In June, I had the opportunity to attend my first formal teacher training which was held at a facility in a small town in the UK. I had been told that the facility did not have hair dryers and I dutifully packed the travel one I had used in the UK before, along with two adapters. Upon my arrival, I found a plug but neither adapter worked.
It reminded me of how we can get stuck in our routines and way of doing things. I started by thinking of possible ways to get a working hair dryer but given the reality of the situation, I had to get creative and find another solution – air drying.
While ways of doing things, expectations of others, boundaries and discipline are all essential parts of life, if they become too rigid or inflexible we can become stuck or closed off.
Food for thought about being rigid or inflexible:
- Do you have a know-it-all attitude or are you open to hearing the input of others?
- Is there any give in the long list of deal breakers you have in a particular situation?
- If you have a health regimen, do you ever give yourself a day off?
While some people may be overly disciplined or inflexible, think about those who have difficulty setting boundaries and creating or maintaining disciplines.
Food for thought about lacking boundaries and disciplines:
- Do you always defer to the opinion of others thus having no boundaries?
- Do you ignore your preferences and always let other make decisions based on theirs?
- Are you challenged to get back to your self-care practices, when you skip doing them one day?
Boundaries can protect you, define you, or confine you. Discipline can be supportive or restrictive and a source of resistance. Finding your right balance is key.
What are the areas in your life where you are the most rigid and those where you have the most flexibility? How are you at creating and following disciplines? Are you able to set boundaries for yourself and with others?
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