We decide to do things, or not to do things, based on the pain or pleasure we associate with the doing, or not doing.
When I first heard that theory it made sense right away, and I have often consulted it when faced with a decision.
The problem is that while the theory is simple, the subjectiveness of the "associate" part still leaves you depending on past experience to give you a feel as to what situation may bring pain or pleasure, and to what degree.
The biggest challenge is of course short term vs long term. Its easy to know when something hurts a lot, or feels really good, in the short term. Then you automatically associate the activity or the decision with the appropriate pain or pleasure, and as such you do, or do not, act.
Conversely, associating pain or pleasure with long term, or future situations is much more difficult.
Put the two ends of this spectrum together, and how does one decide what to do today to give one the pleasure you want in the future. How do you make the wise decisions to suffer a little in the short term, in order to get rewarded in the long term. And how do you know that todays pain will even bring you the gratification you desire over time?
Like I said…the theory sounds simple, but the reality depends heavily on experience.
And that's the way I thought out today's decision; to take the edge off my training for a few weeks. The workouts have just been too painful over the last while, certainly on a physical level, but even more so, psychologically. My heart is simply not in it.
Experience tells me that the only solution to mental burnout is rest. Experience also tells me that with over 5 months to go there's tons (or I guess that's tonnes…I'm Canadian) of time, and peaking too early would be counterproductive.
When I headed down to the basement today I knew that I would have to do something different. I simply couldn't find any passion. So I choose to do the workout, but without any attempt to spend time in the are bars. I still sweated my ass off, but compared to the usual pain, it was ordinary.
So that will be my strategy until such time as I feel a little more vigorous. Continue to do all my workouts, but with a little less intensity. I'm confident my enthusiasm will return if I'm just good to myself for a few weeks.
And this effin, effin, winter's gotta end soon!!
easy run, 6 kms
Computrainer long intervals, 90 minutes
"Beyond a wholesome discipline, Be gentle with yourself"---Desiderata
Love
Peter
When I first heard that theory it made sense right away, and I have often consulted it when faced with a decision.
The problem is that while the theory is simple, the subjectiveness of the "associate" part still leaves you depending on past experience to give you a feel as to what situation may bring pain or pleasure, and to what degree.
The biggest challenge is of course short term vs long term. Its easy to know when something hurts a lot, or feels really good, in the short term. Then you automatically associate the activity or the decision with the appropriate pain or pleasure, and as such you do, or do not, act.
Conversely, associating pain or pleasure with long term, or future situations is much more difficult.
Put the two ends of this spectrum together, and how does one decide what to do today to give one the pleasure you want in the future. How do you make the wise decisions to suffer a little in the short term, in order to get rewarded in the long term. And how do you know that todays pain will even bring you the gratification you desire over time?
Like I said…the theory sounds simple, but the reality depends heavily on experience.
And that's the way I thought out today's decision; to take the edge off my training for a few weeks. The workouts have just been too painful over the last while, certainly on a physical level, but even more so, psychologically. My heart is simply not in it.
Experience tells me that the only solution to mental burnout is rest. Experience also tells me that with over 5 months to go there's tons (or I guess that's tonnes…I'm Canadian) of time, and peaking too early would be counterproductive.
When I headed down to the basement today I knew that I would have to do something different. I simply couldn't find any passion. So I choose to do the workout, but without any attempt to spend time in the are bars. I still sweated my ass off, but compared to the usual pain, it was ordinary.
So that will be my strategy until such time as I feel a little more vigorous. Continue to do all my workouts, but with a little less intensity. I'm confident my enthusiasm will return if I'm just good to myself for a few weeks.
And this effin, effin, winter's gotta end soon!!
easy run, 6 kms
Computrainer long intervals, 90 minutes
"Beyond a wholesome discipline, Be gentle with yourself"---Desiderata
Love
Peter
Great strategy!
ReplyDeleteLove, gail