Obey My Blog

I took a bubble bath the other night (don’t laugh – they are AWESOME) and got a chance to really check out these meatsticks I call legs. For all my claims of not having a lot of strength, I have to say my legs are actually looking a little beefy!

To strengthen my legs, my teacher has me stand in a type of  horse stance with one arm out in front and one arm curled back and up and resting on my lower back with my fingers touching my thumb to form a cup.

For at least 3 minutes.

It can get painful. By the last 30 seconds curse words are streaming through my head and my legs are usually shaking.

When I practice this stance regularly, it is not nearly as painful. But I hate practicing it, so I avoid it. Which means it’s just going to be that much more painful the next time I get around to doing it.

Why I do this to myself I don’t know.

Or maybe I do.

Because, well, it’s just normal human behavior to try to avoid pain or what we perceive as pain.

But what if this painful thing is actually good for you in the long run? How do you overcome your aversion?

By showing up.

I once read an interview with William H. Macy, where he said that the hardest part of his job was just showing up. It shocked me, because it was so true. Just showing up can very hard – especially if you are attempting something new, difficult or challenging. Even if you know that it is ultimately good for you, there is an initial hesitation and resistance.

And boy do I resist the horse stance.

And sometimes I don’t show up for it.

And then later I regret it.

Well, okay, I don’t regret it that much. I mean c’mon, it’s just the horse stance… But you get my point I hope.

You just need to show up. Again and again and again.

It’s not easy. But nothing that is really worth while ever is.

(Except for mozzarella sticks. Those are pretty easy and so very tasty…).