Every
time you are in gym, your coach would be right beside you instructing you on-
how to pace your cardio, how to lift the weights, and how synchronized the limb
movements need to be for other exercise variants. One can observe for
themselves when asked to do weights in a set of say 10-20, we try to rush
through the set, in the belief that the faster we do better the chances we
could complete it properly. The same applies to cardio (try to run fast to
complete the distance) and exercise (do squats/ push-ups/ burpees faster). Your
coach then gives you the sweet news, asks you to do say 75% of the set at one
pace and rest at the slowest pace.
Once
we try this, we realize how hard it is to actually finish the set. The amount
of strain exerted on your muscles and more importantly your psyche is enormous.
You would want to stop. You feel you can push no more. The pain is too much to
bear. But, you learn later on that this percentage of effort is what that would
shape you up, strengthen muscles and in fact built endurance. You can do with
comfort more repetitions of the activity, run longer distances and difficult
workouts too. A few weeks/ months of practice and you can see the results. You
would need no further coaxing. You will strive to push harder to achieve next
level. And, all along would admire the way your body's responding and THAT
reflects in your beliefs too... in fewest of few cases.
Now, let’s
change the scenario slightly, replace gym with life and workout regime with
challenges or troubles or difficulties. For all practical purposes, we
replicate our actions from gym in our life too. When confronted with a difficulty/
problem, we strive to rush through for a quick solution and in the absence of
not achieving the desired result sulk out or give up. We try a few options, a
few times (sometimes only once or twice) and then declare to ourselves that
this is a pathetic situation with no feasible solution. That is often the
dangerous phase of addressing the problem- post giving up.
Your
mind would be addled quite a bit, thoughts running around in your mind as to
why it couldn't be handled by you and sometimes the emotions become
precariously placed- to tip over anytime. The problem could be on any of your
fronts- office, home, friends or any kind of relationships too. It is basic
human nature to ponder over unsolved problems and if they are related to you
the mind is in a high drive mode. The inability to solve the challenge amicably
could lead to display of a range of emotions all directed towards oneself-
anger, despair, displeasure, resentment, disappointment, misery, sadness,
self-pity everything! And as with the exercise bit, you would try to deal with
it the wrong way. Imagine that you faced the problem at end of working hours,
your next set of action is driving home but your mind is brimming with
emotions. Seeking a faster solution (peace for yourself) few might consider
revving up the engine and slicing through the traffic hoping that the
adrenaline rush might put you at comfort.
The
last bit isn’t advised as one might fail to notice the monstrous SUV’s coming
headlong and sometimes smash into a vehicle injuring yourselves.
Let us
take the coach's advice, just slow down the things, and learn to bear it to- better
understand the situation & our ability to deal with it. Any problem thrown
at us gives us an opportunity to test & hone our inherent skill of problem
solving. Slowing things a bit gives us time to better focus our capability,
improve our endurance level and more importantly an experience. Just like our
muscle memory which adapts to the exercise routine and remembers the stress
levels, our ability to keep composure in the face of challenge allows us to
pull out relevant solutions and keep our mind stress free.
There’s
no need to run away from troubles and screw it up, which could also be done by
keeping the mind occupied to the extent that it hurts your career, personal
life and infact even bodily harm. Though the emotion of sadness or despair
might creep up in few cases, one needs to learn to be strong, however hard it
might be.
