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I am walking across Yunnan besotted by a strange, lopsided, handcrafted world.

besotted by    被迷住了...

我漫步在云南，沉醉于一个奇特、不平衡、充满手工艺术的世界之中。

The Art of Shifting Focus

转移焦点的艺术

1

Imagine dusting off your old bicycle, feeling the cool metal and the rubber grips that once felt so familiar. You haven't ridden in years, and the thought of getting back on fills you with both nostalgia and apprehension. Life, in many ways, mirrors this experience. Just like riding a bike, the path of life is filled with moments of hesitation, struggle, and ultimately, triumph. The bike, symbolic of our goals and dreams, waits patiently for us to muster the courage to take that first step.

Often in life, we set our goals too high, fail to achieve them, and start practicing not achieving our goals. I needed to break this cycle.I decided to take small, manageable steps. First, I put air in my tires one day, not allowing myself to do anything else. The next day, I cleaned up my bike. Then the next day I placed my bike where I would see it every day and hung my helmet on the handlebars. Now, the only thing holding me back was finding 10 or 15 minutes to go around the neighborhood a couple of times. Taking just one small step daily, a technique called behavioral activation, boosts motivation and overcomes inertia. This incremental approach worked wonders. Last year, I pedaled 1,000 miles, and this year, I'm already at 1,300 miles and still going strong! To raise funds for crucial cancer and diabetes research, I've conquered both a 50-mile and a 30-mile bikeathon, pushing my limits for a great cause.

Once we gather the courage to mount the bike, the first few minutes are crucial. Our bodies feel stiff, our movements awkward. We wobble, trying to find our rhythm, perhaps doubting every pedal stroke. Navigating the street with its unpredictable cars adds to the challenge. This phase is reminiscent of the early stages of any new endeavor. Our minds and bodies are unaccustomed to the demands of the new activity, and progress feels painstakingly slow.

As we persist, something magical happens. Our muscles begin to remember the rhythm of pedaling, our balance improves, and our confidence grows. This process of learning and adaptation is a prime example of neural plasticity – the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.Self-efficacy, the belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations, grows with each successful pedal stroke and each moment of regained balance.This activation of neural plasticity is incredibly empowering and can create a domino effect in our lives. It’s about pushing past initial discomfort and discovering our capabilities, which in turn motivates us to tackle other challenges with renewed vigor.

The key, both on the bike and in life, lies in where we focus our gaze. Take one of my regular routes, Summit Avenue on Corey Hill. Staring up that brutal climb, especially on those body-burning 10-15% inclines, can be a recipe for discouragement. That peak feels impossibly far away, just like some of life's biggest challenges. But here's the secret: forget the distant summit. Instead, look at the pavement right beneath your wheels. Every pedal stroke becomes a mini-victory.

Journal：psychologytoday

Title：Like Shifting Gears on a Bike: The Art of Shifting Focus（September 9, 2024）

Category：Motivation

It struck me then that those early falls weren't failures, they were lessons.

那时我突然意识到，那些早期的跌倒并不是失败，而是教训。

Life is like riding a bike: initial hesitation, wobbly starts, finding balance, mastering gears, embracing the journey, and handling falls.

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