They say variety is the spice of life and a pinch of just about everything will do you good, I didn’t think that when I went to my first abs class. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a believer in exercise and its undoubted ability to make me feel quite happy as well as tone the parts my office chair can’t reach. I crunched and planked my way through a 45 minute session and when the music slowed down, I thought, finally, we’re coming to the end; the instructor had different ideas to mine.
She fooled me and backed up the tape, my fears of doing the same thing over and over became a reality. Nicole Sherzinger’s ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’ reverberated in my ears like torture; I nearly held my breath but gripped the edges of my floor mat instead. These repetitive yet necessary movements for the abs I’ve always wanted led to an epiphany as I lay on the studio floor; oh the monotony of it all!
Doing the same thing each day is alright if you enjoy it and feel contented; but what if you feel that it’s getting you nowhere? Nowhere is a lonely, uninhabited place and the reason you are there is habit. We all have habits and have adopted them for many reasons, mainly because we thought they were a good idea at the time.
We are so hooked that we believe how we do things is part of our character and that we shouldn’t change. It takes courage to admit that you have to let go of certain actions and your thinking. What happens when you do is quite amazing, I mean as long as you’re breathing what’s the worst that can happen if you do?
Those that have taken the time to understand and know you will be relieved that you have seen the new light yourself, will continue to have your back and become as excited as you about your future; the downside is that you will notice some confusion from others who will feel that your sudden decision to switch things a little doesn’t suit them. This is when you also break another habit, refusing to acknowledge friends or sadly family who are insincere.
You can go on two things when wanting to try something different, logic and feeling. The logical approach is like using a Sat Nav to guide you and if by some reason you get lost you can always blame this new technology and the people who made it. Going on gut instinct means you choose to read a map or at least try to, if you take one wrong turn because you can’t tell a motorway from a dual carriage way it’s your fault, no one else to shout at when you’re driving around and around in unfamiliar territory; but what a euphoric moment when YOU find the right road…yes YOU!
© Michelle Sotiriou 2013
‘If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It’s lethal’ – Paul Coelho
She Be Fierce 