Comments on: Don’t go to the cheese factory

By: John La Puma MD

John La Puma MD — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:40:03 +0000

I think this is just right, and certainly as relevant as it was when published 2 years ago: most of getting ahead and making good decisions lies in changing what is around you, more than changing you.

Men need this sort of environmental coaching as much as women, interestingly: for career planning, for family activities, for fitness and weight management, for time management.

Having been to many dairies, and taken an artisan cheesemaking course, I know that going to the cheese factory is a special occasion event…thanks for the reminder.
John La Puma MD´s most recent post: The Coming Health Care Social Media Revolution *Conferences*

By: Linda Eaves

Linda Eaves — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:39:09 +0000

A though provoking post. I am glad to have scrolled down to read the last couple of comments from Tawa and Leah. I too am a move towards motivated person.
Yes. although it would be simpler to completely avoid the cookie, or to not walk down that street in the first place.
I am learning to hold the space for choice, options, and taking full responsibility for all of it.
When I deny myself a thing, whether it be an experience, a food, or whatever…I go to a place of rebellion and self sabatoge.
When I shift slightly and, take a breath – pause, be still to ask “What do I want right now really?” then instinctually I’m empowered with choice in abundance. If I choose the cookie, it’s a consious choice. This move towards stuff is still a little wobbly like a newborn walking. I have strong thoughts sometimes that I’m supposed to, or wish I was the “Don’t go to the cookie factory type.”
.-= Linda Eaves´s last blog ..Guess What I’m a published author in- “The Gratitude Book Project” =-.

By: Leah/DefytheBox

Leah/DefytheBox — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:58:25 +0000

This is a fun post!
The manifestation expert in me likes the perspective that tawa takes…
~If i want ______then I can do________.
Run towards what you want.~

I had to learn to stay away from the “partying all night” factory so that my double brunch shift on Sunday didn’t suck.Then I had to remind myself that although it looked like everyone was having a great time rolling I really did not want that energy in my life anymore. …and I felt like ass for a few days after. Those choices were so hard because in the moment it seemed like indulging would greatly add to my fun and happiness…but I knew from lots of experience that the after effect would suck….
What is came down to was taking full responsibility for my experience in life. If I want to feel good , be clear headed and creating the stuff I want, then I need to take care of myself in that way all the time.
.-= Leah/DefytheBox´s last blog ..A Hedonist Adventure =-.

By: tawa

tawa — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:47:48 +0000

thought provoking post.
i hear it as:
if i want___________then I can do_____________
if want to eat more vegetables then I will go to a vegetable garden.
if i want a different partner then i will begin to look for one

run towards what you want

By: Pace

Pace — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:06:31 +0000

@R: Congrats on avoiding the tequila factory!

By: R

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:33:31 +0000

I have quit drinking tequila for a variety of (good) reasons and part of what has helped me to stick to this is that I am totally clear that this is what I want. So when someone says, “Oh, just a shot?” I can say no and not feel upset about it. I am also clear that in margaritas I drink rum now so I don’t have to totally avoid something I enjoy. It’s weird and involves some explaining at times but so far it’s worked for me.

By: Pace

Pace — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:25:54 +0000

@Oliver: Yoda goes not to the factory of cheese. (:

By: Oliver Danni

Oliver Danni — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:18:46 +0000

A friend of mine has a similar metaphor. Often we’ll say things like “I’m trying to get this done” or “I’m trying to stay away from cheese” or “I’m trying to get more exercise” or “I’m trying to be nicer to my neighbors”. Now we say, “Think about having a dog. What would happen if you TRY to feed your dog? Your dog would die! You can’t TRY to feed the dog…you have to actually feed the dog!” So, we no longer “try” to stay away from cheese, or “try” to feed the dog. ;-)

By: Pace

Pace — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:58:58 +0000

@Julia: Nice! It seems like you got an even more general point than the point I was attempting to make in my post. You got “if you don’t want the consequence of an action, don’t take that action.” I was only talking about situations involving willpower, but your point is even bigger!

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:55:27 +0000

If I don’t want to have massive piles of unread books, I shouldn’t buy more books — or buy them at a rate significantly lower than I’m reading the ones I already have. (I’ve been trying to do that this year, and so far it’s working out reasonably well. Combining that with a desire to support locally owned bookstores by buying books from them on a regular basis has made for some interesting buying decisions!)

If I don’t want to break out in a rash, I shouldn’t eat a number of different foods (some of which I’m rather fond of).

If I don’t want intestinal problems the next day, I shouldn’t drink very much alcohol. (My limit, found with experimentation, seems to be about 2.7 drinks, and if I have 1 margarita, that’s all the alcohol I have that day, period.)

If I don’t want to find out over the weekend that we’re out of peanut butter, I shouldn’t go to the store on Friday without confirming how much we have.

If I don’t want a last-minute scramble with papers for school in the morning, I should check the kids’ backpacks as soon as they get home and figure out what needs to be dealt with for the next day, and just get that done right then. (I failed to do that yesterday, so this morning had a bit of unpleasantness! I’m not likely to forget that again for at least a couple of weeks!)