Learning Kaizen

Today was a really interesting day. After the long day I spent on Friday at the CHLI having a physical and multiple consultations--the nutritionist, the fitness lady, the lifestyle lady, and very interestingly, the healer--I finished reading the book that came with our fitness kits called One Small Step can Change Your Life. It is the philosophy of Kaizen, a Japanese technique of achieving great and lasting success through small steady steps. The whole point is that when we undertake to do something that is a great change, or something that deviates from what we are used to, our fight or flight response may kick in, or underlying fears can keep us from making the change. So, for example, if your doctor tells you to get some exercise, and you decide to start running five miles, you end up sore and stop. But if you just got up off the couch and started marching in place every time a commercial came on TV, or parked a bit further away from the office, or took the stairs instead of the elevator, it might become a habit, or you might feel some good effects from it and want to continue to do that and perhaps a bit more. If you perhaps wanted to improve your relationship with your spouse, you could go on a second honeymoon, but when you returned to the rat race, things might fall back into the same groove of being too busy to notice each other, or to welcome a phone call, or to say something nice. But if you looked for small ways to make changes, like giving an unexpected hug, or saying something nice, or inquiring about something that is important to the other person, good feeling that are engendered might be the beginning a new and more positive feelings. Same goes for the people at work, and other social activities. I have to tell you that I was just so impressed with this book, and I actually put the method to work today. I was supposed to start at the gym yesterday, but had to attend a funeral that because of distance and other things, became an all day affair. So I was going to go and start today, but I was a little apprehensive. I know the layout of the spa, but I was a bit uncertain of the fitness center. I know that they weren't connected, on different floors and all, and didn't know the locker situation. So I avoided going by doing lots of housework. Good exercise too, but I was using it to avoid doing what I ostensibly wanted to do. I realized that I was apprehensive about a new 'strange' place.
There was to be a gathering of the eight of us on this program to come and hear Dr. Maurer speak, and then to have our "before" pictures taken. So I decided not to pack my fitness bag, not to go for a workout today, but rather to just go and scope out the place. To see where I will put my stuff, where everything is, how I will go about using the facility and get the "feel" of it. I just walked around. I met a lady in the locker room who showed me around, and showed me how to use the lockers. And voila! I was at once comfortable. I will go tomorrow, and not feel like a fish out of water. So, I have learned that the brain is programmed to resist change, But that by taking small steps, I can rewire my nervous system and get the job done. As I take on new behaviors, in small increments, and make progress, like I did today, I can move on to the next. Of course, not all things can be overcome in a day, but as you do small things, or ask small questions, or think more positively about what you do, you can make the next step more feasible, or more enjoyable, or even more possible.
I am going to close with an example Bob gave this evening, and you will see how your thinking can change. He said what if he asked someone out, and she said no, she had to floss. If he walked away thinking of himself as a failure, that she probably thought he was a drip, too old or too fat or too gray he would feel terrible and might find the next girl he was interested in impossible to talk to. But if he patted himself on the back for asking, for taking the risk, for making the effort, he would not feel rejected, but proud that he had stepped out and made an effort.
Oh, I am so excited. There are going to be so many things to learn about in this process. Not only to be healthier and more fit, but to think in healthier and better ways that will add life to our years, while we are hopefully adding years to our lives. The group is really nice and I am looking forward to getting to know all of them. Tomorrow, on to the Gym!!!