Having stable, solid, well-defined and deep foundations is ESSENTIAL to build anything GREAT from.
I am sure that concept is not news to you.
We need to have great foundations in order to build anything great.
Whether it is a skyscraper or an outstanding relationship.
Whether it is a great game of tennis, or a great business.
The fundamental foundations matter a lot.
But when it comes to us, as people, what EXACTLY do me mean (practically) when we talk about building a ‘solid foundation’?
I use the term a LOT with my clients.
So, I thought given I say it a lot, what exactly constitutes what I am calling a solid foundation?
Hence, today’s topic.
Part 1: The Physical
I think again, we can agree that without a healthy, vibrant, physical body, we are hardly going to be reaching our full potential, and expressing our inner greatness.
Which means, the first part of Foundation Building is purely physical.
And I will not insult anyone’s intelligence by assuming you don’t understand the fundamentals, so we will explore the main ones quickly, and then you can assess – for yourself – what area needs the most work.
1. Physical activity. We need to move our bodies, preferably every day, in a way that exercises the muscles, the cardiovascular system, stimulates the lymphatic system, and a myriad of other functions that physical activity provides us. This is a no-brainer for us all. We know without adequate physical activity, our foundation of health and vitality, will suffer. I like to do yoga as one of the best all-encompassing practices (if you do the traditional stuff), which works body, mind and spirit, at the same time. What I call High-ROI.
2. Nutrient dense food (with the least amount of toxins). The topic of “quality nutrition” is a minefield, but a few basics are consistent for us all – regardless of our individual constitutions. Eat real food (plant-based and/or animal-based). Minimise or remove processed or ultra-processed foods. And these days eat organic foods to minimise toxins from modern agricultural practices. Also prioritize quality water over all other drinks.
3. Prioritize sleep. Get enough, uninterrupted sleep each night. This is a key for physical and mental rejuvenation and regeneration.
Obviously, I could go deeper and broader into the physical foundation building elements, but I think you get the point.
You don’t have a “Solid Foundation to Build Greatness From” if you don’t take care of your physical body and well-being.
Part 2: The Psychological
This one is a little harder to narrow down to a few specific elements, but I will give it my best shot, based on what I have personally experienced, and observed as best practices with clients I have worked with over the years.
Primary Element #1: The Nervous System
Our foundation is a little wobbly, if our nervous system is too jacked, too reactive, or operating with a heavy bias towards activation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight or freeze). It is really hard to feel stable, if our nerves, and nervous system are all over the place. So I think this is a primary area where we can become destabilized, and our foundations become weak and unable to handle adversity.
We cannot call ourselves “stable”, or our foundations stable, if we are highly-reactive, easily triggered, or in a constant state of mild or moderate anxiety.
A lot of people I have worked with, take great care of the physical element of their foundations, but miss the mark when it comes to the stability of their mindset and personal psychology. Mainly because most people where never taught how to develop a stable psychology, and society has a bias towards creating fear so people consume more, and as a population we might be easier to “control”. We are primarily conditioned to believe that is it something OUTSIDE ourselves, that is the fixer, or saviour or needed thing, rather than encouraged to know that our GREATNESS comes from, and resides, within.
That might be a whole other topic, for another day.
My main point here, is that to have a “Solid Foundation To Build Greatness From“, we need to do specific practices to cool down, and harmonize our nervous system, so it is not over-activated, and has plenty of redundancy for dealing with the unforeseen.
The best PRACTICES for this are:
1. Breathwork (e.g. WimHof or traditional yogic pranayama techniques), which uses the breath to influence the nervous system.
2. Traditional yoga (which has meditation built into it).
3. Meditation (guided and non-guided).
4. Time in nature.
5. Techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping).
6. Different modalities through different therapists and practitioners (e.g. The Code to Joy, The LifeLine Technique, The Emotion Code, etc.).
When we stabilise and fortify the nervous system, it responds appropriately to the experience unfolding in front of us, and we are able to handle a much broader range of life experiences; in a calm, intentional, self-aware and graceful way. Allowing us to make the best decisions, for the outcomes we most desire.
Primary Element #2: The Mind
The other element of the Personal Psychology piece, which I think is hugely relevant in creating a Stable Foundation, is understanding the inner landscape of your mind, and the stories it is apt to tell.
Being self-aware of our thoughts, and the knowledge that not all our thoughts are true, or even useful, is a powerful place to be.
It is like standing above the mind, and choosing the thoughts which are of most use, and seeing a bunch of the other mental chatter, as nothing more than noise or the brain trying to justify what you are feeling and making-up “reasons” for stuff it does not fully understand.
It is hard to be stable if we have a runaway mind, and a psychology that believes what the mind is bringing to the surface, are actually facts and needs to be acted upon.
A stable mind, creates a stable foundation.
A stable mind is created by understanding how the brain works (conscious, subconscious, unconscious); by understanding your predominant “stories” and “beliefs”; by being able to step into the role of the Observer (of your thoughts); and also being able to consciously reframe your thoughts into something more favourable for you.
When it comes to mind, it is not a fixed thing we are after – when it comes to psychology – but a mind that is able to adapt to any circumstances, because of the way we consciously use it.
For me the singular best way to get better at knowing and managing the mind are related to slowing down, stopping, and looking inwards in quiet reflection (from a place of separation and non-attachment to the thoughts and stories playing out).
From a practical perspective, I feel meditation, journaling, and quiet inner reflection (especially in nature) are the biggest players when it comes to creating a self-determined mind.
Plus slowing down enough, so you have the capacity and space, to see things (and thoughts) for what they are.
In Summary
Being and doing GREATNESS, is more effectively done, and with a lasting nature, if we have a Solid Foundation on which to build from.
The foundation comes first; just like when building a skyscraper.
There are physical things we can do to create a solid foundation, like move our bodies, eating real food, and making rest a priority.
When it comes to the psychological aspect of foundation building (which is more consistently neglected), the two biggest areas to focus on are management of the nervous system, and management of the mind.
Without consciously creating a Solid Foundation, life – all of it – gets a bit wobbly (which no-one really wants).
My Parting Words
Since I bang on so much about the importance of having a Solid Foundation, I figured it was time for me to define exactly what I meant.
It is one of the things I focus on first, with all my new clients.
I don’t want them to (necessarily) to be dreaming up big things they want to achieve in life, until I have them doing this from a solid and stable platform.
Otherwise, what they may think they see, as wanting, may be very different from what they actually see from a solid and stable platform.
The other benefit of a solid and stable foundation is you can weather storms much easier.
Plus bounce back from adversity.
Like if you have a solid foundation and build a house on it.
If the house is damaged or levelled for any reason you are able to build back much quicker, if your foundation is solid.
Not sure if that is the best analogy, but I am sure you get the point. 😉
Where would you say your Foundation needs the most work?
Is it in the physical space or the psychological space (or both)?
And then, start small, but start working on strengthening that part of your personal foundation.
This is doubly important in our world, which is a bit wobbly at present.
Happy Foundation building.
Have a exceptional day, and reflective week on where your foundations need some attention.
Take care.
Carl
Quotable QUOTE:
“Being and doing Greatness, is more effectively done, and with a lasting nature, if we have a Solid Foundation on which to build from.” Carl Massy
(Author of 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be)
PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be
