Where are your lines between personal growth and perfectionism? Explore your relationship with yourself with us!

Have you ever tried to fix an ongoing lack of energy by getting more sleep — only to do so and still feel exhausted?

If that’s you, here’s the secret: Sleep and rest are not the same thing, although many of us incorrectly confuse the two.

How to know when you’re in overwhelm, and what to do about it.

“It’s hard to read the label when you’re stuck inside the jar.”

There you are, body shaking, a mosh-pit of thoughts beating around the inside of your head, focused on all that is wrong, dangerous, or unplanned in the world around you. Those thoughts are so strong, in fact, that you have totally lost touch with your body besides its overwhelming sensations of tension, pain, or terror. Your eyes are moving quickly, your breath is shallow from your chest, and your mind’s-eye is playing all the potential, emanate destruction.

You are in “overwhelm.”

The new calendar year can be inspiration to make changes we have noticed and possibly pushed off. Many of those changes could use an extra, expert guide, teammate, or helper. It can be confusing, however, to decide how to make the changes AND who to have on board. Here is some insight into when to work with a coach versus a trainer in your climbing and wellness goals.

I was recently challenged to explore what Play means to me. What he had heard when I called his work “play,” was the little-p play that is about games, silliness, fun, a kind of carelessness that is important but not very substantial. What I am excited about, and the way I see his work, is Big-P Play.

Gratitude is certainly no silver bullet – it is a tool like anything else. Its practice, however, is scientifically proven to have some pretty powerful impacts on both our overall wellbeing and offer momentary relief from the ails of narrowed, negative emotions.

“Blake, you’re thinking fast.”

Those words, patiently stated by my climbing partner, brought me back to reality.

This moment was a turning point in my understanding of mindfulness and self-awareness. For years I was convinced I could not meditate, my brain too fast and loud. But this experience of overwhelming fear (during a relatively safe climb) shook me deeply.

The “process” of taking care of our bodies even when we push them hard.