It's Okay to Be Frustrated

Categories: Blog Jul 05, 2015

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever seen a new baby get upset when they were placed on the floor for "tummy time?" They start grunting, whining, turning red, the whaling. Why? Because they are mad! And they are mad because they can't raise that big melon and move with the freedom that they want to move with. Their head is weighing them down, and it ticks them off. For a child, there are moments of frustration when they are learning how to move. But nonetheless, they persevere, moment by moment and day by day until they defeat their nemesis, Gravity. Of course they persevere! What choice do they have? Quitting is not an option. To quit fighting gravity and to succumb to their frustration would never allow them to one day conquer and explore their world.

This is another lesson we need to relearn as adults when it comes to regaining the body we were created to have: It is okay to be frustrated, but don't quit. It is natural to get frustrated when our bodies won't necessarily allow us to do what we want to do. Remember the above example. However, this frustration can lead to victory if we persevere and continue to engage in the movements we want to make. It is only when we give up and decide to quit that we have lost.

Just as the child has no choice but to rage against Gravity, his foe, we too must follow this example. We must make a choice not to yield, not to get fed up, not to quit. The moment we decide to let Gravity win, the moment we start losing the battles to Gravity, is when we have given away a great deal of our health and resiliency. Truly, when we lose the war against Gravity, all is lost!

Perhaps the best way we can wage war against Gravity is the first way we did it as a child: Master the ability of moving our heads. Every single Gravity fighting muscle in our body is attached to and influenced by the movements of our heads. Learning how to move, and regain control of moving our heads is crucial to restoring a strong, healthy body capable of withstanding Gravity. Our balance, posture and coordination, our freedom to move, are dependent on our ability to move and control our noggins.

This sounds ridiculous, but simply spending time on the floor, in "tummy time", and learning how to lift your head and keep it on the horizon can restore the reflexive strength and reflexive control you need to wage a victorious war against Gravity. And, if you think you use and move your head, when is the last time you turned to look behind you when you were backing your car out of your driveway?

The freedom to move is both in your head and attached to your head. In your head, you have to decide to not quit when you get frustrated with the way you move, or the way you don't move. With your head you have to relearn and remember how it is actually supposed to move and restore all those wonderful reflexive connections that link every muscle in your body to your head's movements.

Don't let Gravity win. Control your head, restore your strength, and embrace the freedom you were created to move with.

If I might offer one last thought: We may have other frustrations besides our inability to move with freedom. Maybe we get frustrated at work, with our kids, with our spouse, whatever. We can apply the same lesson here as well: It is okay to be frustrated.

Often times the biggest breakthroughs, victories, and discoveries are just on the other side of frustration. Frustration can actually be your friend and your doorway to freedom. Some of the greatest gifts and discoveries have been born through frustration. For example, Original Strength was created through frustration.

Again, be frustrated, but don't be defeated.

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