“In the soil of the quick fix is the seed of a new problem, because our quiet wisdom is unavailable”—Wayne Muller
The notion that we can hack our way to faster physical transformation has gained widespread currency in our modern Want It Now culture. But, while there are undoubtedly effective hacks to be had, is the hacking mindset a safe one for those of us in recovery?
In our using days, we were bedeviled by our hunger for the quick fix. To lurch back onto the path of instant gratification—physically, spiritually or emotionally—could set us up for disappointment, impatience, frustration or irritation. None of these emotions are exactly supportive of our serenity!
The urge to hack for quick results is essentially immature—a product of the teenage impulse. We are creatures of the natural order—much as we try to wriggle and scam our way out of it… The natural order dictates a path for growth which, across nature’s board, is slow and deliberate. Consider how plants grow over time. Consider animals in the wild. Consider our own kind, in the earlier years. We see a gradual growth, a gradual maturing, a gradual strengthening.
Many of us, though, remained stuck in the house arrest of teenage impulsivity. We kept on punching and punching the quick-fix buttons in our play box. We stubbornly continued to trick and trigger our way into pleasure hit after pleasure hit after pleasure hit.
The hacking mindset tends to deny the need for consistent effort over the long haul to reach our goals. And yet, the Way of Resilience and of Stable Strength—be it of body, mind or spirit—is the deliberate application of time-tested wisdom on a daily basis. Let’s seek that resilience and stability and maturity of outlook, to better safeguard our recovery!
There is finally no magic fix to getting and staying stronger and more resilient. But, there is a secret: persistent, consistent effort. Regular, daily movement—however minimal—is a sure-fire way to maintain that all-important, multi-dimensional resilience.
Let’s buttress our recovery today, then, with some sweet and sweaty effort:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Cross your arms over your chest and squat down as low as you can, preferably below parallel and eventually with your thighs touching your calves. Keep your knees from bowing in by aligning them with your feet. Keep your back as straight as possible. Come back up and lock out your legs and hips completely. Squeeze the muscles in your legs as tightly as possible for a second, relax and repeat the squat. Inhale and hold the breath as you descend. Exhale as you ascend. Do three sets of twelve repetitions. Rest at least a minute between each set.
It feels so good to be making steady progress with my health and strength, by committing to consistent, daily movement.