I’m not much of a runner. In fact, if I’m being honest, I don’t really like it at all. But, since I am pushing forward with a group of dedicated people in our 28 Days groups and community, I figured I would have the support I needed as I took on a health challenge. In the 10 months since we have started, I have done everything else from music, to writing, to course making, to business building but I had never taken on a health goal. The truth is that I am not UNHEALTHY. I have just not been consistent with my exercise. I go through spurts like many others but I skip a day when I’m tired and before you know it, it becomes 3 days. So, this month I decided to see if I could make it 28 Days.
When I was a kid, I didn’t mind running. But, I was more of a sprinter. I didn’t like the long distance races. I do everything fast. I run down the stairs fast. I like to drive fast when I can (shhhh, don’t tell the police). I eat fast. I don’t like long meetings. I like to move quickly. So, getting up to run one mile or more just wasn’t calling my name.
Well, as I have begun to run, I learned that part of my impatience is wanting to get to the finish line as quickly as possible. Why? I figured out that I just wanted to move on to the next thing. So, here’s what I have done. As I run, my path in my neighborhood has mailboxes the mark each house. Instead of thinking about the finish line or when I will get home, I tell myself to focus on the mailbox. Deep down, I know that I have a longer trip ahead but instead of looking at the end of the road, I look at the next mailbox and focus on getting there. Just before I get to the mailbox, I look up and focus on the next mailbox. And then the next and then the next. Some mailboxes are prettier than others. But, I just keep focusing on each box because soon I will get past it.
Many people get distracted or unfocused because they are attempting to take in too much at one time. The goal seems so far away. The journey seems REALLY long. You keep asking yourself the famous annoying question, “Are we there yet?”
It is essential to have a long term plan. Yes, a written one. You MUST have a 5 year plan of some sort. It doesn’t have to be perfect but you should have something in place that you can at least dream about. Then once you break it down into smaller manageable increments, focus on completing those. Yes, those are your mailboxes. Just focus on them one at a time and you will get to the goal. Map it out and then trust the process.
I like your way to focus on mini goals. Sometimes we forgot the trees when looking at the
forest.
Absolutely. This is a reminder to me.