I suppose that one might argue that putting the mind or body under constant strain is going to eventually lead to failure. A component necessary for performance of the strain will collapse and you will no longer be able to be under the strain. This is probably wise, when heeded carefully, but it is a big fat excuse when followed at the absence of any strain at all. Constant strain is necessary for building strength, the strain should vary in intensity, but constant it must be. To allow yourself to no longer be under any strain is good when part of the process of adding more strain. To remove the strain to simply take a break or rest is heading down the excuse road.
Not saying rest is bad, it is good. However, rest is dangerously close to no strain at all and that is not good. The reason is that the mind and body were designed to work on under constant stress and strain. My evidence is well, everything about the human body! The muscular system, the nervous system, the ability for the body and mind to react quickly and effectively to changing circumstances. The fact that your body will grow and adapt to strain so quickly, that in a short period of time the strain will no longer be difficult.
Let me give an example. My quest to add 1 pushup everyday has me now doing 224 pushups this morning. I remember the day when I finally got to 20. I was laying in a puddle of water, completely exhausted after doing 19 pushups. I could not imagine doing another 1 for at least 20 minutes. I had to lay there after collapsing on number 17 and say to myself, just three more. Well I did two more and the third was a lot of strain for me. I had to rest, and I did. After about 5 minutes, I did the last one. 6 months later, I can now doing 15 sets of 17 pushups with only 30 seconds of rest in between. If I really wanted to, I could easily accomplish 100 in a row without even feeling difficulty. Mentally I do not want to, which remains my biggest challenge. Anyway, the point is that it did not take very long for the 20 pushups to be easy and not cause me any strain at all.
Now I could take a break from doing pushups, and relieve the strain for a few days. However, relieving the strain gives my mind an out. I do not want that little monster inside my head any wiggle room. You are doing these pushups this morning whether you like it or not and sure enough with the right encouragement, that little monster will focus on the task ahead, allow itself to be put under strain and now has full understanding what it is capable of. The little monster used to think that he could only do 20, now it has absolutely knowledge that it can do far more then that in a short period of time.
How do you overcome this inner mind, the little monster in your head trying to convince you to “take another break?” You put it under constant strain, that it just has no choice. There is no way out. You have a job to do little monster and you are going to get through it, so you might as well start. Sometimes, I go deep within myself, and stop thinking about how hard and uncomfortable something is going to be and instead I just start the task. I keep doing the task despite objection. Before too long the little monster has been told to shut the BLEEP up and get on board.
You see the secret is that this little monster, the inner mind has a reservoir of power and capability that he (or she) has been holding out on you. It has you convinced that you are weak, incapable, generally lazy and that you deserve yet another day off. You need to prove it wrong! That comes with strain, constant strain. Eventually the little monster will relent and give in a little. You will discover that you actually can run, that you actually can do pushups, that you actually can get your finances under control, that you actually can build a relationship with your child. You need to put that sucker under constant strain by trying again and again and again everyday to accomplish what you want and then over time you will have a somewhat trained little beast inside your head. You can then call on that little monster when you need it and when it becomes engaged you are unstoppable.
I know. I know. The little monster is already having you ask a million What if questions. What if I am handicap? What if I am or get sick? What if I have a medical issue or a mental issue. Blah. Blah. Blah. If you have one of those excuses all the more reason to beat that mindset down with a constant barrage of strain. You may not be able to do a pushup, but you can do something else and you can do more everyday and you can add a little and keep the strain. Easy for me to say as a middle aged healthy adult. I know, but I have my problems too and overcoming my small problems is probably the same path to solving your bigger ones. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW SMALL YOU START, THE POINT IS THAT YOU JUST START! No more excuses, stop listening to wrong part of your brain. Get under strain now, it is your only way out.
Guy Reams (274)
365 Member
