Before we even set foot on this earth, we enter into a contract that binds us to making an effort. no wonder babies cry when they first arrive. In this world there's no free things don't get any better for us adults. To make life work we have to make a bigger effort still.
But most of us want an easy life. We want the fruits without the labor. So we play the lottery, gamble and take chances in the hope of striking it rich. then, if we're lucky, we can have it all without the hard work. But an easy life doesn't come without the hard work. but an easy life does't come without effort. Even lottery winners discover their riches won't stop the weeds from growing int heir garden or their shoes from getting scuffed. It takes work to maintain material things and everything eventually wears out. nothing lasts for ever - not even a 10 million jackpot.
But we never seem to get over wanting something for nothing. We yearn for it all, the effortless way. So things fall apart, life gets difficult. Not surprisingly, striving to get something for nothing makes it harder to get what we really want.
What's more,most of us seem to confuse effort with struggle. Effort is putting energy into an activity. Struggle is effort laced with striving and desperation. Perhaps the confusion is a hangover from childhood when were often told to make an effort. Put in more effort. And try harder. You see, as children, we weren't always clear about what action we needed to take or where to put in the work. And so, when we made a greater effort and the results didn't follow, we became frustrated, tensed up and tried harder still. Soon making an effort became synonymous with struggle.
I see this conditioning at work with adults when they practice karate. Ask them to try harder and they automatically tense their body, which interferes with their performance. They become heavy and have to work against muscles that hold back the ones they need to use . In short: more effort leads to less progress. they end up feeling exhausted when they should be feeling refreshed. It's the same in life: the tension in people's minds and bodies leads to unnecessary struggles and an aversion to making an effort. The best approach: relax into effort. You'll be more responsive to moments when a big push is needed and sensitive to times when it's not.
But we never seem to get over wanting something for nothing. We yearn for it all, the effortless way. So things fall apart, life gets difficult. Not surprisingly, striving to get something for nothing makes it harder to get what we really want.
What's more,most of us seem to confuse effort with struggle. Effort is putting energy into an activity. Struggle is effort laced with striving and desperation. Perhaps the confusion is a hangover from childhood when were often told to make an effort. Put in more effort. And try harder. You see, as children, we weren't always clear about what action we needed to take or where to put in the work. And so, when we made a greater effort and the results didn't follow, we became frustrated, tensed up and tried harder still. Soon making an effort became synonymous with struggle.
I see this conditioning at work with adults when they practice karate. Ask them to try harder and they automatically tense their body, which interferes with their performance. They become heavy and have to work against muscles that hold back the ones they need to use . In short: more effort leads to less progress. they end up feeling exhausted when they should be feeling refreshed. It's the same in life: the tension in people's minds and bodies leads to unnecessary struggles and an aversion to making an effort. The best approach: relax into effort. You'll be more responsive to moments when a big push is needed and sensitive to times when it's not.
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