Living in Alignment
What positioning can teach us, off the bike.
Hi there,
When I’m trying to define a concept, I often find it useful to look to its opposite, and this has been especially true as I think about how positioning applies to life. Feeling off-balance, misaligned, unmoored, disoriented, or even stuck—each of these captures a sense of what it’s like when we aren’t positioned to handle life’s ups and downs.
So far, we’ve discussed the mechanics of positioning on the bike, but The Art of Mountain Biking isn’t just about riding a bike, after all. So, I wanted to explore how the concept of positioning applies to our lives beyond the trail and give you some ideas for how to bring it into focus in the week ahead.
Here’s what we’ve talked about so far, in episodes 2 and 45, along with some resources and references1 about the concepts discussed (I hate feeling like I’m proselytizing off the cuff… too much, anyway).
It’s your life. I have no idea what it’s like to be you. So, take from this what is helpful and works for you.
Life lessons from positioning
Balance and equanimity: On the bike, balance is all about centering your mass and aligning your body—hips over knees, knees over ankles—to ease strain and hold control. But balance isn’t static. It’s a dynamic, wobbly process full of constant adjustment. In life, it can mean leaning in when things need our full energy or pulling back when we need rest or a different perspective. Perfect alignment isn’t the goal; it’s the ability to find a kind of steadiness, even in motion. This moment-to-moment equilibrium helps us meet each change with resilience, adapting as the path unfolds.
Light hands, heavy feet: In mountain biking, grounding your weight through your feet while keeping your hands light on the handlebars prevents fatigue and improves control. In life, holding on too tightly—whether to outcomes, people, or ideas—can create unnecessary stress. Learning to lighten your grip and stay grounded in what’s most important allows you to maintain a sense of steadiness, even when things feel uncertain.
Engaging your core: A strong core supports your body on the bike, helping you stay balanced and in control. Similarly, in life, having a strong "core" of values or inner strength gives you the resilience to navigate difficult situations. When you’re centered in who you are and what matters to you, you’re better equipped to handle challenges with grace, rather than feeling pulled in all directions.
Range of motion: Flexibility is key in mountain biking—staying loose and adaptable allows you to handle changes in terrain with ease. In life, flexibility is just as important. Being open to change and willing to adjust when things don’t go as planned helps you keep moving forward. Rigidity leads to tension, while openness creates flow and adaptability.
Just like on the bike, positioning in life is about focusing on what we can control. We adjust as we go, finding balance and flow where we can. When grounded and aligned, we don’t have to push ourselves to extremes—our natural rhythm finds us. It’s less about speed and more about being in tune with our path and embracing a pace that feels purposeful and steady—even (especially?) through rough patches.
Cue it!
Use these quick cues to fine-tune your positioning in life:
"Stay centered." Research on mindfulness practices highlights that regularly checking in with oneself—emotionally and mentally—is essential for well-being. These check-ins can enhance awareness of when we feel off-balance or out of sync with our needs. By pausing to assess our current state, we foster greater self-awareness and can better identify if we're pushing too hard or holding back when we should engage more fully​.
"Engage your core." The importance of aligning one’s goals and values has been widely studied in well-being research. Think of your values and goals as the foundation that supports you. When they’re aligned, everything feels more manageable. When priorities are out of sync, stress increases, leading to a sense of overwhelm. However, prioritizing essential tasks and organizing one's goals can help manage this stress effectively.
"Lighten your grip." There’s a concept of an "internal locus of control," which emphasizes focusing on what we can control while letting go of what we cannot. Learning to "let go" of things beyond our control has been shown to reduce stress and increase resilience. By choosing to release unnecessary burdens, individuals can better navigate challenges with a clearer and calmer mindset​.
"Stay flexible." Studies on coping and adaptability emphasize that flexibility in the face of change is a key component of resilience. An adaptable mindset, open to recalibrating plans or expectations, allows individuals to handle unexpected life changes with greater ease. Flexibility can help reduce the rigidity that often leads to stress, thus helping to maintain a more graceful and balanced approach to life’s unpredictable events.
Practice makes … more practiced.
I wanted to sneak in this section in case you’re a journaler—and if you’re not, you may consider it. I’ve been observing Aaron’s impressive commitment to paying attention to his life through daily journaling and gratitude practices, and I’ve observed the tremendous benefits he’s gained from them—benefits that also align with research. Thus, I’ll be doing these along with you this week.
Journal prompts
Where in your life do you feel out of balance or out of alignment? How can you adjust your "positioning" to feel more grounded?
What are your "core" values, and how do they help you navigate difficult situations? Reflect on how returning to these values has helped you stay centered in the past. (Need help with this one? This resource is nice.)
Think of a time when you held on too tightly to a particular outcome. What could have shifted if you had "lightened up" and let go? How can you apply this lesson going forward?
In what areas of life could you use more fluidity or flexibility? What small adjustments can you make to improve your balance and adaptability?
What did you think? Is this post helpful or cheesy (or is this question a false dichotomy?)
Your feedback is incredibly valuable as we continue to shape this series. Have a great week, everyone!
Wishing you balance and flow,
Danielle
This post has been created with the help of AI and drew on the original content from episodes 2 and 45. Mostly, AI helped synthesize the content into the main takeaways and provide some general structure. I also included links when I was making claims about research or findings or other evidence-based practices.