Foundational Philosophy & Principles: Finding The Big Why & How

Young coaches and clinicians are overwhelmed with information and ideas. There is so much stuff to wade through these days. 

(Here is a thought: instead of constantly crying out for "more" research, how about firmly eliminating and deleting the piles of myth and bad information out there that clutter the landscape? How about refining our processes of implementing the good knowledge that is already out there? Listen to the The Knoweldge Project podcast episode 42 with Atul Gawande -- love his thoughts on medical ignorance vs ineptitude, along with the problems of autonomy/assumptions of mastery afforded medical professionals after completing formal training and acquiring titles/letters.)

Part of maturing as a professional is building a solid bullshit filter and the confidence to say "No" to methods or tools that do not serve you well. This comes from making your own mistakes and learning from the mistakes and experiences of others. Shout out to all the mentors. 

Eliminate the trivial and keep the vital, as Greg McKewon says in his book Essentialism. This takes effort and the realization that you will have to slay some sacred cows and admit you were taught some fake fundamentals. It is painful and distressing when you cross this bridge the first time. But do not fear; it gets easier to admit your own (and other's) imperfections.

By eliminating unnecessary things, you bring clarity to the process; you evolve from prescription. Now you can begin to build a systematic approach to solving the problems before you -- parallel vs serial processing. You graduate from the FOMO and throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at things. This is a real problem in the rehab setting. Please read Cal Newport's Deep Work.

To support your process, define your philosophy -- your relationship to your work -- and the principles that form the foundation of your approach. To the clinical types, this might seem fluffy and a waste of time. I disagree. It is imperative to find your "why" and "how" -- the big picture of you and your relationship to the work you do.

Here are the philosophy (big picture why & what) and principles (big picture how) that inform my process (zoomed in how & what):

Philosophy

1. Provide an environment and mindset that facilitates & supports the body's own healing process.

2. Help people develop a positive relationship with their body and movement.

3. Introduce and sequence movement experiences that develop a movement vocabulary & literacy to solve physical problems (navigate their environment) and build a toolbox for self-care.

4. Help people realize their physical potential

Principles

1. Athlete-Centered: Context that guides the journey -- treat the person, not that particular injury

2. Movement-Based: Level of action in the world -- behaviors drive development of new capacities -- from tissue tolerance & metabolic changes to athletic postures to sport-specific skills and decision-making

3. Transformational, not Transactional: It's about the relationship w/the person, not their measurements or data


It is key to understand that this stuff is always a work in progress -- and that is ok. Professional evolution requires constant self-reflection and personal audit. I hope to go into more detail behind each of these ideas over the next little while and spark some conversation. 


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