The Convenient Crutch (Part 1)

I have noticed a problem within myself that can hinder me in so many ways. I call it the “Convenient Crutch”.

Basically the idea is this: “if something is inconvenient I do not do it”.

This shows up in my life in several different ways. I see it in my eating, work around the house, or even planning.

 

The underlying truth of this crutch is where I want to focus on right now. I see the influence from some cultural values that are prevalent in society. There is a thought process that wants instant gratification. Examples:

• go into debt to have that purchase now instead of planning ahead, or
• eating fun-food because it tastes good now regardless of the physical consequences.

 

You can think of many more examples of people today wanting to lessen pain/consequences so much that they can only think of the here and now.

 

Let’s apply this principle to Ideal Health Now and eating habits. I have noticed that my lunch habits give a clear example of this crutch. It comes around lunch time and I am hungry. Then, the nasty “convenient crutch” shows it’s head. I don’t want the inconvenience making a lunch that will take a little more time and be healthy for me. I either skip lunch which makes me weak and less productive for the rest of the afternoon, or I snack on convenient food that is either bad for me or not balanced in nutrition.

 

I know what I should do and yet I do not do it. (Sigh) The problem is that this hurts me later. There is a saying that applies to this crutch:

 

“There are 2 types of pain- either the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”

 

This is so true and the pain of discipline is always better in the long run than the pain of regret. Instead of regretting the consequences of “comfort/convenient” foods that we easily run to, we can instead discipline our eating habits and enjoy the benefits long term.

 

Then we play the comparison game. We compare this eating habit to worse eating habits and say we have made a good choice. Pat ourselves on the back, because we are a champion of eating. Like a drug addict we say “Well, I didn’t do crack today. I am good!”

 

Yeah right. The only person who believes that is you….in the moment.

 

So the choice is:

          Either take the discipline or take the regret. Which one will you choose today?