Habits, plans, and goals require us to move in some way. The initial “high” we get from starting a new system might motivate us to continue: We complete 2 days of the workout, cook healthy food for several meals, or go to bed early for 3 days. Enthusiasm is born!
Then the 4:00 a.m. alarm sounds, waking us from 2 hours of sleep, or our friends are about to start a new movie when we’re committed to going to bed early. My personal favorite is when I’m sitting down to salmon, lentils, and peas and the people around me are eating cinnamon rolls.
Now we face ourselves, and it becomes real. Before this moment, we’ve talked and planned. Perhaps we’ve made lists or shared our goals with others.
Writing, talking, and intending do not make change. It’s not until we’re exhausted, hungry, bored, or some other form of pain that we ultimately either enter a new path or keep with the same direction. Positive thoughts and lists mean nothing when a headache or heartache is involved. So what happens next?
We either do it or not. We either make the change or don’t. So what inspires us to act?
Perhaps the very pain that forced us to consider change in the first place is our savior, the one thing that can prevent us from avoiding difficult but necessary transformation. Even if we hate its entry into our lives, pain never deserts us. Pain will not be apathetic to our lives, and it always has an opinion. When we try to push it away by drinking more coffee or eating cinnamon rolls, pain leaves briefly, only to return at the most inappropriate time.
We’ve finally made it to the weekend where we are safe (or so we think). Then pain enters to show us what we’ve been avoiding, acting as a constant reminder of what we need to do. Maybe we need to call our Granddaddy or scrub our shower. Whatever the case, pain does not lie or try to trick us. We know what’s going on, and we cannot hide from our friend.
Rather than run from what might be considered a loyal friend, could we ask what pain is trying to show us and ask how we might serve it and thus serve ourselves?
Agree or disagree? Post your thoughts in the comments section.
