You’ve no doubt heard the principle of “turning the other cheek.”  This came from Jesus when He taught His disciples this wisdom of “suffering by choice.”  If someone slaps you in the face, you will be angry UNLESS you turn the other cheek and allow yourself to suffer the pain.  It’s in resisting that you become both angry and bitter—and hurt.  Jesus also said that if you are obligated to help carry someone’s burden for a mile, you should insist on going the second mile—not for the benefit of the person you’re helping, but for the strengthening of your own mind and spirit. 

Human nature tends to loathe obligation and to despise coercion.  However, when you “go the extra mile,” you transform that dreaded obligation into your decision to “sow goodness,” allowing you to reap (feel) the peaceful goodness you sowed.  It also protects you from the consequences of anger and bitterness.  The next time you are compelled to do anything, add a tip!  If you’re required to give $20, give $25; if you’re obligated to serve 45 minutes, serve an hour; if you must write or practice a skill 10 times, choose to do it at least 12, and you’ll experience the opposite of dread; you will feel liberty and joy where you once felt only frustration.

During my teens, I personally verified this principle.  I hated spelling and my writing made it obvious.  To help me improve, my mother required that I write every spelling word 7 times.  Instead of resenting her instructions, I thought if 7 is good, 10 must be better.  I voluntarily and happily increased my obligation to 10.  Almost immediately, my dread vanished, my ability to focus improved, and my spelling grades drastically increased.  Seeing this improvement, I chose to write each word 12 times, and then 15 times.  I became a better speller and I never hated spelling again.  Today I write for a living!  Sometimes I reflect on that experience and wonder how different and difficult things would have been if I had continued to dread my obligation instead of “going the extra mile.”