A few days back I got an injury in one of the fingers of my right hand due to which I could not use that finger for the next few days. Since it was very painful, I very consciously avoided using the finger. I took the finger off anything that I was touching, when writing I tried to avoid using it to the extent possible, even in the kitchen, I figured out a way to do things without using that finger thus giving the finger rest and keeping it comfortable. In a few days, not using the finger became the normal way of doing things!
A few days elapsed and guess what has happened, today when I am trying to bring my finger back into use, it refuses to listen to me. It prefers to stay out of most chores unless I very consciously use it for getting my work done!
Amazing, isn’t it! Just a few days of relaxing such a small part of the body and there is trouble getting it back to do the things that it has been doing for me for years now!
So whats happened – can you guess?
There are two things happening here –
1. My mind has sensed pain when using this finger for the past few days and even though my finger has healed and is ready to function, my mind still fears pain and hence tries to avoid.
2. My hand has gotten used to (gotten comfortable) performing tasks with the other fingers (although it’s painful and uncomfortable for the other fingers to take the load), and just to get back to normalcy, which is now the uncomfortable zone is a task.
Our mind’s core purpose is to keep us safe, secure, stable, comfortable and maintain the status quo. As soon as it senses a slight change, risk or danger, a threat, any situation that could potentially cause pain, it will do whatever it can to keep us away! That’s how it keeps us safe.
Can you imagine all the amazing opportunities you might have lost because of the fears within you! Opportunities such as working on dream projects or switching your job or learning new skills or just to state your idea in any meetings, or asking for that promotion or the pay hike, or starting something on your own, or …. just because you sensed pain of doing that activity and allowed your mind to take over and convince you to stay out of it!
So what am I doing now to get back my finger to work – well I am consciously using it repeatedly in all tasks, I am making sure that I tell myself that it is not painful and I choose to use it even if it pains a little. The finger is already stiff and if I don’t use it, thinking it needs to be safe and comfortable, imagine what might happen, I might lose the usage of that finger forever!
So, the bottom line is – keep stretching yourself in spite of your fears and pain. Start getting comfortable in uncomfortable situations. There is growth beyond your fears, and it pays off to stretch and keep working on muscles that you want to grow. Say “Yes” to a small uncomfortable situation today and it will become easier to “Yes” to bigger situations tomorrow! We all have the ability to achieve whatever we set our minds to, so exercise that power to achieve your dreams!
Do you need help to overcome your limiting beliefs, fears in your mind or just the stiffness of not doing what your gut says you should do, then talk to me as I can help you overcome all of this!
Set up an appointment with me on https://www.engage2transform.com/appointment and I will be happy to have a conversation.
I help leaders find joy & purpose @ work by building a Winner’s Mindset, Financial Freedom and Job Satisfaction!