Oops! I just “should” all over myself!
I’m kinda embarrassed to admit this publicly
Where to start??
Hi. It’s George here. I’ve been debating with sharing this with you… but it’s such a useful lesson that applies to ALL AREAS OF LIFE.
I just had to get it down on paper while I’m still brave enough. I feel a bit silly for taking so long to work this out!
I don’t know where to start. Let’s rewind to four weeks ago.
I was in my home gym, deadlifting. I was lifting 80KG for 8 reps. This is about 23% heavier than my bodyweight, if you want to compare. This weight was light for me, as I could have done more reps.
Suddenly, a searing pain shot through my lower back and left side! 😖
I put the weight down and stopped the workout. Aside from the pain, I felt really disappointed in myself. I knew I’d slipped into poor technique — I watched myself do it and have no idea why I did it. I would never choose to use poor form — it was almost like someone made me do it.
I should have known better, especially as I used to be a Personal Trainer. Even more frustrating was knowing that I wouldn’t be able to lift weights for a few weeks.
I’ve let injuries limp on for months before seeking help in the past, but not this time. So, I booked an appointment with a chiropractor for the next day.
The chiropractor got me to do a few movements such as touching my toes, which I couldn’t do as it caused so much pain. She told me I’d injured my Quadratus Lumborum (QL) – it's that muscle on either side of your spine from your pelvis to your ribs.
She had me lie face down on table and pushed my hips. Ouch! That was painful.
She said my left hip was frozen and pointing up towards my navel. No wonder I couldn’t fold forward without pain. Then she pressed her thumb into my QL.
Cue whimpering… in a manly way of course! 😬
The pain was 8 out of 10 on the passing out scale for me. She held it and increased the pressure a few times and then repeated on other areas.
Humbled, I booked in another appointment for the following week.
Good news though, as after three weeks of appointments, I was starting to lift weights again. I took it easy, using about 75% of my normal weights.
The Lightbulb Moment 💡
I keep a record of my weight and blood pressure every month and write a comment. This is what I wrote:
January: “Didn't exercise this month. Bad case cold and cough and developed vertigo.”
February: “No exercise last 2 weeks, due to slight hernia.” (thankfully healed now)
March: (no comment).
April: injured QL. No exercise for 3 weeks.
As I wrote in the Simplify Health and Fitness chapter of our book Simplicity Secret:
“Don’t injure yourself. This is my biggest rule. It’s easy to get into a cycle of injuring yourself every couple of weeks. That results in you barely making any progress.“
Crap! What on earth is going on with me???
Your Subconscious Mind is in the driving seat 95% of the Time! 🤯
I want to be stronger and look better. But it seems my subconscious mind has been fighting against me. It has other plans!
We’ve all heard of the power of the placebo effect. Your mind can create physiological changes when it believes a medicine is real. Of course, don’t be stupid and stop taking your meds (or someone else’s) without medical supervision.
Similarly, your mind can make you physically ill. With your subconscious mind in charge 95% of the time, those random “accidents” where you hurt your back or twisted your ankle, may not be so accidental after all.
Chatting with my wife Sarah, she pointed out that I’d been “shoulding all over myself.”
Here’s what my weekly health and fitness “should” list looked like:
I should lift weights or do calisthenics 3 times a week.
I should do 50 minutes of yoga twice a week.
I should do kettlebell swings 2 times a week.
I should go for a walk once or twice a day.
I should stand at my desk a couple of times a day.
I should meditate twice a day.
Should, should, should… No wonder my subconscious mind screamed NOOOOOOOO! It was freaking out! 😵💫
Acceptance and Simplicity 🌟
It was then that the clouds parted and it all became clear to me.
If I was totally honest with myself, these should’s, were not what I really wanted to do. They weren’t all enjoyable or high on my values list.
Sarah encouraged me to aim for acceptance. To just do what feels good and accept that I can’t do everything… and don’t need to.
My ultimate aim is to have vibrant health, work out consistently, keep getting stronger every year and have great mobility. Part of that is eating well and not getting injured. I want to still be doing pullups when I’m 80 💪
My new minimum for the moment is to lift weights or do calisthenics 3 times a week and meditate 1-2 times a day. That’s all. Everything else is optional, and only if I feel like I will enjoy it.
I’m slowly learning to accept myself. Everything is okay.
All is well. ✨
I was wondering… am I the only one, or have you experienced resistance and self-sabotage from “shoulding” over yourself too? Please let me know in the comment box below. Thanks.
Live your dreams,
Sarah and George 💜
P.S. Ready to simplify your life and achieve your goals with minimum effort? Check out our new book “Simplicity Secret”
If you’d like to go deeper into financial freedom, wealth and happiness, then I invite you to check out our books 📚 Money Flow, 📚 Stealth Millionaire, 📚 Retire Now, 📚 Simplicity Secret and 📚 Find Your Purpose.
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I was wondering… am I the only one, or have you experienced resistance and self-sabotage from “shoulding” over yourself too?