Now, had I been a seasoned cyclist, I would have put more thought into the optimal outer clothing – instead, I’d focused perhaps too much on the sub-layers and looked on with envy at those donning their windbreakers and waterproof trousers. Despite the bitter wind chill factor, my well-worn fleece and those pathetic threadbare gloves (what was I thinking?), I was sitting quite comfortably, actually. In the lead up to the event, I somehow had known what would make the biggest difference to my staying the course. I had invested a modest £19.99 in a small and fairly discreet item. What struck me, was how this relatively insignificant purchase could have such a profound impact on my comfort and endurance.

This led me to reflect on the types of support we have around us, yet rarely draw on when facing difficult or challenging times.  As a coach, I’m acutely aware of the tough world we live in, the issues we have to grapple with every day, and the cultural norm that dictates us to keep a stiff upper lip and never grumble – it could be worse, after all.  I’m also highly conscious of how a very small amount of support can go a long, long way. It often turns out to be the one thing that determines whether your dream or goal remains on your list of ‘Things I Would Love To Do One Day’ or moves over to your list of ‘Things I Have Done’.

It’s the day after the cycle ride and I’m still smiling, proud of my little achievement, happy with our efforts in organising a great event for a project that will make a real difference to orphaned and disabled children in Tajikistan. And forever grateful that I knew myself well enough to be certain of the best support for this particular rider… padded cycling shorts!

The economic downturn we’re experiencing on a global scale is one interpretation of ‘hard times’. For many, it’s much more personal than that. People are dragging themselves to jobs every day, simply going through the motions – I call it ‘motion sickness’. Working in a way that lacks meaning, without a sense of true purpose, can feel like hard times that even Dickens couldn’t depict. It’s enough to make anyone want to have a sickie.

Maybe there’s something in the air compelling us to throw caution to the wind and catch a dangerous ride on a fast and furious current that promises to transport us to a place of more engaging, satisfying work. Trouble is, the competition is fierce and opportunities are like gold dust – they may be worth searching for but it takes a committed grafter to sift through all that sludge to get their hands on the reward.

So what to do when you’re not getting totally blown away by your work? I see two possible options:

- Take a risk and let go of that death grip hold on your parachute, free-fall for a while, see which way the wind blows you and explore those places that you’ve always been passionate about.

- Look at your parachute from a fresh perspective – see it as a tent instead. Untangle the ropes, tie them to some stakes and plant them firmly in the ground. Take responsibility for getting more out of your job by engaging and connecting with it at a profoundly deeper level.

Can’t decide? Start by listening to your gut instinct. But whichever approach you take, you’ll get there more quickly simply by doing 2 things: commit to your decision and then take a powerful step.

What’s your next, powerful, mind-blowing step? I’m curious to find out!

Happy sailing!

PS:  If the wind isn’t blowing or the ground is too muddy, you can always have a sickie – you’ll find a bit of help here: http://www.thesite.org/workandstudy/working/workwelfare/failsafesickies

“Or maybe it’s curiosity I mean. You don’t ever see or notice anything important that goes on. You never watch and think and try to figure anything out. Maybe that’s the biggest difference between you and me, after all.”

Carson McCullers wrote those words way back in 1940 in her book ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’. This got me thinking. What is it that makes each of us unique? Is it our Weltanschauung – the individual take we have on the world around us? Or is it down to the way some of us can easily accept the world we live in while others are on a continuous search for meaning and deeper understanding?

McCullers is right, the heart is a lonely hunter. But for curious beings like us, the mind, too, is a hungry hunter. Funny thing is though, the more you feed it, the hungrier it gets! I’m now left wondering whether a prodigious appetite for questions, reflection and understanding can lead to obesity of the mind? If we gorge ourselves on a diet of wonder and inquiry can we retain an alert and agile mind? Or does the richness of all this food for thought make us sluggish, slowing down our cognitive function like a ball and chain? If we overdo it on reflection, do our decision-making abilities suffer?

I somehow doubt it. I tend to favour the maxim: use it or lose it. Taking in a daily dose of curiosity is a great way of exercising that hard-to-reach mind muscle. Think hard. Do ten repetitions of daily reflecting. Keep yourself motivated to question what you think is worth questioning. Your reward will come in the form of a sharper, leaner, fit-for-purpose mind always at the ready to help you work things out.

Speaking of working things out, today might be a good day try a different kind of workout. Take your mind to the gym for a change. Do some circuit training in thinking. See how invigorating you feel after you’ve wondered about something for 10 minutes. Notice how things seem different if you take a new, fresh approach to what you do. Look at the world from a child’s perspective.

What difference would it make to the way you see things if you were to try to see things differently?

Put on your curious spectacles and find out.

And don’t forget to let me know what happens and what you see – I’m curious to read about it!