Walking For a Change

“Everything has changed now, except our way of thinking. And we’ve got to find ways to change our way of thinking.” -Albert Einstein

Chris Clarke-Epstein, our friend and colleague, shared this quote in her recent “Thinking for a Change” newsletter. (I highly recommend signing up for this weekly bite sized nugget of wisdom.)

This quote really spoke to me because as you know we recently underwent a big change in our business, moving into our new office space. In a way it does feel like “everything has changed.” It’s now time to start asking some uncomfortable “why” questions. If you’ve ever had a conversation with a three-year-old, then you undoubtedly know the type of questions I’m talking about. Just another example of how kids are our sherpas.

Asking “why” is a valuable step towards changing the way you think. The honest answers can lead you to some amazing discoveries. These “why” conversations don’t just happen, though. You have to set yourself up for a clear mindset by being well rested and energized, with a touch of frustration for your current situation.

Jason and I had the perfect storm of this on Sunday. We always make our biggest decisions while walking, which is not a coincidence. You don’t have to perform brain surgeries from 9-5 to know that there is a connection between our mind and our bodies. Our buddy Scott Ginsberg, whom we interviewed in our recent magazine, talks about this in his article, “Four ways to sidestep your creative blocks and motivate your muse.” He shares,

Have you ever noticed how creative you get while exercising for extended periods of time? That’s not a coincidence, either – it’s biological. According to Molecules of Emotion by Candace B. Pert, continuous exercise like running, long-distance swimming, aerobics, cycling or cross-country skiing appears to contribute to an increased production and release of endorphins. These endorphins are morphine-like substances that have strong affects on the brain and body during exercise. They result in a sense of euphoria that has been popularly labeled as the “runner’s high.”

Jason and I continuously experience this, and Sunday afternoon in sunny Madison was no exception. We love to go on walks. You can somewhat picture where our favorite path is in this picture. It’s amidst the row of trees on the edge of the lake (the lake on the left, also known as Lake Mendota), facing all of the sailboats on the water. It’s quite a view!

After our two hour walk by the lake we had answered some hard questions and came to the conclusion that we needed to merge three existing Kim & Jason blogs,- mine, his and the Club K&J blog. It was time. As we laid in bed that night, with an equal mix of exhaustion and excitement, Jason summarized the day by announcing, “Hey, our blogs got married today.”

You just never know what the hard, honest questions will lead to, but you can be sure you’ll be further along on your journey when it’s all said and done.

What do you need to change your thinking about?

What in your life needs to be re-examined and picked apart with an honest “why” conversation?

Lace up those sneakers and see where you end up.

[tags]change, Chris Clarke-Epstein, Scott Ginsberg, Albert Einstein, asking why, exercise, Madison, WI[/tags]