by Michael Neill
Have you ever watched people suffer at the gym?
I remember one particular man who always reminded me of a medieval priest self-flagellating in punishment for his sins. Driving himself into his sixteenth set of 85 repetitions at a weight three times his own, he seemed to take a perverse pleasure in torturing his body on a daily basis. Every time I saw him, he was wearing a new knee brace or elbow brace or neck brace (at one point he showed up with his leg in a cast to work his upper body)!
The myth of "no pain, no gain" is pervasive in our society. Whether it manifests in your life at the gym, in the office, or in your relationships (!), most of us find ways of punishing ourselves for the best of all possible intentions - to help us to grow, and to motivate ourselves to become "better" people. The only problem is it doesn't work. Oh, it might work for an hour, a day, or even a month, but over time the pain fades and we find ourselves right back in the old pattern of behaviour. Or worse still, we punish ourselves, feel bad, and then eat cake and take drugs and do things we'll regret later in order to make the bad feelings we've just created go away....
Allow me to share my personal philosophy on the subject. I can sum it up in a simple phrase:
No Pain, no pain!
It's not that I believe pain must be avoided at all costs, or that we should give up on something we know we want to do as soon as it gets difficult. It's just that I've become aware that when we are pursuing our goals and living our dreams, some of what we do is painful, and some of it isn't. You don't get any extra points for suffering, unless you make up the rules of the game that way...
You can do today's experiment at home, or if you prefer, at the gym. I use the example of sit-ups, but any exercise from jogging to the bench press to yoga will do. As with all exercise, be sure you've taken expert advice, including your own, before attempting anything more strenuous than your usual routine...
1. Do a few sit-ups the way you would normally do them.
2. Stop, and do at least five sit-ups as punishment for all the fatty foods you've eaten in the past week.
3. Now, do at least five sit-ups as an act of self-love. Think about the amazing miracle that is your body, and if it's not too corny for you, thank your stomach muscles for keeping your torso strong. (If it is too corny for you, get over it! :-)
4. Notice which experience was more like your normal exercise experience. If you enjoyed the experience of exercise as an act of self-love, carry on with that attitude and marvel at the rewards your body will give you as your regular routine is infused with a new energy and awareness.
Have fun, learn heaps, be safe, and remember:
No pain, no pain!
Michael Neill is a licensed Master Trainer of NLP and has written over 550 articles in the areas of business success, money, relationships, health, happiness, well-being, and spirituality. His weekly coaching column is reprinted in newspapers and magazines throughout the world, and can be found online at http://www.geniuscatalyst.com
Have you ever watched people suffer at the gym?
I remember one particular man who always reminded me of a medieval priest self-flagellating in punishment for his sins. Driving himself into his sixteenth set of 85 repetitions at a weight three times his own, he seemed to take a perverse pleasure in torturing his body on a daily basis. Every time I saw him, he was wearing a new knee brace or elbow brace or neck brace (at one point he showed up with his leg in a cast to work his upper body)!
The myth of "no pain, no gain" is pervasive in our society. Whether it manifests in your life at the gym, in the office, or in your relationships (!), most of us find ways of punishing ourselves for the best of all possible intentions - to help us to grow, and to motivate ourselves to become "better" people. The only problem is it doesn't work. Oh, it might work for an hour, a day, or even a month, but over time the pain fades and we find ourselves right back in the old pattern of behaviour. Or worse still, we punish ourselves, feel bad, and then eat cake and take drugs and do things we'll regret later in order to make the bad feelings we've just created go away....
Allow me to share my personal philosophy on the subject. I can sum it up in a simple phrase:
No Pain, no pain!
It's not that I believe pain must be avoided at all costs, or that we should give up on something we know we want to do as soon as it gets difficult. It's just that I've become aware that when we are pursuing our goals and living our dreams, some of what we do is painful, and some of it isn't. You don't get any extra points for suffering, unless you make up the rules of the game that way...
You can do today's experiment at home, or if you prefer, at the gym. I use the example of sit-ups, but any exercise from jogging to the bench press to yoga will do. As with all exercise, be sure you've taken expert advice, including your own, before attempting anything more strenuous than your usual routine...
1. Do a few sit-ups the way you would normally do them.
2. Stop, and do at least five sit-ups as punishment for all the fatty foods you've eaten in the past week.
3. Now, do at least five sit-ups as an act of self-love. Think about the amazing miracle that is your body, and if it's not too corny for you, thank your stomach muscles for keeping your torso strong. (If it is too corny for you, get over it! :-)
4. Notice which experience was more like your normal exercise experience. If you enjoyed the experience of exercise as an act of self-love, carry on with that attitude and marvel at the rewards your body will give you as your regular routine is infused with a new energy and awareness.
Have fun, learn heaps, be safe, and remember:
No pain, no pain!
Michael Neill is a licensed Master Trainer of NLP and has written over 550 articles in the areas of business success, money, relationships, health, happiness, well-being, and spirituality. His weekly coaching column is reprinted in newspapers and magazines throughout the world, and can be found online at http://www.geniuscatalyst.com
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