Occasionally the Recreation and Parks folks drop a mound of dirt in the middle of the dog park where my dog, Kona, and I spend most mornings. Nobody really knows why they do it but does create a certain variation in an otherwise flat landscape. Between active dogs running over them and digging for buried treasure, the mounds gradually disappear over time.
Recently I decided that an expedition was in order and hiked to the top of the current mound. It was tough going as the mound must be at least 6 inches high and might even reach a foot. The view was worth the effort, though.
Okay, I'm being a bit facetious. The interesting thing is that just that small bit of elevation for some reason changed how I viewed the park. I'm not really sure why - it was just different. Maybe it was being a bit taller than everyone else. Maybe it was because I could see just a bit further beyond the park boundaries. Something was different, though. It must even more dramatic for a dog.
I've also experienced the same thing in martial arts where a change in your body position can provide new opportunities for engaging your opponent. Just a small shift can allow you to see new angles of attack that you never noticed before.
My point here is that small changes in your perspective can yield dramatic results. It isn't necessary to change the world but you can create incremental change that over time will allow you to reach your goal. Consultant guru Alan Weiss says that if you can improve by just 1% each day, in 70 days you will be twice as good.
So fill your water bottle, cinch up your rucksack, and get to the top of that mound. The view is great!
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