So I started university and let me tell you something, it is neither overwhelming nor underwhelming. I just feel like I took an extra-long break from school and now I am back at it again. Upon arrival here I had no excitement of any form nor did I have any expectations; in a way I almost felt normal, a sort of “let’s do this *cracks knuckles*” attitude.

I don’t mind people knowing I am a ‘fresher’ but I also need them to know I’m not stupid and naïve. I guess I can attribute this whole attitude I have to the fact that I continuously told myself over my long hiatus from academics that I am starting on a new slate, I don’t know anything, I’m here to do my best and possibly surpass what I think is my best and explore by getting out of my comfort zone. This is called conditioning. I have conditioned my mind a certain way so I can react to a particular event in this case moving to university in a particular way.

Conditioning by it’s dictionary definition is: 1. the process of modifying a person or animal’s behavior, 2. Any training or preparation especially athletic training of the body, 3. The storage of a material specimen under specific temperature, humidity for a specific time prior to testing. Basically a process of preparation for a specific event, a good example of this how they train guard dogs they are taught to react particular sorts of stimuli a certain way.

Conditioning is a fairly easy thing to do. One thing that is signature of it is repetition. You need to keep repeating the action or words for it to stick because you know what they say practice doesn’t make perfect it makes permanent. However conditioning isn’t always conscious. You know those habits you have that you feel you’ve done since forever? That was a result of conditioning, you did that one thing continuously that you are so used to doing it comes naturally to you.

The hardest part about conscious conditioning is the beginning of the whole process, especially it is a taxing thing to do like starting to exercise. The pain and shaky legs cause you to want to give up on the whole experience, it seems unbearable. The breakthrough comes when you can push through the pain and give yourself a small goal and discipline yourself to reach it. Once you can do this and do it again and again, your body gets used to it and it becomes routine.

It’s very possible to do you just need persistence, determination and discipline. So whatever it is you want to do go ahead and condition yourself.

Kahumuzah