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I completed my SCUBA certification this week at a crater in Utah. I wanted to learn something new, get out of my comfort zone and see what lessons this experience would offer. The lessons crystalized this week as I reflected on this journey, and I offer them here. Lesson 1: The experience of being a beginner at this stage of life is uncomfortable. We have reached a place of being comfortable in our lives, comfortable with the competence, agency, mastery that we have accumulated and feel confident we can apply the breadth and depth of our life experience to solve life's situations. When we learn something new we put ourselves purposely in a space of being out of our comfort zones, being awkward, clumsy, fumbling, not knowing how to course correct because we haven't developed consistency with even basic skills, we have jolts to our egos when we say, "I don't know how to do this" and make mistakes publicly in class around other students. Navigating this reveals so much about our insecurities: narratives we tell ourselves about ourselves, our egos, how we cultivate patience with ourselves and how we sit with discomfort. Lesson 2: "You can't shoot up to the surface if things go wrong. You have to figure out how to fix it down there," said my SCUBA instructor. I made it to a depth of 46' on my second two dives (the crater wasn't much deeper). In order to ascend safely and not make yourself sick, or wreck the rest of the dive trip, you have to ascend slowly. If problems come up, you have to figure it out down there. That's it. You can't panic or lose it. You have to: 1) Develop the mental flexibility so that if anxiety arises in those moments you can work with your anxious mind in order to stay calm. 2) You have to keep your breathing smooth and easy. 3) You have to rely on the technical knowledge you have built and work the problem methodically. Lesson 3: Receiving. Rule number two of diving is to always dive with a buddy. (Rule number one is to never hold your breath). You will have to call upon your dive buddy at some point to help you with simple or complex, possibly life-saving situations. As one who is very much used to being the caretaker, the one getting it done and delivering, this experience has taught me that I have work to do with being comfortable receiving support and help. Get comfortable with it because your life could depend on it. Welcome to growth! #growth #learning #goals #SCUBA #diving #anxiety #psychology #leadership

Diving Deeper: Making Mindful Choices in the Ocean of Life "Life is like an ocean. We can choose to remain on the shore, dipping our toes into the water, or we can choose to plunge in, to dive deep and uncover the precious pearls hidden beneath the surface." Such is the wisdom distilled in the poignant words of Sachin Ramdas Baratiya. Today, let's dissect the layers of this powerful metaphor, and consider how it invites us to navigate the turbulent sea that is life. The ocean represents life in its infinite potential and myriad possibilities. We all find ourselves at its shore, but what we make of this vast expanse of opportunity lies entirely in our hands. Are we content merely splashing around in the shallow, savoring the warmth and comfort, or do we dare to venture into the mysterious, deeper waters, braving the cold and the pressure to hunt for the pearls? These pearls symbolize the fulfilling pursuits, meaningful relationships, and momentous achievements that bring joy and purpose to our lives. But much like pearls, these treasures are not freely floating on the surface for us to lazily scoop up. They're nestled deep within the ocean, demanding our courage, perseverance, and ambition to locate. Choosing to remain in the shallow waters may offer the illusion of safety, but it caps our potential and growth. Diving deep, while undeniably daunting, holds the promise of uncovering life’s most precious pearls. These might be fulfilling careers, cherished relationships, or the contentment that stems from personal growth and self-actualization. So, how do we prepare ourselves for this plunge? The starting point is understanding what these pearls represent for us individually. Next, we must create clear, strategic plans, setting achievable steps to reach our goals. Surrounding ourselves with positive influences and resilience to overcome setbacks is crucial. Lastly, practising gratitude can anchor us during the turbulent waves, keeping us focused and motivated. Ultimately, the ocean of life offers the same possibilities to us all. What sets us apart is not the opportunities we encounter, but our choices in pursuing them. It is through our active, conscious decision-making that we steer our journey and dictate the rewards we reap. The call to action is clear: Dive deep. Seek out your pearls. Don’t just wade in life’s shallow waters when you could be swimming among treasures. Remember, the sea, much like life, holds what you have the courage to seek. Choose wisely, dive courageously, and let the ocean's pearls be your reward.

🌺 Beyond the Tantrums - Diving Deep into Your Child's World 🌼 Hey, super Parents! your kid throws a tantrum over broccoli, gets glued to the screen like a digital koala, and schoolwork becomes a battlefield. It's enough to make you wonder... what's lurking beneath the surface? Let's face it, we only see a glimpse of our kids' inner worlds. 🌟 It's like trying to understand a whole hippo just by seeing its nose! There's so much hidden beneath, so much that shapes their behaviours. ⭐ But the good news: we can dive deeper! We can go beyond the tantrums and screen-induced zombies to understand the real reasons behind their actions. ✨ Think of it like this: every tantrum, every disinterest in food or school, is a clue. It's a message in a bottle, bobbing around in the stormy sea of childhood. And with the right tools, we can decipher it! Here's where I come in. to train you to see the unseen, to understand the hidden currents beneath the surface of your child's behaviour. Together, we can: Unpack the emotional baggage:  Are they feeling overwhelmed? Misunderstood? Bored out of their minds? We'll find the root cause of the tantrums and frustrations. Decode the cultural whispers: Family dynamics, societal pressures, even the way you talk – all these things influence your child's behaviour. Let's understand the cultural cues that might be tripping them up. Build a bridge of communication: We'll equip you with tools to talk to your child in a way they understand, to create a safe space for them to express their true feelings. Ready to move beyond the tantrums and dive into the depths of your child's world? Schedule a 1:2:1 session with me! We'll explore your unique family dynamic, unlock the hidden messages behind your child's behaviour, and chart a course for a calmer, happier home. Click the link below to book your session and let's embark on this adventure together! [https://lnkd.in/gaaiUXEh] Remember, parenting is a journey, not a destination. And with the right guidance, you can navigate the stormy seas and reach a sun-drenched island of understanding. Don't wait, unlock the hidden messages and create a brighter future for your child! #CulturalIntelligenceParenting #BeyondtheTantrums #DiveDeep

I recently came across this great article on the DAN website about dive training, and it really got me reflecting.🤿 https://lnkd.in/eAPnj43Y In today's fast-paced world ⏱️, it's easy to fall into the trap of expecting instant mastery, but this article reminds one of the importance of patience and dedication in becoming a proficient diver. As the article wisely points out, "Unfortunately in our 'fast' world, people expect immediate results." We've all encountered divers who want to be experts after just a few days of training, without realizing that diving is a journey, not a sprint. "When divers do not take it into account and expect fast results all the time, that’s when problems start," the article cautions. Whether it's technical divers diving into new configurations prematurely or Open Water Divers rushing into Advanced (Open Water) courses without adequate preparation, the risks are real. Experience and skill are cultivated over time, not by hastily collecting plastic certification cards. It's the hours spent honing our abilities, overcoming challenges, and learning from our mistakes that truly make us proficient divers. So let's shift our focus from accumulating certifications to embracing the journey of learning and improvement. As the saying goes, "Only practice makes perfect." Let's enjoy the process of becoming better divers, one dive at a time! 🌊🔍 #PracticeMakesPerfect #DiveTraining #EnjoyTheJourney

Daily HF in Diving Tips Continuous Learning: Share experiences and lessons learnt after each dive. Regular debriefs help improve individual and team performance. Learning is an ongoing process. Share Experiences and Lessons Learned: After each dive, have an open discussion about what went well and what could be improved. This helps everyone feel included and valued, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. These debriefs can be as simple as discussing issues like equipment fit or as complex as analysing unexpected environmental conditions. Encourage Regular Debriefs: Conducting debriefs after every dive or series of dives helps create a habit of reflection. Use frameworks like DEBrIEF to guide these sessions, focusing on both successes and areas needing improvement. This structured approach helps identify patterns over time, contributing to long-term safety enhancements. Foster an Environment of Psychological Safety: Ensure that all team members feel safe to express their thoughts and experiences without fear of blame. Leaders can model this by sharing their own mistakes and learnings, setting the tone for open and honest communication. This principle is key to translating local learning into broader organisational knowledge. Document and Share Learnings: Keep a log of lessons learned from each diving session and make it accessible to all team members. Sharing insights in a structured way ensures that everyone benefits from collective experiences. Over time, this log becomes a valuable resource for both new and experienced divers. Continuous Improvement Mindset: Encourage a mindset where learning is seen as a continuous journey rather than a destination. Regularly review and update safety protocols based on the latest learnings and insights from team debriefs. This dynamic approach ensures that safety practices evolve to meet new challenges and conditions. Useful blogs and links: https://lnkd.in/ed7ashsc https://lnkd.in/eyr-FcqN https://lnkd.in/emYVu5zP This post has been mostly created by Chat-THD. https://lnkd.in/eu6yaiqx , a tool developed to help you produce your own social media content, ideas for discussion in a training class, and training materials. As well as providing text, Chat-THD will also provide relevant blogs within the Human Diver blog space so you have the possibility to dig deeper into the topic and learn more. If you want to learn about HF in Diving, consider signing up to the award-winning Essentials of HF in Diving class here https://lnkd.in/d6dXdEEu If you like these posts, please consider sharing them wider, so others learn about this topic too.

Day 2 Question 2 The Average Day Following is a summary of what a day on the island might look like. I usually wake up around 5 am. It is my solo time in the darkness and silence of the apartment. Then, I start by checking social media and answering questions coming from those parts of the world already up. By 6 am, I prepare coffee, and with Kewin, we start working on emails, requests, and social media posts. By 7 am, I will be out the door to walk the pups and complete the morning run. Then the controlled chaos starts: it's a mix of preparation, carrying gear, diving, teaching, walking to and from the caves, following projects, testing gear, more diving, more teaching, picking up and dropping off guests. Depending on the day we finish, between 2 and 4 pm, clean and put away gear, prepare for the next day, dash home to walk the pups, check emails, jump on calls, and catch up with what I missed by not checking the phones for hours. In the midst, there is always the time to stop and rescue animals as needed, no matter what we are doing. Time is spent looking at the calendar, selecting images, editing vidcos, discussing new ideas and issucs, and addressing everything related to running a two-person and non-profit operation. Of course, the video does not share the daily routine of life: cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, and eating, which we fit in between all other duties. My day is not so average; it is never a set schedule. During a week, I cave dive, then sharks, and go back to the cave to have a day to catch up on phone calls and emails and take more time with the pups or to use the time for personal ideas and projects. The nature of being obsessed with what I do and loving it beyond being a job blurs the boundaries of time on and off. Doing what I do is a life calling; it does not have a clock-in and clock-out system. Occasionally, it makes me mentally and physically tired, but it also allows me to tap into the same for more energy and dedication. How do I stay centered and rested? How do I prevent burnout after 30 years of daily diving, teaching, and being on the front line? I will address that tomorrow with Day 3, Question 3.

Have you ever felt like you’re drowning when starting something new? I know I have! Adopting Sahil Bloom’s Surfer Mentality can help you stay afloat and ride the waves of personal growth. Having learned to swim 🏊♂️ and get the opportunity to surf 🏄♂️ as part of my work teaching and working as a kayak instructor. I realize that just getting on or into the water is a huge achievement for plenty of people. Going beneath the surface is often a greater challenge. To continue growing and experiencing new things, I did my first dive 🤿 while I coached on the Phi Phi Islands. Coaching group, couple and solo travellers is something Animo + specialises in. I know working on goals and setting solid plans while traveling is powerfully potent. Here are some additional stages to consider: 1. Relax and accept where you are. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed or unsure when you’re starting something new. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s all part of the learning process. 2.Focus on the basics. Just like a swimmer needs to learn the basics of breathing and stroke technique, you need to focus on the fundamentals of your new endeavor. Don’t worry about being perfect right away - just focus on making progress. 3.Find a supportive community. Just like a swimmer needs a coach and teammates to help them improve, you need a supportive community to help you stay motivated and on track. Look for people who share your interests and can offer guidance and encouragement. 4.Take care of yourself. Just like a swimmer needs to stay hydrated and well-rested, you need to take care of your physical and emotional health. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking time to relax and recharge. By adopting the Surfer Mentality, you can learn to ride the waves of personal growth with confidence and ease. But what about diving? Here are some additional stages unique to my experience with diving: 5. Overcoming fear. Diving can be a scary experience, especially if you’re new to it. But by facing your fears and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you can build confidence and resilience that will serve you well in other areas of your life. 6. Learning new skills. Diving requires a lot of specialized knowledge and skills, from breathing techniques to underwater navigation. By learning these skills, you can expand your horizons and challenge yourself to grow in new ways. 7. Connecting with nature. Diving gives you a unique opportunity to explore the beauty and wonder of the underwater world. By connecting with nature in this way, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the world around you and develop a sense of awe and wonder that can inspire personal growth. 8. Building community. Diving is often a social activity, and it can be a great way to connect with others who share your interests and passions. By building a community of like-minded individuals, you can find support, encouragement, and inspiration to help you grow and thrive.

🧭 Building your Compass As a Scuba Diving Instructor, I've often taught how to use a compass for underwater navigation. Beforehand, as a student, I had to learn how to use it on my own. To be honest, I was not very good at it. Most of the time, I thought the situation didn't require my attention, or there were better things to focus on, etc., etc. I truly mastered underwater navigation when I had no other choice, taking ownership to find the way and guide others when no one else was there to help. I believe that on land, things aren't very different. How do we find our true north? Often, we live our lives on autopilot, moving from one stage to another, from school to university (a significant transition), from one job to another. Sometimes, we follow a predetermined path or someone else's desires without even realizing it. Sometimes, we pursue a career that, in practice, differs greatly from what we had in mind and we may find ourselves working 8 hours a day at a job that doesn't bring joy, meaning, or that we even hate. We might believe it's too late for change, thinking, "We've already invested so much effort, even if it makes us miserable." Changes are challenging, that’s for sure, but it's never too late. However, change doesn't always require a 180-degree turn; we don't have to discard everything and start from scratch. We can identify what we enjoy and what we don't and transform or reframe those aspects. Maybe we won't know our destination at first, but we should recognize that we are moving in the right direction, following our inner compass—building our own compass. Here, I'd like to share this magnificent definition of coherence, a simple way to set our life path: "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." So, no matter where you are in life—whether you're questioning your current job, evaluating where you invest your time and energy, contemplating a career change, or seeking overall life improvement—Take a pause. Take the time to connect those three dots. There will be deviations in your path: Yes; navigation is not easy! Still, you can always return to your course and live consciously, leading a coherent and meaningful life. After all, we are the captains of our own ships, right? 🚢 I would love to hear your comments. 💬 Does this resonate with any stage of your life? #LifeNavigation #SelfDiscovery #CareerPath #CareerChange #CoherenceLife #MeanfulCareer #MeanfulLife #Leadership 🛳️ #Hapiness 💙

Fear of… Fear is a powerful thing. The stories we tell ourselves and others are shaped by fear, which is often irrational. But once a personal story is shared, then the fear subsides. Thanks to Clare Murphy, Dan Dworkis MD PhD and Claire Hill for enabling the following story (first of quite a few) to be told. I have multiple fears. This is just one of them. Human factors in diving is my niche. It is my identity. I can and have created change—something that my close friends and connections constantly remind me about. But I don’t always notice it because the change happens out of sight. I have three strands to my work. - The Human Diver – content and training material delivery. - Human Diver instructional team – developing and supporting them. - The non-diving work delivering NTS and HOP to multiple domains. The fear – am I doing the right thing? Where do I invest my time and effort? How do I balance the trade-off between the strands? Who loses when I can't deliver? Who am I letting down? THD – if I don’t do this, who will? Change is needed, but change needs a leader. I am the ‘expert’ but can struggle with turning the abstract into practice, much easier face-to-face. I 'promised' years ago I wouldn't leave the industry; it was a long-term commitment. The agencies are not interested in adopting these concepts internally but won't use an external capability (like The Human Diver) if others will use it because they have to be 'unique' and have a discriminator. I am not interested in being aligned with one agency because that is not part of the infinite game I am playing. Team – if I don’t support them, how will change happen on a global scale? I find it hard to get training opportunities, even as the founder, so how can I help them make a change in their space? Adair's action-based model comes to mind. Team/Task/Individual. Non-diving – will I get clients when everyone thinks I just do diving? Do I charge enough? (The answer to that, as I’ve found out recently, is no!) If I do corporate, am I turning my back on my team and the diving community? To create real change, resources are needed—corporate pays much more than sports diving. In diving, most students invest their own money and time to make improvements by attending a discretionary course. As such, they can baulk at paying $500 for a highly immersive two-day course with online support or even $97 for a 4-hour online programme. Ironically, they will pay $5000 to go on a diving holiday!! There are more stories to come. The reason I am sharing them is because I know others struggle with tensions like this, and the power of story allows others to gain strength from someone else's account. Who am I? My just cause - "Everyone is better when they explore, discover and apply the sciences of human factors and system safety to their lives, be that in their personal lives or their professional lives." Doing this face-to-face is my battery supercharger. This is who I am. #daretolead

Another GREAT blog post by Jenny Lord for The Human Diver! 💙 I couldn’t agree more and I wouldn’t be able to put it in better words, so let me just cite her here (but also go and check the full post 🤗) „In diving, an instructor is incentivised to issue certifications to prove their own experience. If an instructor wants to move up to the next level, they have to have issued x number of certifications. Moving up to the next level is seen as a prestigious thing to do. Because every tiny detail has its own course, students are discouraged from learning without doing an official course.“ „ [This] has produced divers who are only focused on reaching the next level, who become instructors who do the same. This culture is an endless circle, making it hard for someone to say “I just want to improve my own skills”, because they will then be encouraged to sign up for the next course that will give them a cert card saying they’ve done just that in the space of a weekend (where as they may have only learnt skill x,y and z, and even then may not have had chance to properly practise it in order to be able to do it well), rather than allowing them to progress at their own pace, making mistakes and gaining experience until they can do the new skills proficiently. Trying to encourage people to simply practise or to gain more experience rather than push quickly through courses can cause people to blame you for “gatekeeping” and preventing them from progressing.