Sunday Musings – February 4, 2018
As I review how I approached various challenges this week I am also mindful of how our elected official approached this week.
People often say to me that they do not feel like exercising, praying, writing, cleaning house or doing whatever they need to do to feel better. It as if our emotional, spiritual, and physical gas tanks are going to be magically filled and we will feel like doing what we need to do. Obviously, physical pain, clinical depression and other factors can make it very difficult for one to take care of oneself. One may, at times, needs medication to help get a jump-start. Often, anti-depressant medication can take the edge off of clinical depression so that one can begin to both access a ray of hope and to have the energy to start moving.
One may have a difficult time accepting that one has to act in spite of not feeling like doing what one needs to do. One may never have learned the habit of overriding feelings and acting on the basis of one’s core values.
Sometimes it seems as if many of us get stuck in the mindset of the child who is still waiting for the promise of a tangible reward before we do what we need to do. Very often, one may decide to deal with their anger, addiction or some other issue only if their partner promises to stay. This may be enough to motivate some to go through the motions of doing the next right thing. They may eventually learn that it feels good to do the next right thing just because it is the next right thing. It may be as if the person has finally unpacked their big boy or big girl pants and no longer need the gold star on the refrigerator or the monetary reward to do what they know to be the right thing to do. To be fair, it may be that some never got the gift of being taught that one has to move from tangible rewards to internal rewards.
On this Sunday morning, which for some religions is the Sabbath day, I am reminded that I have made choices this week. I have either made them on the basis of my value system, because I think I am going to get some tangible reward, or simply and sadly to prove that no one can make me do X if I believe X is the next right thing to do.
As parents, teachers, and others who have the blessing of helping children or adults learn to appreciate the internal rewards of doing the next right thing, we would do well to accept that for many it is very tough to make that transition. Some may, at times, need medication or some other aid before they can take that first step. On the other hand, we want to trust that all of us have the ability to put on our big boy or big girl pants. Having said that, I will put on my coat and gloves and make my way to the gym, not because I feel like going but because I know that, for me, it is the next right thing to do on this Sunday morning.
I will pray that all of us, no matter what our roles or jobs, use part of the Sabbath to either wash or to purchase some big boy or girl pants.
Written February 4, 2018
Written February 4, 2018
As I review how I approached various challenges this week I am also mindful of how our elected official approached this week.
People often say to me that they do not feel like exercising, praying, writing, cleaning house or doing whatever they need to do to feel better. It as if our emotional, spiritual, and physical gas tanks are going to be magically filled and we will feel like doing what we need to do. Obviously, physical pain, clinical depression and other factors can make it very difficult for one to take care of oneself. One may, at times, needs medication to help get a jump-start. Often, anti-depressant medication can take the edge off of clinical depression so that one can begin to both access a ray of hope and to have the energy to start moving.
One may have a difficult time accepting that one has to act in spite of not feeling like doing what one needs to do. One may never have learned the habit of overriding feelings and acting on the basis of one’s core values.
Sometimes it seems as if many of us get stuck in the mindset of the child who is still waiting for the promise of a tangible reward before we do what we need to do. Very often, one may decide to deal with their anger, addiction or some other issue only if their partner promises to stay. This may be enough to motivate some to go through the motions of doing the next right thing. They may eventually learn that it feels good to do the next right thing just because it is the next right thing. It may be as if the person has finally unpacked their big boy or big girl pants and no longer need the gold star on the refrigerator or the monetary reward to do what they know to be the right thing to do. To be fair, it may be that some never got the gift of being taught that one has to move from tangible rewards to internal rewards.
On this Sunday morning, which for some religions is the Sabbath day, I am reminded that I have made choices this week. I have either made them on the basis of my value system, because I think I am going to get some tangible reward, or simply and sadly to prove that no one can make me do X if I believe X is the next right thing to do.
As parents, teachers, and others who have the blessing of helping children or adults learn to appreciate the internal rewards of doing the next right thing, we would do well to accept that for many it is very tough to make that transition. Some may, at times, need medication or some other aid before they can take that first step. On the other hand, we want to trust that all of us have the ability to put on our big boy or big girl pants. Having said that, I will put on my coat and gloves and make my way to the gym, not because I feel like going but because I know that, for me, it is the next right thing to do on this Sunday morning.
I will pray that all of us, no matter what our roles or jobs, use part of the Sabbath to either wash or to purchase some big boy or girl pants.
Written February 4, 2018
Written February 4, 2018
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