Approach each challenge as if you chose it

I try to approach life as if I chose every experience that’s happening to me. That being said, I regularly fail and fall into a victim mentality. The reason I attempt this attitude towards life is  because I know that I will physiologically respond better to whatever stress is affecting me. Allow me to illustrate this using an example of exercising on an Assault Bike…

First of all, Assault Bikes are the worst. I liken them to the machine in The Princess Bride that sucks years off of your life (I think it was actually just called the Machine in that movie). They aren’t like normal bicycles or bikes you use in a spin class. They are a common torture device in Crossfit boxes used to demoralize you, and I’ve spent the last two years subjecting myself to their abuse. Now that the analogy is set up to some degree, let me paint the picture. Imagine these two scenarios in which the stress is technically the same, but the effect on your body will be significantly different….

In the first scenario, imagine you woke up, did your morning mindfulness routine, had a healthy snack and coffee, and joyfully headed towards the gym. Part of your programmed workout for the day involves the Assault Bike. You admit to yourself that it’s not your favorite, but you’re there to be challenged so you step on to it with a full heart. While on it, your heart is racing, your lungs feel like bursting, and your legs feel on fire, but you stay connected with the attitude that this is in your highest good and will make you stronger as well as get you closer to your health goals. You endure, and feel great after.

Scenario two involves the same physical stress, but entirely different mental stress. Imagine waking up and already being on an assault bike pedaling. You look down and see a note that reads, “This bike will explode if you slow down below 60 rpms.” A sort of Speed scenario, if you will, but for exercise. Same stressor and same physical experience. Your heart is racing, your lungs feel like bursting, and your legs feel on fire, but you also feel like you might actually die. You’re terrified, confused, angry maybe even feeling a little despair. I guarantee that when the bomb squad diffuses the device, you will step off the machine and feel awful for days. 

The reason being is because you produce different chemicals in your body based on perception. The two stressors in these scenarios were identical, but the attitude to which they were taken on were different, which means that they will be processed differently in the body. 

I am the first to admit that I don’t always do this successfully, but when I approach difficulties with the right attitude, I feel energized, content and empowered. When I engage with the wrong attitude, I feel broken, deflated and powerless.