“You’re a stubborn man!”…,

remarked my mother-in-law with a chuckle. This was her reaction to a moment of clarity I had, for the first time in a three-day period. You see, I spent the Fourth of July holiday in my recliner unable to walk because I “popped” my knee a couple of days earlier.

What was my moment of clarity?

Why did I allow myself to suffer a substantial amount of physical pain (in my knee) attempting to hobble from the recliner to the bathroom?… and why did it take me three days to get the bright (obvious) idea of getting a pair of crutches (cheap -$32) to make the short distance I had to travel virtually painless?

The injury itself was minor just needing a few days off my feet.

But, my lifestyle mindset and habits didn’t suddenly alter themselves to account for the temporary change in my physical body. Instead, I tried to overcome my body’s pain/alarm system with will-power instead of common sense. Which caused me much more pain…

Confronting my own short-comings…

The way I handled that situation is more common with us humans than we may want to admit.

It’s called denial.

We don’t want to see the obvious until we’re forced to confront it. Usually as the result of emotional or physical pain. That’s when it gets our attention! We then alter our mindset and behavior and are rewarded with no more pain and discomfort.

My issue has to do with the time-lag between the change in ourselves or our environment and that point we make the necessary adjustment for it. How long does it take for us to accept a new reality (usually a temporary one) and adjust to it? Is it possible I could have sped up my healing process (by three days) if I’d just dealt with the problem instead of trying to overcome it with will-power?

I”m convinced that 80% of the time it takes to alter our behavior in a manner which provides the best solution to a situation is our unwillingness to “see” things as they really are and translate that “reality check” into the best possible solution.

Why would my ego cause me so much unnecessary pain?

After all, I should know better. Instead, it was “the hell with the pain, full speed ahead!” …which was a pathetic, creepy grasping at walls, objects and doors to keep moving forward… Then I get it.

Why couldn’t I get it after the first attempt?

Because I was going to show that pain who’s the boss!

Yeah, I know…

-Bob Baran