05 May What’s Your Story: Do You Have a Warning Track?
What is the most dangerous game to play? In what type of game are you most likely to get hurt and risk suffering serious injury? Most importantly, when you play a game, are you aware of the dangers inherent in the game and able to protect yourself from unwanted and unnecessary harm?
Hockey is a highly physical and dangerous game. Besides the brutal physical contact between players hurling across the ice at each other, players constantly risk potentially paralyzing injuries to the head, neck and spinal cord as they crash into the boards. In heavy contact sports like hockey and football, players attempt to protect themselves from injury by wearing heavy padding and helmets. But gearing up in this way can give players a false sense of protection and power; they often collide head first with other players and play more aggressively than they might otherwise. In rugby, a sport played without protective gear, players are aware of their vulnerability and instinctively protect their heads and neck. As a result, rugby players actually suffer fewer serious injuries from collisions.
Baseball at least has a built-in safety system to reduce serious collisions: the warning track. An outfielder chasing down a long fly ball is focused solely on the ball, but he knows as soon as his feet hit dirt that he is approaching the outfield wall and is in danger of a collision. There is no such warning system alerting hockey players of impending collisions with unyielding boards. A reckless hit from behind, a shove at a player in a vulnerable position, or a player’s last-instant turn toward the wall with his head down could result in tragedy. A visual reminder that a player is entering a danger zone could prevent a catastrophic injury. It just requires a “look-up” line to provide a visual alert and clear message: Danger ahead! I suggest that a more dangerous game even than hockey is the Game of Life, where the dangers and consequent injuries to unaware and distracted players can result in disaster. The Game of Life requires focused navigation – keeping your eye on what’s important for your safety, success and happiness.
Do you have a passion in your life? Have you set clear goals to work toward? Do you have a plan of action? Are you aware of your personal obstacles and landmines, waiting to derail you and smash you into the boards of life? Is your protective gear giving you a false sense of security and invincibility, blinding you to your inherent vulnerabilities?
Life Navigators see the entire playing field. They know their key goals and take focused and consistent actions to achieve success. Most importantly, they are aware of their danger zones, i.e., their limiting beliefs, personal weaknesses and vulnerabilities, areas where they take things too personally, and their fears… which often are simply “False Expectations Appearing Real!” Consequently, they slow down when they hit their warning track and sense that danger is near. They observe their experiences objectively and attempt to review their options, all while keeping their eye on their goals. They are able to choose precise and effective actions rather than simply smashing forward, colliding head-first, and creating havoc all around them. They skate through their game of life with their heads up, aware of their personal warning tracks.
What are the boards that you’re smashing into? What injuries are you causing yourself? Are you crashing into others and pushing them into their walls, causing them harm? How do you know when danger is near? Do you have a warning track? To learn more about living an extraordinary life, life navigation, and how to create a warning track, check out Moss Jackson’s book “Navigating for Success.” Order it online, through email center11@verizon.net, or by calling 610.642.4873 ext. 23. If you enjoy these posts sign up for more below, and share them with others who may like to read them!