Adaptation is the Enemy

I heard my good friend TAHI REIHANA, say this last week ‘Adaptation is the Enemy’ – and I agree completely. This is an interesting notion. My friend was talking in the context of athletic performance – meaning (in the broadest of terms) that once you adapt to a particular exercise your mind/body will cease to make those changes that allow you to better cope with that exercise – so in short, if we want to keep changing (improving) then we need to change the demands to we cannot easily adapt (and get comfortable).
I think the same mechanism is in play in other aspects of our lives. In an exercise regime – most everyone ‘settles’ they do not continue to look for more and different challenges that keeps them in a state of growth (adaption). I think most people buy their house – get used to paying the mortgage – sigh with relief and remain in that situation for a very long time. Perhaps the same thing can be said of employment and many other things.
Now I am not saying that ‘settling’ is necessarily bad – I think that there is a lot to be said for being ‘content’ – especially when it comes to being happy – but it is just worth noting that we all put in effort (outside of our comfort zones) to achieve a certain level (in anything) and then we settle. It is very much worth noting, that if we have put in that effort, whilst being uncomfortable, before, then if we choose/want to – we are capable of doing so again – and moving on from where we are.

I didn’t put this across as well as I could. I only have a few minutes this morning before I need to be somewhere. But I hope you glean the idea. Of course, the same thinking applies on the mat. Adaptation is the Enemy – think about it.

JBW