Did you bring your best self to the start line? Are you showing up with your best self in training? This question sparks my thoughts about that next level, moving beyond good enough.
We are living the trophy generation. No matter what you did you get a medal at the end. Congratulations, completing an endurance event you are now 1% of the sedative American society we live in. When I did my first marathon, my mantra was 'just finish' and the words 'you are an Ironman' will forever leave a life changing impression. But completing an event is not a destination, it's a journey and the next step is to go beyond good to great.
You need to redefine yourself. Post race recaps tell the narrative story and define your sense of ones self as everything you planned for unfolds in to race results. Narrating your story helps makes sense of it all so you can continue to grow with each experience. But use caution; there will be certain things that shape who we are that we can get stuck on if we are not careful such as a focusing on a sense of self weakness instead of focusing on self strengths. Problem identification is not the only path to growth; keep in mind the importance of advocating potential. Do you give your problems more air time than your possibilities? Think about a time, a sweet spot, when you were at your best and write a story about your best self moments. What characteristics did you embody when you were at your best? Construct your own best self portrait. When I am at my best, I set examples and become a positive role model for others around me. Who am I to be elite? Who am I not to be? Liberating ones self from your own our fears automatically liberates others. Embrace your self identity and become a reflection of what you vision as your best. Dare to be powerful, using your strengths in the service of your vision. Let others know you are not afraid of achieving your vision. Call out your vision for a new PR or to qualify and embrace the journey to go get it. Create the new narrative, I can. Society trains you to forget your own capacity. You could but your mindset was stuck in an out dated capacity of your best self. Live your life by the inside out not the outside in. Make decisions based on the results you want to create and not the judgments that you fear. Optimize your potential toward this capacity that you already have and you are ready to sculpt that athlete inside.
First things first, take one step at a time. So you have the vision, next comes living into this capacity. Challenge the best of who you are everyday. Embrace the notion of purposeful engagement in work. A purpose is a goal that provides a sense of direction and gives today's actions a sense of meaning. Think of it as a masterpiece. Individually a note does not amount to much but collectively they weave together into a common purpose, a symphony. Why do you workout? 99% of society will say because I have to, you are not part of this. 1% of society will say to improve, to finish the marathon and that is good. But you are not good, you are great and you have a calling to qualify, to be the 1% of the 1%. This vision trickles down to doing every workout with purpose and meaning toward achieving your vision. Ask yourself, how does today's work make a difference toward my goal? Asking the question you are now responsible for connecting purpose to daily activities. Think about the long term consequences of purposeful engagement. Commit to working with purpose. Any job is worth doing well. Value the notion of small wins. If you're doing kicking drills, do them with care. If you are foam rolling, do it as if you are instructing a class. Make it real; do not just pass through the motions. Embrace it all; find opportunities for growth and find perfection in each workout.
Be proactive and intentional in crafting a healthy lifestyle.
How do you feel about the trade offs you made in 2010 after you lived out the full consequences of those healthy lifestyle choices? What types of behavior with family and friends did you decide to suppress in order to align to your vision? Step back and consider other choices for redefining your life. Does your social network of family and friends 'get it' by supporting you and aligning to your vision of living a healthy lifestyle? If your friends talk you out of your morning runs for evening drinks or your family talks you out of your weekly regimen for holiday gorging then perhaps its time to revisit your decision to live a health lifestyle with them so they align. The only way you will be able to transform your healthy lifestyle is by finding meaningful relationship where those around you affirm who you are when you are at your best. Life is interrelated and you need to invest in relationships with those around you to also live the healthy lifestyle. The best self I aught to be cannot occur until those I surround myself with strive to be the best they aught to be. You need to be able to draw upon sources of people around you who are also committed, consistent and embody your vision of your best self. Embrace relationships that take you into your own self best zone. Move to the next level both in fitness and living. We enable one and other good or bad toward the paths we choose and I hope my direction toward living a healthy lifestyle carries momentum for my family and friends because in return, they also give me momentum in living out a healthy lifestyle.
Bring it.
Joshua Hickey
"It's not what you get by achieving our goals, it's who you become".
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