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Runner's World Magazine
By Gerhard Behrens
Gerhard Behrens is a marathoner and second grade teacher. In the following article, he offers four principles he calls "life metaphors" which he learned from running long distance races.
Life Metaphor #1: When It Gets Really Hard, Walk. If you try to advance too quickly through an uncertain or difficult territory, you'll risk risks you'd avoid by taking it a little slower and reducing costly mistakes.
You'll also squander energy, since hurrying through adversities may amplify or perpetuate them. Some people feel that unless they are taking immediate rapid action all the time, they are somehow slacking off. Something, the best strategy is to proceed steadily and patiently.
Life Metaphor #2: Run Your Own Race. Everyone has their own individual patterns of talents, values, life rhythms and beliefs, so each person must develop his or her own life strategies. Everyone creates a unique formula for fulfillment, based on his or her priorities, and these priorities will shape your life decisions. Trying to live based on someone else's priorities will produce lesser results, since energy will be wasted in the friction of subconscious disagreement. Be true to your own higher self.
Life Metaphor #3: Take Time to Refuel. This is a really important one and I'm not only talking about an occasional vacation or long weekend. The most successful people I know have consistent morning routines that set them up physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for a great day. They use exercise, affirmations, meditation, visualization, prayer, reading, breathing and/or listening to inspirational and educational materials, designed in a very personal combination that starts their day right. Choose some of these positive habits, and use them to begin each day feeling ready, willing and able.
Life Metaphor #4: Live In The Moment. Life is right now. Don't let fear from past experiences rob your incentive. Don't live in the future either - if you set up your life so pleasure occurs only after great achievement, you'll have months of pain for minutes of pleasure. Instead, stay present and aware, notice the value and benefit of each step along the way, and you'll have a more pleasurable, less stressful journey.
Every one of you has this potential - raise your standards and invest in yourself, and you'll get great results too.
(Image courtesy of Dan Brady)
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