Yup! This is my theory and I'm sticking with it!
Because it is EASY to do what you love, you are definitely going to do it. So by all means, start with that! (See yesterday's post titled Do What You Love...and?) But this is where I was originally headed:
Do what you hate.
If you are like me, and most other homo sapiens, you probably like to do the things that you are already good at. Who doesn't? If every time you open your mouth to sing, everyone immediately covers their ears and runs from the room, you may eventually learn not to sing. Well, if you are me, you just carry on singing anyway and perhaps do it a little louder. Maybe that is not a good example.
How about this one: if you try a yoga class and discover you are actually fairly flexible and the teacher keeps noticing and complimenting you on your lovely stretchiness, you will probably feel pretty good about yoga and decide to continue. But if you are super tight, very stiff from never ever stretching in your life, and also really tense from your stressful job, you may try yoga and discover that it is very, very difficult for you. You might feel that it is IMPOSSIBLE. You might not get a lot of glowingly excited compliments from the instructor. And you might just give up on a class that you really need.
And within a class that you mostly enjoy, there may be aspects of the class that you hate. Maybe you already attend a weekly yoga class, but you can't stand the long relaxation at the end. (I know this sounds CRAZY to some of you, but I have had Type-A students who left every class when we got to the relaxation part!) If you are highly focused on accomplishments, relaxing might seem like a boring waste of time to you. But the relaxing meditation might bring you increased peace of mind and clarity that you value.
We often hate the things that we are not so good at. The exercises that emphasize upper body strength like pull-up's when our arms are weak. The uphill sprints when our lungs immediately start to burn. The 2-minutes in Plank Pose when our core is wobbly. Tree Pose when our balance is off. I personally love working my ab's. I could happily do crunches all day long. But don't ask me to flip over and execute a Locust Pose! I hate that stupid pose! (Lying on your stomach, both legs lifting up into the air! Hideous!)
So why on earth would you start doing more stuff that you hate? Well, it's like eating your spinach. Bad example again because I actually love spinach. And brussels sprouts. But my point is that it's good for you! If we only ever do the things we love, we will never develop discipline, for one thing. But beyond that, we will most likely become lop-sided. Strong abdominals need to be balanced by strong back muscles or you are setting yourself up for an injury. The same is true of your mental and emotional strengths. There is much to be said for balance.
Because it is EASY to do what you love, you are definitely going to do it. So by all means, start with that! (See yesterday's post titled Do What You Love...and?) But this is where I was originally headed:
Do what you hate.
If you are like me, and most other homo sapiens, you probably like to do the things that you are already good at. Who doesn't? If every time you open your mouth to sing, everyone immediately covers their ears and runs from the room, you may eventually learn not to sing. Well, if you are me, you just carry on singing anyway and perhaps do it a little louder. Maybe that is not a good example.
How about this one: if you try a yoga class and discover you are actually fairly flexible and the teacher keeps noticing and complimenting you on your lovely stretchiness, you will probably feel pretty good about yoga and decide to continue. But if you are super tight, very stiff from never ever stretching in your life, and also really tense from your stressful job, you may try yoga and discover that it is very, very difficult for you. You might feel that it is IMPOSSIBLE. You might not get a lot of glowingly excited compliments from the instructor. And you might just give up on a class that you really need.
And within a class that you mostly enjoy, there may be aspects of the class that you hate. Maybe you already attend a weekly yoga class, but you can't stand the long relaxation at the end. (I know this sounds CRAZY to some of you, but I have had Type-A students who left every class when we got to the relaxation part!) If you are highly focused on accomplishments, relaxing might seem like a boring waste of time to you. But the relaxing meditation might bring you increased peace of mind and clarity that you value.
We often hate the things that we are not so good at. The exercises that emphasize upper body strength like pull-up's when our arms are weak. The uphill sprints when our lungs immediately start to burn. The 2-minutes in Plank Pose when our core is wobbly. Tree Pose when our balance is off. I personally love working my ab's. I could happily do crunches all day long. But don't ask me to flip over and execute a Locust Pose! I hate that stupid pose! (Lying on your stomach, both legs lifting up into the air! Hideous!)
So why on earth would you start doing more stuff that you hate? Well, it's like eating your spinach. Bad example again because I actually love spinach. And brussels sprouts. But my point is that it's good for you! If we only ever do the things we love, we will never develop discipline, for one thing. But beyond that, we will most likely become lop-sided. Strong abdominals need to be balanced by strong back muscles or you are setting yourself up for an injury. The same is true of your mental and emotional strengths. There is much to be said for balance.
Comments
Post a Comment
Please share your helpful questions and comments here! Thanks for being part of this balanced community!