Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Hitting the wall?
When the going gets tough and progress seems to have halted and we may even be going backwards, do we quit or keep going? Well the answer to that may depend on what it is we're applying ourselves to. This question can arise in business, sport or learning a new skill, as I am experiencing with my violin playing.
If things are going swimmingly well and progress in our project or endeavour seems to just happen with the greatest of ease, then we're probably going about it in an appropriate manner and maybe 'it's just meant to happen'. But what about when it's not going smoothly or we seem to have 'hit a wall', what then?
Initial our feeling may be to push harder, but with continued 'resistance' or continued 'no-progress' it may seem that it's not working, so we quit. This is a critical moment, the axis of choice, do we persevere, or not? Continue or quit? Well, rather than one of the other, we could step sideways and view what we're doing from a different perspective. How are we doing it, how are we applying ourselves? Step aside, step back and view your efforts and endeavours from a distance; question 'how'. Could I do it differently? Could I make less effort? What then? Certainly, by working on the 'process' rather than the end result we are far more likely to help ourselves progress. The end result will look after itself if we apply ourselves to the process.
If, after consideration of alternative approaches to our task we decide that our methods are appropriate, then at least we are assured that to the best of our knowledge and ability we are going about it all in a reasonable manner. Ask yourself, "is this really 'for me?" What if I am meant to follow a different path? Supposing the Universe is 'telling me' that I should consider an alternative.....a change of tack.....maybe a change of occupation! Certainly when we're 'on track', then things seem to go with the flow, all barriers are magically removed and it's almost as though it's meant to happen.
So if you feel that you are going about it appropriately, and the project is something that you truly feel to be worthwhile, appropriate, necessary, enjoyable, lovable, so-absolutely-right-for-you, then when your progress halts, no matter how much 'effort' and time you put into it, then this is the very time.........to keep going. Keep going. Keep going.
This is precisely where I'm at with the violin. Having felt recently that my progress is halted, no matter how much time I put into it, I still don't seem to be making progress, I posed myself some questions. Firstly, am I approaching this appropriately? Can I hold the instrument with greater ease, less effort, am I in balance, free and supple? Still no progress. This prompts a more fundamental question.....should I bother playing the violin at all?? After all, I have started to learn in mid 50s, so my learning capabilities are different from a child's, and as it demands so many hours a week, is this the best use of my time? So another question raises itself. Should I just quit so creating more time for other things? But then the real reason why I'm doing it comes speedily to mind.....I do it because I enjoy it! But I am not enjoying struggling with basics and not making progress. So shall I quit? But to do so means that I give up on the thousands of hours I have already invested in learning to play the violin.....what a waste!
OK, so considering that I play the violin because I enjoy it...if not currently I have done so for much of the time, and therefore may do so again in the future....if I carry on. So having 'hit a wall', and having considered all aspects of 'how' am I going about this in terms of posture, balance, looseness etc, copying the best of professional examples, I am assured that my approach is as reasonable as I can manage. So the answer to the whole question of what should we do if the going gets tough and there is no progress? If all other considerations are satisfactory, the answer is.....CARRY ON.
Yes, carry on. Keep going and work on the process. Let's remind ourselves that the end result will look after itself if we continue working on the process. When the going gets tough and there is little headway being made, it may just be because we are about to make a breakthrough to a new level. This is the case with so many things in life. We may even feel that we're going backwards rather than forwards and this is just because our whole subconscious, conscious and physicality is all integrating together; after all the learning and progress so far, it all needs to settle and integrate. Our experiences build to create a new platform from which we can eventually move forwards. This takes time. So we need to give it time. KEEP GOING. And with due time, we are likely to find that suddenly we leap forwards and all our struggles are behind us as we coast along on a new level. How wonderful! But this is then likely to only be for a while until the next hurdle presents itself, then the whole cycle starts again.
So if you're feeling stuck in any activity, there are a few fundamental questions to ask yourself, and if then you still feel satisfied that this project is right and your methods are appropriate....KEEP GOING! Work on the process.
So now having decided not to quit, I shall return to my violin practice!
Have a great day. :-)
