Motivation
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Day 64 of my running streak.
240 miles.
Why does this challenge bring up so much junk, I wonder?
Do you know what I mean? I mean it triggers stuff in my mind and my heart that I have to deal with. Stuff I didn't know was there.
If you are doing this challenge with me, have you also experienced this? Perhaps it has highlighted for you how difficult it is to get time to yourself. Or maybe it has shown you that your excuses can often override your best intentions.
When we attempt to change, why is there a part of us that seems to be resistant? I want to run every day but there is a part of me that fights. Have you experienced this with food? I want to eat healthy but I just woofed down something that I feel awful about.
Yesterday I battled and battled in my mind, probably wearing myself out just by thinking about running until I finally just put on my shoes and my gloves and my coat and with a crappy attitude went out the door to get it over with.
It was about 19 degrees yesterday. My face was cold and my first mile was into the wind. I was not comfortable. Then the light bulb came on. Changing means being uncomfortable. I had to step out into something new, away from my comfort zone.
I realized if I want to continue to progress, I have to get OK with being uncomfortable.
How many of us eat some 'comfort food' the moment we feel an upsetting emotion? How many of us avoid workouts if we might get too hot, too cold, too tired? How many of us can't take the feeling of hunger very long at all? Is this really serving us?
It was 19 degrees yesterday. But by the end of my run my heart was dancing and my feet were flying. My body adjusted to the cold and I was actually sweating. If I would have stopped and turned around like I wanted to, I would have missed a life-changing experience. I would have missed out on the joy I felt from being outside and pushing myself past my same old, same old.
If you are ready to make a change in your life, prepare to trigger some junk. Allow it to come to the surface. Stop reacting in the same way to the same old feelings, and try something new. It will feel uncomfortable. It's supposed to.
Now get moving!
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"Hi Sue! I look forward to getting up on Monday morning and reading your newsletter. Thanks for taking the time to put it together each week...see you in Jan. for the next class!"
