I read a book while ago(most of it at least). It was called the 2 degree difference. Before I explain what the book is about lets look at a few things first.
2 degrees physically measured is virtually nothing.
But once there is a degree shift from a point, the lines never join again. In fact with time and distance applied the distance becomes even further than the original point. And this is where the 2 degree difference affects us.
In life often we find ourselves on a path that we never intended on being on. This happens even with the best of intentions. And this is where the book above can help shed some light on it.
We never end up on the wrong road by drastic measures like 180 degree turns do we?
No, but its those minute decisions and little errors that added together make us take a wrong road or direction.
And the author John Trent reasons that if that is how we ended up on the wrong road, well then that is how we should return to the right road.
I agree…. lets take for example we go to the doctor and take some tests and we discover that our blood sugar levels, blood pressure and everything else is off the charts……
The most common response is that we suddenly change our diet, we start exercising, we are open to suggestion. You know the drastic measures applied immediately. We don’t stop to think, but hey……..I got here over time and incrementally(2 degrees)….
The only way out is the same way we got there, slowly over a period of time.
Another way the 2 degree principle helped me, was in starting a change. Every winter I have a few additions in my life, I add a few kilograms, a few centimetres, etc. And when it comes to spring and time to hop on the bicycle I always am so shocked as to how on earth did I pick up so much weight. One would think after all these years I would learn my lesson, but nonetheless I always find myself there.
And when i think of all the drama of exercising and eating right again its very easy not to start at all. I then approach it in 2 degree steps. I start adding one little thing or taking one little thing away. And over a period of time I am back in lets say better shape for now.
Moral of the story, if you find yourself very far from where you intended, don’ try and do drastic measures to return to where you need to be, after all it was not drastic steps that got you to where you are now. And at the same time don’t look at the process of getting to the right road as this monumental step that is so huge and blocking your life.
Take each 2 degree step one at a time…….. soon you will be back where you need to be.
thehonestone
I like this. I am usually an all-or-nothing, balls-to-the-wall kind of girl. I like to GO, you know? But I’m learning (slowly) that things most important to me can’t be accomplished in one huge effort, and sometimes the effort itself is damaging. I’m going to have to find that book 🙂
It is hey, I think we are used to fixing things ourselves, but somethings just take time to change.
If you click on the pic of the book it should take you to amazon, there is a kindle version now I see.
I suppose giving 0.5% is better than nothing at all. We tend to get stuck with the bigger picture and forget that there are small puzzle pieces that makes up the bigger picture. Like it, thanks to the peanut.