Exploring the Uncomfort Zone
Counterclockwise living is not just about kale salads and Crossfit. And thank goodness for that, as neither is – or is likely to be — a part of my life. (I hate kale, but not as much as I hate the whole Anointed Superfood of the Year thing. As for CrossFit: Did it, escaped without serious injury – unlike many people – and moved on.)
What I mean, more broadly, is that living a healthy, engaged life that actively promotes vitality and youthful energy involves far more than eating well and moving one’s body. It is, as I’ve written about here and in my book, about nurturing a kind of bring-it-on attitude. It’s about purposely (bravely) stepping out of one’s comfort zone to take on challenges, to try new things. Being inquisitive and adventuresome is a hallmark of youthful energy. It is in the Uncomfort Zone that interesting things can happen.
You know how trainers will tell you to vary your exercise routine to create “muscle confusion”? If you do the same exercise routine every day, your muscles adapt and soon are not working as hard. You’re on the treadmill for the same 50 minutes, but you’re really getting 25 minutes of a decent work-out. If you switch it up and engage different muscle groups, you give your body a new challenge, and it is forced to answer the call. You begin to make progress rather than merely holding steady.
It’s the same with other routines in your life. You’ve spent a lot of years, decades probably, getting good at whatever it is you do. It’s likely that, at mid-life, you have adapted to that work. It is easier, less challenging. Admit it: You are on auto-pilot. (I am speaking about — and to — myself here too.) How about pushing yourself into the Uncomfort Zone? How about doing something you are NOT already good at? How about going back to the BEGINNING of some learning curve…just for the heady, scary thrill of it?
That’s what these folks did. (You really, really want to click on this link!)
And it’s what I’m doing right now as I take on the (self-inflicted) challenge of re-learning ballet (I stopped taking lessons at 12) and dancing The Nutcracker this season with the Eugene Ballet Company.
What can you do to shake it up?
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Testimonial: Lauren Kessler inspired me to try something completely different. Since January of this year, I’ve been doing Gyrotonics with a personal trainer. My posture is better and my back is stronger than its been in a long time. No back pain for a year, either!
Love to hear this, Barb. So glad you’re staying with Gyro.
So interesting that this would be your direction for today, Lauren. A few weeks back I listened to Bill Thomas challenge his audience to become “incompetent.” We don’t change because we hate to lose the ability to feel competent in what we choose to do. Risking failure and incompetence is one way to delay aging.
But today I’m teaching about rationing healthcare and we’re discussing Ezekiel Emanuel’s September essay in the Atlantic, “Why I hope to die at 75.” He highlights the losses of aging and says that he will take part in no-age extending treatments once he reaches 75. I’m struggling to see how this mindset fits with the person who wants to believe that we can always learn something new and we can always find reasons to keep on living. While I’m trying to figure that out, I think I might take a watercolor class.
Just writing more about facing incompetence after my first rehearsal today. Oh Lordie. I was blown away by the Atlantic article. It’s actually next on my “I must blog about this” list. I was waiting for my anger to subside.
OH lord. Can it just be with my mind so we can leave my poor, old mortal frame out of it???!!!
Sorry, Pam. I’m afraid that brilliant mind of yours needs the old mortal frame to get it from place to place.
I’m with you. My attitude about life is “What else you got?” That is, in the sense of keep-it-comin’.
This term, I joined the community choir at the college where I teach. After four decades away from singing in high school choir, I’m a tad rusty, but it feels delicious to shake that rust off! Choirs are everywhere, not just churches and colleges, and a great social way to recharge our aging brains (reading from scores, thinking about phrasing, pronunciation, musical structure etc, ) not to mention lungs.
I love the word “delicious” to describe this, Brett. I am going to try to embrace that.
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