So working out. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s easy within the hardness. But either way, sometimes you feel awesome, and sometimes you don’t.
I’ve found that the feelings come from my perception of what “should” be going on.
Lifting weights: “I should be able to lift more.”
Yoga: “My mind should be at peace.”
Stretching: “I should be able to touch my head to the floor.”
But that isn’t what’s happening at that moment.
And it feels sucky. Why? Because I’m shoulding on myself. Or maybe myself is shoulding on me.
Anyway, it’s uncomfortable. I want to say “I should stop it.” But that would be too ironic.
Where does this feeling of “should” come from? Does it come from the idea that there’s somewhere to go, some place to be where things are “better” than here and now?
I sat down here to write something completely different. I sat down here to write about intentions when working out. How I feel like working out with results in mind always made me really uncomfortable. I’ve done Insanity, I’ve done P90X, I’ve done T25. All of those are about delivering “results” in the shortest time possible. I’ve even started reading a book now that claims to give people even greater results in even less time.
Sounds amazing, right? Who wouldn’t want to have a fitness models body, to be adored, lusted after, the culturally scripted object of desire for either sex?
Well… me. I don’t want to be that way. My mind does. But I don’t. I don’t care about that stuff. I care about health. I care about happiness. I care about staying grounded so I can help my fellow humans when they’re in a rough way.
Consistent exercise has been linked to increased feelings of happiness and life satisfaction, improved sleep, increased longevity, etc. That spells health, happiness, and grounding to me.
But it’s still a result. So today I learned this: we’re always working out for a result. The question is: what result do you want?
Are you working out to look good? To have the body you’ve always wanted? If so, why? The body isn’t worth much. It can be taken away like that. It’s not your work of art (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/your-body-is-not-your-masterpiece_b_5586341.html), and it’s only a loan. You have to give it back some day anyway. Maybe tomorrow.
So why not change your reasoning for working out? Work out to do something measurable. Lower cholesterol. Improve cardiovascular strength. Increase dopamine levels. Improve your sleep cycle. And why do you do those things? Because you can give those to other people. You can give the gift of your company until you’re 98, you can give the gift of being well balanced hormonally so that when someone off balance comes to you, you can stay somewhat sober minded.
The question “whom can I serve” has always helped as a true North for me, a guiding light. It helps because it takes the focus off of me. No longer are the consequences of my actions resting solely on my head and shoulders. No longer does success matter personally. I’m not looking to gain any more. I’m looking to give.
What can you give?
I’ve found that the feelings come from my perception of what “should” be going on.
Lifting weights: “I should be able to lift more.”
Yoga: “My mind should be at peace.”
Stretching: “I should be able to touch my head to the floor.”
But that isn’t what’s happening at that moment.
And it feels sucky. Why? Because I’m shoulding on myself. Or maybe myself is shoulding on me.
Anyway, it’s uncomfortable. I want to say “I should stop it.” But that would be too ironic.
Where does this feeling of “should” come from? Does it come from the idea that there’s somewhere to go, some place to be where things are “better” than here and now?
I sat down here to write something completely different. I sat down here to write about intentions when working out. How I feel like working out with results in mind always made me really uncomfortable. I’ve done Insanity, I’ve done P90X, I’ve done T25. All of those are about delivering “results” in the shortest time possible. I’ve even started reading a book now that claims to give people even greater results in even less time.
Sounds amazing, right? Who wouldn’t want to have a fitness models body, to be adored, lusted after, the culturally scripted object of desire for either sex?
Well… me. I don’t want to be that way. My mind does. But I don’t. I don’t care about that stuff. I care about health. I care about happiness. I care about staying grounded so I can help my fellow humans when they’re in a rough way.
Consistent exercise has been linked to increased feelings of happiness and life satisfaction, improved sleep, increased longevity, etc. That spells health, happiness, and grounding to me.
But it’s still a result. So today I learned this: we’re always working out for a result. The question is: what result do you want?
Are you working out to look good? To have the body you’ve always wanted? If so, why? The body isn’t worth much. It can be taken away like that. It’s not your work of art (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/your-body-is-not-your-masterpiece_b_5586341.html), and it’s only a loan. You have to give it back some day anyway. Maybe tomorrow.
So why not change your reasoning for working out? Work out to do something measurable. Lower cholesterol. Improve cardiovascular strength. Increase dopamine levels. Improve your sleep cycle. And why do you do those things? Because you can give those to other people. You can give the gift of your company until you’re 98, you can give the gift of being well balanced hormonally so that when someone off balance comes to you, you can stay somewhat sober minded.
The question “whom can I serve” has always helped as a true North for me, a guiding light. It helps because it takes the focus off of me. No longer are the consequences of my actions resting solely on my head and shoulders. No longer does success matter personally. I’m not looking to gain any more. I’m looking to give.
What can you give?
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