I’ve mentioned before that due to my disability, I have cerebral palsy, that I have to maintain a daily set of exercises, – given to me by my physiotherapist, in order to keep me mobile.

I have to do them daily, and always feel more supple afterwards. Interestingly, many of them are only simple stretching routines, and whilst I’m in permanent pain, it always reduces somewhat afterwards.

Knowing so, is a huge motivator, but let me tell you honestly, – getting started isn’t always easy, and nor is keeping up the momenta! Sometimes the physical pain is so annoying, that I wonder will I make it worse. I know I won’t, – providing that I’m gentle with my wayward limbs; and it’s actually a form of procrastination, because it can be boring, doing the same thing every day!

Additionally, I know that I have poor concentration for matters relating to self; I know that I’m a child at heart, so I have to seek “assistance” in the form of playing Blondie tunes to keep me engaged to the task. I also have rewards afterwards, usually a sweet cup of tea, or simply to state that I’m a good girl, (which I say to self, later in the mirror), and the content sense of joy, I get when I’m at last resting…

But I still don’t like the exercise, and when I’m not in the useful frame of mind of: “Just get on with this Emma”, I can find even watching an ant on the grass far more interesting…

I try to examine my limbs whilst I’m working with the light weights, and note that affected right side indeed looks less twisted; I try to remember self-pride, since I’ve been vigilantly exercising now, for almost two years’. Yet, midst doing the exercises, I can still get distracted!

So, whilst I’m up to sixty reps now, of about eight different exercises; the only reason that I can sustain this: is by breaking up the routine, and by being self-honest about counting the actual reps that I do. Obvious as it may sound, I take little breaks: I’ll take a few moments off once I get up to number twenty, and may do the same once I reach forty, and then at sixty, and before I start the next routine.

It’s no different, I’d imagine, to the mind of a mountaineer. I’m quite sure that they break their arduous journey; because to take moments to rest, gives one the energy to resume with the task…

It can be applied to any area of your life, whereby you’re working out of your comfort zone, yet you need to complete the “job” in hand.

Doing so bolsters energy: if we were to succumb to our distractions, that depletes it! In this state of mind, we only end up berating ourselves, or giving up all together.

Try likening this to a car journey that you need to, or wish to make: you may well take the wrong routes initially. But you don’t have the choice to give up, and turn your engine off, simply staying in the motionless car. You have a commitment to complete the journey. Instead, you might take a refreshment break at a service station. At the very least, you’ll relook at your sat nav or route planner. You have broken up your journey, yet eventually you will finish it: because you have made it easier to do by breaking it up.

 

I hope this is helpful.

With SUNNY wishes,

Emma x