Thinking In Waves

We love to imagine “riding the wave.”

It captures a blissful moment of creative expression

And beautiful alignment with nature.

The “ride the wave” analogy helps us to shift self-generated effort away from us

And hand it over to a stronger and more plentiful source of energy.

What's not to love about this?

Surfing a wave of any kind heightens our sense of touch and feel.

We capture more speed and capacity... with less effort.

Yet, to get lost in the wave is easy.

Misunderstanding the movement and structure of a wave happens here. Perspective and context are overlooked. Getting clear on what's coming next is challenged.

Enter Coach Boyan.

My girlfriend, Maria, and I met Boyan when we traveled to Tarifa, Spain a little over a year ago to improve our surfski paddling. The surfski is a beautiful, high-end kayak designed for surfing off-shore waves in the sea, ideally with the direction of the wind - or "downwind."

Boyan annually logs some of the highest levels of downwind miles among all of the world’s surfskiers.

Which gives him time to think... about waves. And teaching others how to think about waves.

Boyan masterfully blends together the process of surfing AND the artistic nature of riding waves.

Initially, my artistic leanings resisted.

"Structure will ruin the vibe!" I protested.

"Process enhances the art," Boyan insisted.

Over the next 13 months, I did deep dives into “the art of” and “the science of” wave surfing. I questioned how I think about waves... questioned what I have been getting wrong about waves... deepened what it means to think in waves.

Here's what I can tell you at this stage of my journey:

1) Inside all of us lives a surfer who relies upon an Inner Artist and an Inner Scientist.

2) Everyone's balance between the two is different but better surfing relies upon the best version of both.

3) The artist's best work is supported by a process. The scientist's best work is supported by space to immerse in the creativity.

Of course, now we are talking beyond the edges of the sea...

By Thinking In Waves. Which has had a profound impact on my own life.

These words, Thinking In Waves, ignite the start of a new chapter of ideas, concepts, experiments, and conversations.

Here, we create a little space to reflect upon thinking about how we think. To embrace flow and resistance to better position us to catch our value-aligned waves... the ones that increase the quality of life's experiences, connections, lessons, and enjoyment.

There's a LOT to unpack here. And we'll get to all of it...

See you on the wave.🌊

With gratitude, Joe

Unlock Your Why, Achieve Impacting Wins, & Ride Spectacular Life Waves

Ready to position the art of surfing waves as a process for deep reflection and meaningful life transitions? 

Subscribe to Thinking In Waves, my short weekly essay about the lessons and experiences that I learn surfing offshore waves on a surfski kayak transferred to an innovative model for clear thinking and better choices <— Short, fun, and memorable - new riders are always welcome!

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