Pick Your Pain
Life is challenging. Deep inside, I always secretly wished for a point where I could just coast after enough hard work. The plan was to put in enough effort that I’d live life work-free.
But that’s not how life works. The shower I took yesterday won’t suffice for today. Brushing my teeth diligently once doesn’t guarantee I never have to do it again. Even maintaining friendships requires ongoing effort to nurture and sustain them. My body needs regular movement and stretching, and regardless of my financial situation, managing and organizing my finances remains necessary.
Life comes with work. It’s unavoidable. I can choose to do the work of living; like keeping up with my hygiene, physical health, and emotional well-being. Or I can choose the “work” of avoidance, neglecting these essential aspects.
For example, if one of my chores is watering the plants in my home. I can take a few minutes to do it, or I can spend all day dreading, avoiding, and dealing with the anxiety of neglect. The weight of this unaddressed task will only grow, transforming a simple act into a daunting challenge in my mind and reality.
Both watering the plant and neglecting it can be challenging.
To navigate tasks, I find it helpful to break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Watering the plants? Not quite yet. For now, I’ll simply get the watering can. Taking this small, initial step makes the next step – adding water to the can – feel more approachable. The smaller and more manageable the step, the more likely I am to complete it.
Action: Take the time to break down a big task into smaller, manageable tasks. Make the first step as effortless as possible.
