As I was panting in between sets of push ups at the gym today—my arm muscles shaking from exhaustion—I contemplated how hard push ups are for me to do. My upper body is not nearly as strong as my lower half. The level of difficulty tells me this is an area I need to continue building strength in.
As I pondered this, I began drawing parallels to other things in my life that are hard to do. Sometimes when things are hard, I look at myself as weak yet that isn’t always an accurate view. A while ago I told someone that my upper body was weak and they replied that no, it wasn’t, it just wasn’t as strong as my lower half. It’s something I’ve held onto. In comparison, my upper body does feel weak to me, yet overall, it’s actually not.
Challenges can be off putting. It’s way easier to stick to the exercises or things in life that I’m good at (strong in). Yet taking on tasks or ways of being that are not so easy is what helps me to grow. It’s that idea of “stepping outside of one’s comfort zone.”
Just like trees can’t survive in a windless environment as scientists discovered they need the resistance of the wind to grow strong; so do we. The more we take on things that are hard to do, the more resilience and strength we build—whether that’s at the gym or with our mental health and addictions. Although yes, taking on too much too soon can certainly harm us as well, and we do need support in these endeavours. I will say this again and again in my advocacy as I’ve heard repetition is a great way to learn: Humans are a communal species, we’re not meant to do life alone. Sometimes having another set of eyes, for example—another point of view—can make all the difference.
In my recovery, it’s been the consistency of doing little bits everyday and/or every week for the long term (in my case, the last several years), that’s built up my fortitude. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made at the gym. My physical appearance is by far what people notice most; especially people who’ve known me for years but haven’t seen me in a while. It’s not just the physical strengths I’ve built up however, it’s the work I’m doing in all areas of my life—work that’s been much harder for me than lifting weights.
Like water dripping on stone, it’s the little things, done consistently, for lengthy periods, that carve a new path, changing the way of the river. Nutrition, exercise, and addiction recovery aren’t goals we reach and then are done; they’re a lifestyle we embody—A new way to live. 🌊☀️
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