Those of you that have had young kids in the last twenty years may well recognise that quote.
“I’m no good at this” he cried.
It’s from Zog.
The Julia Donaldson book about the Zog the dragon.
In the first half of the book, he spends each school year in turn learning a new skill.
How to fly, how to breath fire, how to capture a princess and so on.
Invariably it doesn’t go too well for Zog.
He flys into a tree, sets fire to his tail and so on.
Lamenting that he’s “no good at this”.
Which I’m sure we all do from time to time.
I know I do.
We beat ourselves up over our perceived shortcomings.
Feel pretty crappy about what we can’t do.
“I’m no good at this” I’ve heard countless times about exercise and cooking.
The thing is though…………
As I mentioned yesterday………….
It doesn’t matter.
That’s not the point.
A quick Google suggests that to be “good” at something, we’re looking at being in the top 25% for that thing.
And whilst, it might be nice to get there, does it matter that we’re not?
Is it relevant?
Will we still get the benefits of the thing from doing it, irrespective of how good we may or may not be when lined up to the rest of the world?
If we have 25th centile deadlift and a 50th centile press up, who cares?
We can still do the thing, just to the relevant degree for us.
We’ll still get the benefits of doing them just as much as someone who’s 90th centile will.
Arguably more – there’s much more room for progression at the 25th centile than there is at 90% plus.
But ultimately, who cares?
The purpose of exercise isn’t to be good at it.
It’s to do it for the physical and mental benefits it provides.
And, maybe, to get better at it over time.
The purpose of cooking or healthy eating isn’t to be good at it, either.
It’s to make some better choices than we, perhaps, could have.
And, again, to perhaps, improve with practice.
Next time you catch yourself saying or thinking “I’m no good at this”………….
Ask yourself “Does that matter?”
Much love,
Jon ‘Gaddabout’ Hall
P.S. If you’d like proven support in getting better at these things and getting results from them (and more), then here’s where you find it –> www,myrise.co.uk/apply
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
