Just under a year ago, I told myself I needed to learn how to ride a bicycle. There was no specific reason or motivation for me to do. It was just one of those things I was quite embarrassed that I could not do when most people learnt to do so as a child. Then I attended a lesson and found out that I was not alone. There are others like me, who cannot cycle either. That was a relief. Then winter came so I used that as an excuse to shelf my plan to learn how to ride. Months went by and I did not get anywhere near a bicycle. Then I decided, I better do something about it else, it will just be all talk and my want to ride a bicycle, will just remain unfulfilled, idle talk. With the idea to save myself money from having to pay for lessons, I would invest in a bicycle. I reckon once I part with some cash, I will have to get out there and make it worthwhile.
So I got myself a bicycle, with trepidation and hope no one saw me as I wobbled and learnt to balance. Finally after 4 attempts I taught myself to cycle. Now I can just about cycle and steer straight, not quite good with corners and not quite confident enough to ride around yet. Nevertheless, after many years of thinking I could never cycle, I did it and it feels great!
Perhaps, not everyone who can cycle understand what it meant to me to be able to stay upright on a bicycle and to ride it but all I can say is that it was very liberating. It was not as daunting as I had thought. The experience proved to me that it was I who shackled myself to long held belief that I could not do it. Why did I have such beliefs? I don’t really know. Perhaps, it was easier to accept the belief I can’t do it rather than try and fail and feel so in apt?
So this made me wonder what other beliefs or lack of self-beliefs that I may have consciously or unconsciously developed that may have stopped me from doing and enjoying new experiences in life? Have I been traumatised as a child or have had some experiences growing up that filled me self -doubts over my abilities to do use my limbs in coordinated manner? Perhaps, it was my lack of coordination as a child in playing sports that I retreated from all things that require me to master the control over my limbs. I buried myself in academic excellence because that one I can do with hard work! I did not have to suffer the humiliation of looking like a fool or coming in last in sports.
Learning to cycle is in a way, a step for me to try and slowly overcome other self-imposed fears I have. The one fear that I hope to overcome next is my fear of drowning. A fear that I have allowed to stop me from being able to swim. A fear which I know will be more of a challenge to overcome. This experience will no doubt be a subject of another blog when I finally overcome it!
I would recommend to anyone, to give something you have always wanted to do but for whatever reason was afraid or never got around to it, a try. It’s a wonderful feeling to finally see what you can achieve and it does change the way you think about other aspects of your life.
Little changes, lead to bigger ones and all it takes it just taking that small step.
So I got myself a bicycle, with trepidation and hope no one saw me as I wobbled and learnt to balance. Finally after 4 attempts I taught myself to cycle. Now I can just about cycle and steer straight, not quite good with corners and not quite confident enough to ride around yet. Nevertheless, after many years of thinking I could never cycle, I did it and it feels great!
Perhaps, not everyone who can cycle understand what it meant to me to be able to stay upright on a bicycle and to ride it but all I can say is that it was very liberating. It was not as daunting as I had thought. The experience proved to me that it was I who shackled myself to long held belief that I could not do it. Why did I have such beliefs? I don’t really know. Perhaps, it was easier to accept the belief I can’t do it rather than try and fail and feel so in apt?
So this made me wonder what other beliefs or lack of self-beliefs that I may have consciously or unconsciously developed that may have stopped me from doing and enjoying new experiences in life? Have I been traumatised as a child or have had some experiences growing up that filled me self -doubts over my abilities to do use my limbs in coordinated manner? Perhaps, it was my lack of coordination as a child in playing sports that I retreated from all things that require me to master the control over my limbs. I buried myself in academic excellence because that one I can do with hard work! I did not have to suffer the humiliation of looking like a fool or coming in last in sports.
Learning to cycle is in a way, a step for me to try and slowly overcome other self-imposed fears I have. The one fear that I hope to overcome next is my fear of drowning. A fear that I have allowed to stop me from being able to swim. A fear which I know will be more of a challenge to overcome. This experience will no doubt be a subject of another blog when I finally overcome it!
I would recommend to anyone, to give something you have always wanted to do but for whatever reason was afraid or never got around to it, a try. It’s a wonderful feeling to finally see what you can achieve and it does change the way you think about other aspects of your life.
Little changes, lead to bigger ones and all it takes it just taking that small step.
