To Do or Not To Do
I always have a moment in the middle of the Pesach seder where I suddenly realize that I am not going to have bread for a week, and I feel panicked because I. did. not. cherish. that. last. bit. of. bread. This year, it happened while the Wolvog was reading something aloud about maror. All of a sudden it hit me that I didn’t consume all the bread I could have consumed. I should have had a final cracker right before the meal.
We are currently in the middle of Pesach, and I only need to get through a few more days. But I’m haunted by the idea that I could have had more bread, and I didn’t.
I’ve been thinking about whether I’m better at making myself do things or refraining from doing things. Is it harder for me to do something I don’t really want to do, or to not do something that I want to do?
I think it’s do something I don’t want to do. Because sometimes I accidently do not do something I want to do simply by waiting too long. Such as having a final cracker before the seder.
6 comments
It drives me crazy that my kid has a hard time deciding to do things that I know she would really prefer to do. She waits too long and opportunities pass. I’m much more of a “seize the moment” and also “get it over with because it has to be done eventually” kind of person, so I think the approach to both of your scenarios is intertwined.
Given that I’ve always been an ‘eat dessert first, otherwise you might miss it’ person, I don’t think I’m very good at not doing things I want to. On the other hand, I *really* hate the feeling of tasks that need to be done being left un-done, so I’m very good at making myself do the things I don’t want to do, to avoid that ‘undone’ feeling.
Have you ever heard of the Theory of Structured Procrastination by Perry? It won an Ignobel Prize in 2011. Perfect way to make yourself do the things you don’t want to do. Here’s a brilliant summary by Perry: http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/
I am definitely better at refraining from doing things than at making myself do things. Examples: it’s easy for me to stop eating cheese (or sugar or bread) for an indefinite period of time than for me to make myself exercise or cook my own meals daily.
I chalk it up to a combination of a Roman Catholic upbringing (which sometimes rewarded depriving oneself – see Lent) and laziness. 🙂
I am better at making myself do things vs. refraining (hi, chocolate).
Hmmm, I think I am good at making myself do things, but not at having self control and refraining. From things like chips, chocolate, fries…
Yes, I think I’m good (not great) at making myself do things – although less so in recent years, perhaps because I finally gave myself permission to say “no.” Restraint is hard. Though we’ve been doing intermittent fasting for a few years now, and I’ve realised that as long as deprivation isn’t permanent, I can cope with it.