Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Love the cause, and the effect will come

I recently attended a workshop on visioning and goal-setting that was really important for me. The person who led it talked about how our society functions in such a way that we focus on the "effect" or results of everything. This attitude dictates our every day attitudes. For example, people want to be thin and attractive so they focus only on that, and they want to see results immediately - hence the popularity of crash diets, pills, even surgeries. The problem is, they are in love with the effects/results, but they hate the cause of the results (in this example, exercising).

But if you fall in love with the cause, the effect will naturally come, without struggle. I found that to be a really interesting way to look at life. We're always concerned with results that we neglect the rich experiences of process, journey, and discovery. That is what we need to fall in love with.

My personal struggle since I've started my masters is my health. Sure, I want to be healthy, but I don't delegate a time for me to work out or make a concerted effort to eat healthy. I've been thinking about my health for a while now - I mean, alhamdulillah I'm not very overweight or eating junk food 24/7 or anything like that. But since I've decided I don't have time to devote to my health, I've been feeling lethargic and I'm starting to worry more now about things like osteoporosis. I guess because I'm getting older I can't get away with the habits I had as a younger adult or teenager.

So, I've decided to fall in love with the cause of my good health: working out. I always thought I hated it, but I'm starting to realize I actually enjoy the rush I feel after working out - the pure unadulterated energy that comes from exerting your body. Even the muscle pain I have the next day is kind of enjoyable because it just reminds me that I'm putting an effort into this.

And so, for the first time in my life, I have decided to join a gym inshaAllah. I'm kind of scared that I'll hate it, but I know that the only way to achieve my effect is to fall in love with the cause. So right now, I love it.

So find that thing in your life you're struggling to achieve, and instead of focusing on what you want, try focusing on how you need to get there - and make that journey something you love and look forward to.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that is what I needed to hear too. This evening, I was supposed to resume my daily walk routine but as Maghrib time rolled around, I started coming up with excuses. The result? I didn't go even though I *know* there's no better way to lose those unwanted pounds!

Me likes your blog post but what me should really like is her walk routine. There is no such thing as a "short-cut" in weight loss. :S

Nauman said...

Good for you! Keep it up and inshallah you'll earn your results. :)

Unknown said...

Dusk&dawn, the reason I wrote this post is that I myself needed to hear it, not other people! :P so we're in the same boat.

Nauman, thanks :)