Tell the squirrel to shut up
Published: Sat, 09/28/13
Just after the Summer Camp at the beginning of September I hurt my
back. It had more or less got better but I hadn't used my
kettle bell since the camp, I guess I was afraid of hurting my back
again and it was still a bit stiff. But I knew rationally that it
was high time to pick up the weight again. I also knew that if it
hurt I could always stop and give myself more time to recover.
Anyway, I overrode the part of my mind which really didn't want
to bother and had a perfectly good workout and today my back feels
a lot better for it. You often hear people talking about trusting
your gut instinct and going with your feelings as a guide for
making decisions. Well, yes but you have to know how to recognise
whether you are being guided by your eagle, your dragon or your
squirrel. Your eagle mind can see clearly what is possible and can
usually see obvious dangers and pit falls. It should also be
possible to assess risks and then just test situations. There was
a period of a few days about two weeks ago picking up my kettle
bell and trying to use it would have been a very bad idea, my body
and my rational mind were in full agreement about that.
Emotionally I was a little resentful that I couldn't operate
in my usual way but again that was my squirrel mind and I had to be
realistic. However once the squirrel had got used to the idea that
I wasn't fit enough to train properly any more I found myself
concerned at taking the risk at all. In any decision you have to
make the distinction between a real problem or difficulty in
accomplishing your goals such as lack of resources or too tight a
time scale and the emotional response which is just afraid of going
outside of your comfort zone. Sometimes you have to be very honest
with yourself to really see the difference.
I am starting to sort out the training dates for next year. Two
booked for 2014 in Salisbury so far in January and March. Also
there are still two more courses for 2013, Salisbury on 19th
October and Evesham on 16th November. If you are reading this then
you probably have some interest in Stav. In which case you know
that you would like to be doing some actual training. So what is
stopping you? I mean really stopping you? Are you afraid of
feeling awkward? Of not fitting in? Of not being any good? Of
finding the training too difficult or too demanding? If you know
you want to do it and you can physically get there then any other
excuse is just squirrel mind stuff, so just tell the little pest to
shut up and book up. Also note that as a member at £15 per
month (if you join before the 5th of October) you effectively get
your membership back each month you train thanks to the discount on
the course fee. Go to http://www.iceandfire.org.uk/train.html to
see what you will be doing when you come.
regards
Graham
P S Bruin was still trying to figure out how her mother had managed
to get into the top of the wardrobe when there was no way up there.
The kitten still hadn't twigged that Pyramus, her mother, just
used me as ladder and jumped off my shoulder onto the high shelf.
Then about two weeks later I watched Bruin climb onto the window
sill, from there she climbed up the curtain where she swung herself
onto the top of the open wardrobe door. Somehow she managed to
balance on the very narrow edge and jumped into the top of the
wardrobe. Then she looked down and seemed very pleased with
herself. I guess the moral is that if you believe something must
be possible then you won't give up until you find a way. But I
would also recommend finding out how someone did something you want
to do other wise you will tend to reinvent the wheel. And there is
a lot to be said for just asking for help like Pyramus did of me.