Let me give you an example. I feel the most stressed out about being out of shape when I'm actually exercising and trying to eat well. It's then that I have to face the consequences of every nutter butter bar I've ever eaten and every time I've chosen sleep over exercise. I start to feel frustrated at myself for my past choices and overwhelmed by how long it will take to reverse the damage. Conversely, I find that ignoring the fact that I'm out of shape is really comfortable. It's as though I can make all those problems disappear, just by closing my eyes to them. Likewise, studying for the MCAT is stressful. It makes me painfully and constantly aware of how far I have to go and in what ways I haven't met my goals. Sometimes the stress of recognizing where I'm at (and how much work it will take to get where I want to be) sends me running in the wrong direction. Pizza and movies are some of my distractions of choice.
The sad, and obvious, problem with all of this is that while ignoring my stressors is more comfortable in the moment, in the long run it creates even greater problems that I will eventually have to face.
Not to turn this into a church sermon, but a scripture comes to mind. In Alma 42:29, part of Alma's talk with his not so righteous son, Corianton, Alma says "I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more and only let your sins trouble you with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance." Basically he's saying don't stress out. And I would add, ESPECIALLY, don't stress out to the point where it's tempting to just give up. But (and I like that he adds this part), do keep just enough stress around to motivate you to change. I think if I was a neuropsychologist kind of person there would probably be impressive scientific terms for all of this. But basically, there is a function in stress, namely getting us to change and to getter done. But like a lot of things, too much stress can be counterproductive.
SO, I want to propose a kind of treaty with my brain. If he (?) will lay off with the stress and regret, I will try and take those temperate, but steady steps towards success. For example, I go to the gym and my mind wants to think "You feel how hard this is, chump? You're going to have to do this for like 3 years straight if you want to be in shape. And did you happen to notice how awful you look in these stretchy pants? What were you thinking eating those cookies?" etc etc. (Yeah, my brain can be kind of a jerk). Instead it would be nice to train Mr. Brain to think "Wow, I'm glad we're here. This is a step in the right direction. All we have to do is stay on this course." That would be great. I might even be tempted to keep coming back.
-E
