Since I was so young, I always come back to the water…whether physically or metaphorically, when things start to get crazy. Yes, I’ve watched the new 30 for 30 on Bruce Lee, Be Water, and when I visualize to down regulate an over active mind, I picture myself floating on my back, sun on my face, with the ebb and flow of the current underneath me. It calms me, I never sink. I’ve talked about the VIA Character Strength test before as a means to understand ourselves better through the lens of positive psychology, but I learned about another trustworthy measure called the High 5 Test in a course I have taken called Zero To Dangerous from The Flow Research Collective. I gravitate toward these tests because they are simple, scientifically validated ways, to get to know ourselves better. Part of healing, finding our purpose, and reaching our highest potential lies in our ability to understand ourselves, our tendencies, and why we do the things we do. Not everyone is on this path, but chances are if you read my blog, it’s something that you are interested in for yourself. It’s a journey that is never complete and is always available to us if we make the choice to ask the bigger questions about our lives…the ones that help us discover our unique why.
The High 5 Test is made up of 100 questions that you answer on a sliding scale. When you go with your gut instinct and don’t overthink it, (which is how you are supposed to take the quiz) it takes about 10 mins. When I took it, the results definitely resonated with the way I understand myself. Although the learning is never done, the insights from this quiz align beautifully with the path that I have worked to create for myself throughout my life and with even greater intensity over the last couple of years. I’m confident that it will bring continued satisfaction and growth for me, and a ripple effect of improvement for the lives of people around me because the vision for my day and the way I spend my time is in alignment with my values and the person that I am. In that pocket there is infinite room to work from our strengths and grow.
My High 5 results revealed no surprises for me:
EMPATHIZER
COACH
OPTIMIST
STORYTELLER
THINKER
There is scientific evidence that says we are able to maximize flow state in our lives with our top 5 strengths are in play and I feel this each day right now as I write and coach myself and others to use optimism as the energy to become their best. As an EMPATHIZER, it is natural for me to feel into another persons experience in their life, and I love the way it connects us as humans and to my work. As a COACH, I have created amazing bonds and seek out other coaches to learn from and continue to be inspired by the talent and heart that blankets this profession. At my core, I am an OPTIMIST, it’s a quality that carries on the best days and buoys my spirits through life’s challenges. My blog is the place where my STORYTELLER nature is recorded and even before that began, stories have been the predominant way I teach the lessons of life to my kids. Lastly, I stand back and laugh a little on the THINKER perspective because boy have I had to learn how to handle this one. I believe that my passion for music kicked in at an early age because before I had a mindfulness practice, it was the only thing that slowed down my philosophizing brain. But in the end, the reason this description sits so calmly in my soul is because of the way it aligns with the way I spend my days and my newest business venture.
A lot of time, risk, and effort has gone into the planning and launch of Championship Performance Advantage, our new sports, physicality, and mentality training facility just off the 405 in Lawndale, CA. But when I see how perfectly it intersects with my “game of life” philosophy and my strengths, I get really excited and understand why I feel so deeply about the mission that my partners and I believe in…to help others who are on the path to greatness, (which is everyone who recognizes the power of their choice) become their best. It’s a place where I can use my strengths to connect with clients, through optimism & resilience coaching to help reframe life’s challenges to become opportunities in our lives, nutrition coaching to take care of our second brain (our gut), or yoga, mediation, and breath work to calm our monkey minds and overtaxed nervous systems. All of these offerings help maximize both my own potential, and that of my clients, which is a pretty amazing way to get to spend the day. I hope you will come visit us. We have countless offerings both on and off the court to strengthen your sport, physicality, and mentality for the best life.
Ask yourself today where your true strengths lie, take the High 5 Test, and let’s get to work aligning vision and values to create the biggest and best life that makes the positive impact the world needs today and always. If something is standing in your way, let me know if I can help you. The vision for our lives is as big as we say it is and are willing to work for. By asking ourselves the right questions, we inspire ourselves and each other to greatness…and that’s when we become unsinkable.
