FIELD NOTES #008
We often try to fix external problems from a place of internal dysfunction.
We ask:
“Why can’t I stay consistent?”
“Why do I keep snapping at the people I care about?”
“Why do I feel numb even when things are going well?”
The issue isn’t usually in your schedule.
It’s in your state.
State is the second Anchor in The Compass.
It’s not about mood swings or daily emotions.
It’s your internal operating condition—your physical and psychological baseline at any given moment.
Your state determines, among other things, how you interpret challenges and how you respond to stress. You can have the clearest goals and best habits in the world ,
but your system will crack under pressure if your internal state is unstable.
Your state may not be your fault, but it is your responsibility. That leaves you with two options: Ignore your state and eventually burn out, or track and train your state.
Weekly Compass Question
What internal state have I been operating from most consistently, and is it helping or hindering who I’m becoming?
Trail Task
Pick one daily state check-in practice:
Rate your state 1–10 each morning and evening
Journal your triggers and recoveries
Add 5 minutes of intentional calm (e.g., breathwork, nature, prayer, silence)
Track it for 7 days, note the trend, and adjust accordingly.
Resources from the Trail
Book: ‘The Body Keeps Score’ by Bessel van der Kolk
Someone in the right state becomes unshakeable. Not because life gets easier, but because he’s finally grounded enough to endure it well. If adjusting what’s around you isn’t working, start adjusting what’s inside you.
Until next time - Engage. Adapt. Overcome.
- Remy