CxD #197: Character is like a Car Reservation
1. Working on Character is very hard.
2. We love the idea of facing our biases and limitations and bad habits, but actually doing that, turning towards our shadows and inner critical voices and judgements is hard. Few people actually do this consistently in practice.
3. Character building is kinda like how car reservations work, turns out:
4. People who consistently develop a character practice learn to see it as who they are, not something to get from it. Consider this example of a Buddhist runner:
The sense of tranquility in the mountains, the size of nature, and the ancientness of the earth itself is what attracts Yuji to trail running. He says that it helps him to feel more present in his own life.
“A life of about 80 years is less than a blink of an eye in the time span of earth. When you think about it that way, life is too short and there’s no time to waste. By running in the mountains, it becomes a valuable time of self-reflection.”
In addition, he says that when you run, your posture improves, naturally leading to positive thinking.
“The mind and body are linked. People who are depressed in their daily lives may have their backs curled and gaze down. If you ask them to run like that, they won’t be able to do it. Even in races, some runners walk like zombies. Of course they’re tired and are in a lot of pain, but they are most fatigued mentally. If you find yourself trudging, try bringing your chest out and swinging your arms, look straight ahead and move forward. You’ll begin to feel more energized.”
Yuji says that this also applies to your daily life.
“If you are troubled with something, bring your chest out. Your heart may clear up by doing only that.”
“You see big sporting events on TV, and it almost feels like the athlete status is a privilege for professionals. But anyone can shine, and everyone has an athlete side to them. That’s why I organize the races, but it’s really the same in your everyday life. If you’re feeling discouraged, look straight ahead, chest out, spend the day in good spirits, and you become the winner of the day.”
Read the whole essay here:
https://blog.strava.com/galleries/the-athletes-way/
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