We all have goals, big and small. Some we set and some are set for us. Some are meandered toward and others we work for diligently, such as vacation or retirement. Whatever it is you’re working for or looking forward to, ask yourself:
- What gets me through a hard day?
- (Me: Dinner is going to be delicious.)
- What’s going on in my head while I’m getting to my goal?
- (Me: I could go for a cup of tea.)
me are set for us. Some are meandered toward and others we work for diligently, such as vacation or retirement. Whatever it is you’re working for or looking forward to, ask yourself:
- What gets me through a hard day?
- (Me: Dinner is going to be delicious.)
- What’s going on in my head while I’m getting to my goal?
- (Me: I could go for a cup of tea.)
My Big Goal
Years ago, I had a clearly defined path to a Big Goal to compete in an Ironman. I knew going into 6 months of Ironman training that I’d learn a lot. And I was looking forward to it, particularly:
- Camaraderie from training with my friends
- Conditioning from pushing my body
- Discoveries of what was possible from my commitment
I knew those experiences were all on the horizon. I’d done plenty of triathlons already. So following a training schedule and taking care of my body was just ticking off a to-do list for me. I’m great at that.
What I wasn’t sure about, and what I wanted most from my training, was to learn how to be successful on race day. While I ticked the boxes on my Training To-Do List, there was still a lot of anxiety. I agonized over a thousand what-if scenarios. I relied on the generosity of my friends as I externalized my fears and presented them with my dire forecasts. Even as I built confidence through training, I continued to live in the uncertain future of race day.
To Do: Embrace the Journey
I was repeatedly told by athlete-friends and my coach to embrace the journey. Apparently, I was going to miss out on something if I didn’t attend to my moment-to-moment experience while training. But I was getting out of the training what I had expected. Camaraderie: check. Conditioning: check. Discoveries: check. There was also an injury scare and a good measure of panic every time life got in the way of a planned training task. Wasn’t this embracing the journey?
My coach urged me to be VERY aware of my body during all three sports and at rest. So I dutifully added it to my checklist. Scan body:
- Where am I feeling fatigue?
- Where is there pain or even just a twinge?
- Is my heart rate in the zone?
- Am I following the nutrition plan?
Over time, it became a habit to constantly check in with myself. The first surprise this gave me was the realization that I wasn’t unsure that I would reach the finish line. In fact, I knew deep inside that if I followed the coaching and took care of my body, I would finish.
Then much-much later, I realized that scanning my body had taught me to be entirely focused in the moment. This was the journey and I was embracing it! As the physical challenges transformed my body and made everyday life easier, the mental challenge of staying present transformed my mind and made everyday existence better.
Awareness in Action
As I dialed into how I felt during all of the activities in my life, patterns began to emerge. My habitual thoughts and feelings were revealed to me. I discovered things that didn’t feel right and things that felt fantastic. This became my barometer for figuring out my purpose, why I was HERE every day doing, thinking, BEING.
Embracing the journey taught me to trust my gut. (Trust but verify, because I’m still me.) If I had started training by listening instead of questioning that voice deep inside that KNEW I would finish, I could have saved a lot of heartache for myself and my patient friends.
Don’t get me wrong, the destination is great, but the rewards of awareness can’t be overstated. Focusing on yourself in the moment will absolutely help you trust yourself. And self-trust is a critical element to fulfilling achievements and journeys packed with happy moments. Being in the moment can teach us so much about ourselves, not just what we need and what we want, but it can reveal the very essence of who we are.
