you a performance lift? What keeps you flying high and keeps you travelling forward whilst resistance is against you? On a recent flight to Indonesia, I was waiting at the departure gate lounge watching in awe as these 150 tonne metal mammoths took off almost effortlessly. What continues to fascinate me is how all that weight stays up there until it arrives as its destination. Turns out there are four forces at play and these forces serve as a useful metaphor for high performance living.
When we talk about a performance lift in your life, are you aware what sustains your enthusiasm and drive? Let's check-in with the forces at play here. We will begin with lift and drive. I think of these as simply what keeps you up and keeps you moving - especially when you don't feel like it or lose altitude aka spirit.
Lift is what the German philosopher Nietzsche was referring to when he said, " He who has a why to live can bear almost any how". Said differently, lift is your purpose. It's what the Japanese call "Ikigai", your 'reason for being'. Mythology expert and author Joseph Campbell advised, "follow your bliss". All these philosophies point to the secret behind purpose which is that it activates your fighting spirit. This is your indomitable force that bolsters enthusiasm and gives you energy. It keeps you up after failure, setbacks and slow returns. Ever wondered how you maintained efforts at a time when you felt depleted and discouraged? That was the lifting force of spirit! Bringing conscious attention to your purpose and refuelling (aligning) with it can give you the performance lift you desperately need.
Here's the paradox of flight. The force of lift requires an opposing force of gravity. Gravity is always at play. Knowing this gives you an unfair advantage over those who think they should experience success or progress all the time. Gravity, or what brings you down is the force of habit and conservation of energy. Your system is designed to habituate those acts you do repeatedly. Imagine having to remember how to brush your teeth every morning! This is good for everyday rituals. It just makes it hard when you're forging a new high performance habit related to a change you want to make in your life. Give yourself time and self-compassion as you experience the turbulence between the interactive forces of lift and gravity.
Drive can be likened to vision. It's your destination. Vision is the jet engine and fuel that propels you forward. Proverbs teach "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Disability rights advocate and author, Helen Keller, said it best, "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision." In working with many people, I have found that once we can help the person get clarity around their vision or the current interference, they can take the next step forward confidently. Clear skies ahead.
Drive also has an opposing and balancing force which is drag. Just think of whatever brings you down emotionally. Interesting that we even use this term in our language, "what a drag" or "you're dragging me down". Whilst there are many opposing drag forces to your performance, here is three to seriously consider: distraction, toxic relationships and improper diet. Digital distraction is the most pervasive. Guard against excessive screen time and social media. Relationships are trickier to navigate, however consider who you should associate with more and who you should associate with less. As for diet, which has its root in the Greek word meaning lifestyle, is exactly that: monitor the dials of your sleep, exercise and nutrition.
Remember that you are the pilot of your life. Your performance begins and ends with you. Full responsibility for the flight path that is your life requires and deserves your attention. Consider the forces of lift and gravity, drive and drag. Which one would give you the performance edge you've been looking for? Draw up a flight plan today.