Propaganda I’m Not Buying: The “Do More” Lie

Your Monday Minute

A quick tip to get you a big win, every Monday.

#11: Propaganda I’m Not Buying: The “Do More” Lie

You’ve probably been told that back pain relief means doing more:

More stretching.

More workouts, or more rest (confusing, no?).

More appointments, exercises, routines.

Honestly, all I’m hearing here is “more time away from my barn, my gym, my life.”

No thanks.

What if doing more isn’t the answer?

What I see again and again is that doing more often piles stress onto a system that already feels unsupported, one that is guarding for safety.

You wouldn’t bully your horse with more jumps if they were struggling.

You wouldn’t push your kid if they were frustrated with their homework.

You wouldn’t tell your friend to try harder if she’s having a bad day/week/month/era.

So why do we buy into the (BS) belief that we have to do more to heal?

What if, instead, we embraced Be More energy?

I help my clients be more:

More supported from the inside out.

More balanced in their movements.

More compassionate with their bodies.

I had a client recently tell me that her hip exercises were very helpful, but very challenging for her nervous system, so she wanted to do them every other day.

I had to take a beat, because I was taught that the correctives should be done whenever the pain presents. This way, the body learns how to support itself, etc.

But she knows her body, and I know that a stressed body can't absorb more just because we want it to.

So I told her, "Absolutely. Try it, keep me posted, and remember: adjusting your corrections pace may have an impact on your recovery. Be gentle with yourself if things seem slower than you'd like. Choosing to be more supportive of your nervous system also means allowing yourself grace when the aches and pains don't go away as fast as you'd hope."

Do you know what happened?

The next time i assessed her hip, she'd improved...tremendously.

It's not about doing more.

It's about being more:

More intuitive, more connected, more patient, more gracious, more supported.

Try this today:

The first step to embracing Be More is to bring awareness to the moments in your day when you might be driving for more. For me, this looks like trying to fit in one more networking call in one week, one more set at the gym when I’m toast, one more social media post.

What could I do instead? I could schedule that call for a few weeks out. I could let myself rest longer or remember that strength is built over time, not in one work-out. I could connect with another professional on IG and develop a 1:1 relationship instead of shouting into the void with another reel.

Small bite: Put on your Be More glasses, and be on the lookout for moments when you’re feeling your capacity stretch. Recognize this moment, and allow yourself to take a breath (into your lower ribs, please!).

Big win: Now that you’ve noticed the moment, evaluate: why am I pushing here? Is it the patriarchy/masculine gaze/corporate horseshit/pick-me/I’m not enough gremlins in your ear? Or is it what you really want to do?

Extra Credit:

Instead of pushing yourself, take 3-5 breaths. Reevaluate. Breathe again. How do you feel now?

So: Are you done with Do More?

I hear you. It’s hard, but I really believe the future is Be More.

When it comes to helping my clients, I’m learning so much how to be in the "Be More" space, and I want you to join me.

My recent clients are telling me things like, “I’m so happy to feel functional again, especially with two special needs kids,” and “It was such a relief to be able to get off the floor easily and safely.”

They say this after one session. That’s the power of Be More, not Do More.

So what do you think?

Ready to dive into your back pain or positional issues in the saddle?

Ready to make big changes with simple steps?

Grab your free strategy call here

Two white women are in a green-grass yard, reviewing breathing mechanics