Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
The opinions expressed by entrepreneurial contributors are their own.
At the beginning of 2014, I didn’t even run a mile. That year I began testing my theories about change and growth. I wanted to know if simple effort and consistent practice were enough to truly improve our skills and abilities.
As it turns out, yes. At the end of 2014, I attended his first official 5K race. By the end of 2015, I had run his 20 half marathons. Today I ran over 200 half his marathons and 11 full marathons of his, a total of 12,000 miles. I used to “hate” the idea of running. Now it’s the greatest love of my life. The biggest surprise I experienced was that running not only changed me physically, but it changed me mentally.
RELATED: How Daily Exercise Made Me a Better Entrepreneur
1. Life is hard sometimes, but we can do hard things
Running was incredibly difficult for me, especially in the beginning. I never practiced it. Even jogging for a few blocks left me gasping for breath. While trying to improve as a runner, I realized that life can be tough at times. It should be that way. When we give up our affinity for comfort and comfort and embrace struggle and challenge instead, we open ourselves up to a whole new universe of possibilities. can do. In doing so, several things happen.
First, it makes things that used to be difficult easier. Our skills and strength are not fixed amounts, but can grow and expand. Improvements allow it to handle more complex scenarios and solve more complex equations. Second, stop expecting things to be easy. We get used to some adversity and pain when things don’t seem easy. That’s when we know we can actually persevere and push through adversity. Consistent daily effort and practice is the catalyst that ignites this process. You may not see a big change at first, but you have to trust that it’s working.
2. Our beliefs are the limiting reagent in our mind’s chemistry
When you want to do something, it is imperative to believe that you can actually do it. Our brain likes to be right, so it’s always looking for ways to validate or prove its beliefs. But what we sometimes forget is that we can decide what to believe. And we can renew our beliefs at any time.
When I started running, I thought I couldn’t run any longer or take a single step. “You’ve gone enough. It’s time to stop,” my brain screamed at me. “Let’s go to the red light,” I negotiated. , we can accomplish more than we think we can. We can keep going long after we think we can’t.
As humans, many fall prey to this every day. We believe that compromises and agreements cannot be reached. that’s right. I think the problem is unsolvable. that’s right. But most of the time, if you believe there is a way and are determined to find it, you will. Here are some tips: Taking a break from a problem and coming back to it later can be a great tool. Just like our muscles, our brains sometimes need time to rest and rejuvenate. If you feel like you can’t do it anymore, let your brain and body breathe and then come back. It’s amazing how things change after a break. This process refreshes stamina and creativity.
RELATED: 4 Scientific Reasons Exercise is the Biggest Competitive Advantage for Entrepreneurs
3. Tools and resources are always available to help us.don’t go alone
There are tons of studies, books, and mentors to guide us when it comes to literally everything in life: relationships, professional pursuits, health and fitness goals. There are always people already doing what we want to do. Find these people, befriend them, and ask them directly for advice and guidance. Observe them carefully. Learn from their example.
People are often hesitant to ask for help for fear of looking stupid or incompetent. We sometimes feel like we should do everything alone. This is wrong. Reach out and take advantage of people who have traveled in your shoes before. We humans are not designed to function in complete independence. In fact, our survival depends on cooperation and partnership with each other. As for running, my podiatrist advised me on my feet and shoes. Friends shared the burden of lodging during the race. The app provided music and recorded the results for us. Without it, many of my runs wouldn’t have been sustainable.
4. Success is not linear.don’t think every day is great
It may be tempting to think that each day should be better than the last in terms of the problems we want to solve and the abilities we want to develop. Once you set your goals, start on your path, and make progress, you may think it’s just smooth sailing.
That thought can cripple us. This is not how success works. There will be days when you won’t have the energy to move forward. It will disrupt our business. An unfavorable economic environment and new competitors in the market can put us in a tight spot. It might rain torrentially on the day you planned your long run, or you might twist your ankle on race day. These things happen. Sometimes we take one step forward and only two steps back. There are moments when there can be setbacks. What we do in this moment determines the trajectory of our life. Anticipating these moments is better than denying or ignoring their existence. One of the best ways to avoid falling into this trap is to always remember why and stay passionate and committed to the journey, not just the end result.
Without these four strategies, I would have failed not only as a runner, but as a leader, coach, writer, friend, and partner. All these areas posed challenges to me. Before I became a runner, I didn’t want to struggle in life. When things got tough, I tended to quit or give up. Running taught me that fighting simply means we are growing.It taught me that I can always choose my reaction to whatever happens around me. . Now I use it in every area of my life. It literally changed everything – maybe it can change you too.