"The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity."

Lewis Grizzard

You may be wondering if this topic refers to either of the sporting competitions that have been taking place recently, the World Cup or the Wimbledon tennis. Well, actually, no. The stimulus for my thoughts came from a gym ball that I bought well before Christmas last year, with the idea that I could use it at home when I couldn’t make it to the gym. It stayed in its packaging until last month, as these things do, when I handed it to my husband and, as he is keeper of the pumps, asked him to inflate it for me. Out of its packaging it came – and we discovered that although we had pumps of varying sizes and types (for bikes, for car tyres etc); none were suitable for the ball. A couple of weeks ago I finally remembered to get a very basic pump for the ball and gave it to my younger son. He got everything ready, and then the plastic valve snapped! Never one to give up in the face of adversity, he then proceeded to blow it up himself! We are talking a 65cm diameter ball here!

He did a pretty good job, but it wasn’t quite full enough. Rescue came in the form of my trainer, Eric, who lent us a great pump, which was perfect to finish it off. So you may think I have been using the ball at home since then. No chance! All three of my children have appropriated it and, in various ways, are using it to improve their balance and their core stability. However, rather than seeing it as a piece of exercise equipment, they have turned it into something fun! My youngest sits atop it cross-legged, as she is too small to do anything that involves putting either her hands or feet down, whilst watching her favourite television programmes, my middle child (he of the fantastic lungs!) can be found doing all sorts of balancing, stretching and even bouncing with it all over the house, and there is my eldest, taller and stronger than me, who I can show how to do all the moves that Eric has introduced me to.

So that brings me back to the question posed above. Are you on the ball? Are you alert and ready for action, happy to grasp any opportunity presented to you, or are you too busy fire-fighting and trying to keep your head above water to be aware of those opportunities? With awareness comes a choice. To choose whether to go ahead and take advantage of what is open to you, or to choose to do nothing – and perhaps always wonder…. There is no right and wrong. However, if you let things pass you by because your attention is elsewhere, what a shame that is. OK, things could go wrong, but that’s life. If you are on the ball, and do the required preparation and think through what you are doing, then you are opening yourself up to all sorts of fantastic possibilities.

Where is your attention focussed? Is it where it needs to be to get you moving towards your goals, or do you need to take a moment and look at what you are actually doing and whether it is the best, most productive use of your time? Are you on your toes, ready to react? Or bogged down with unnecessary diversions? What needs your undivided attention this week?

Have you been so overwhelmed that you’ve avoided certain tasks? Consider whether just getting on and doing them might release you, not only from a sense of guilt, but also from all that time you’ve spent thinking about the things you’ve been avoiding. If you do the tasks you’ve been resisting, will it lead to a better use of your thinking time, therefore making you more on the ball and open to new opportunities, rather than filling your thoughts with what you haven’t done?

When we are at our best physically, we are able to react quickly to situations. The gym ball is an amazing piece of equipment which seems to be good for working on almost every part of your body. I can thoroughly recommend it. Even if you just sit on it and get your balance, you are working on your core muscles. Kneeling on it is a greater challenge, but, wow, you’ll feel great when you master it! Then you’ll really be on the ball! They are inexpensive and a fabulous way to get active. Why not give it a try!

Often we are distracted because the things we are doing haven’t engaged us fully. This can be because they are imposed on us, or because we feel we ought to be doing them. It’s time for an assessment. Even if you are not able to ditch or delegate a task, how can you change your attitude to it, so that it becomes something you feel able to connect to with a positive frame of mind? You only get one shot at life. Don’t you owe it to yourself to make the most of every minute of every day and to live the life that makes you feel happy and fulfilled? What can you do this week for yourself that will make you feel this way?

Whether it is a new activity or even choosing to think differently, we have the chance to stimulate our brains and our bodies on a daily basis. Is there something new that you can bring into your life today? Allowing yourself to explore your creativity can stimulate your brain in so many ways. You will be able to sharpen up your senses as well as allowing yourself to acknowledge the link to your own inspiration and inventiveness.

Are you aware of the opportunities that you have to give, whether it’s time or expertise? Do you have a particular interest that may appeal to others? Could you give those others the benefit of your knowledge, by the written word, spoken word or otherwise? This could be something that relates to your professional abilities, but also could be through a hobby or other pastime. Are you on the ball, or are you off it, but willing to jump on and get your balance? It’s time for you to be on the ball!

Kate Harper
http://www.harpercoaching.com