What surfers can teach us about the "Power of Now".
Well, well, well, here we are on the brink of the Christmas break and the end of another wild year. Between frantically wrapping up projects, trying to coordinate holiday plans with the family, and overthinking every single New Year’s resolution under the sun, it’s no wonder we’re all feeling a little fried. But fear not, dear reader!
I’m here to help you navigate the chaos and emerge as a shining beacon of holiday cheer and personal growth. In this blog post, I’ll explain why we all should be surfers and living in the moment doing the things we love to become better person (without overdoing it, of course).
I hope you’ll take away a little something to help you tackle the festive season and the new year with grace and a sense of presence.
In a society that is becoming increasingly fast-paced, it’s easy to get caught up in the pace of life, worrying about the past and thinking too much about the future just to keep up. We’re constantly bombarded with information, notifications, and the stress of life that distract us from the present and doing the things we love.
For this, we can harness the Power of Now and take some cues from surfers to be present, do the things we love, and simply enjoy the ride.
Be present.
One of the most important lessons we can learn from surfers is that there really is no time like the present. Surfing is all about the here and now. Surfers have to be completely present because the “right” wave isn’t going to wait for them - when it comes up, they take that opportunity because they don’t know when the next one is going to come.
Living in the present means being aware of what we’re doing and enjoying it for what it is.
It’s easy for us to mull over missed opportunities or failures, or even think about what could happen. Surfers don’t have time to be distracted by the wave that just wiped them out, or obsess about finding the next best wave because they may miss the one right in front of them. Similarly, we can learn to live in the moment we’re in because we may end up missing the opportunity in front of us while thinking about those we’ve missed and the ones that could be.
When you’re in the present, you can focus on what you’re doing and are also more likely to enjoy it and do it well. For surfers, a momentary distraction while riding a wave can mean the difference between an incredible ride and be completely wiped out.
Do what you love.
Another lesson we can learn from surfers is the importance of doing what you love. Great surfers have one thing in common - they are incredibly passionate about the sport, and many can attest that the thrill and passion keep them searching for the next wave to carve despite the sport is both rewarding and challenging at the same time.
If you’re not doing what you love today and aren’t happy with your situation, what are you waiting for? Regardless of what it is you’re pursuing or would like to pursue, it shows when you are passionate about something and love what you do in your performance, attitude, and happiness. Doing what we love can ultimately help us lead more fulfilling lives.
The Power of Now.
There really is no time like the present - that is the power of now. While the past and future are both important in learning from mistakes and planning for the future, it can be easy to spend too much time in either of those places and miss out on the present. When that happens, we can lose focus on things that we love and matter to us most.
Take a cue from surfers, and be present in the now - what have you got to lose?
Go surfing and be present!
P.S.: See you in the new year - will be living in the NOW now.
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Felix Scholz @thefelixscholz
Hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts & learnings running my startup studio and what surfing has taught me about life & being a founder. Please share, like & subscribe.