Your mind and body are stronger than you think!
I recently completed a 6km obstacle course, Ultimate Athlete. A challenging course along the sand (yep, sand running!) with 20 obstacles including a skate ramp, inverted wall and jerry can carry.
Unfortunately, in the days prior, I faced an early obstacle (pun intended). Battling a case of food poisoning. The night before the big day, I was up sick for most of the night and had very little sleep.
On the morning of the race, in crept that little voice, you know the one:
🗣️ “You’re not a runner.”
🗣️ “You have just had food poisoning. Are you insane?”
🗣️ “Everyone else there is so much fitter than you.”
🗣️ “You aren’t strong enough to complete those obstacles.”
🗣️ “You might be sick on the course.”
🗣️ “You will look stupid when you don’t finish”
🗣️ “This is something your father would do!”
6:30 am - decision time. To let the team know I couldn’t make it, rest and catch a bit of FOMO – or show up.
Couldn’t let the team down, who does that? I told my team that I would be there, and I want to be there for them. The worst-case scenario is: to arrive and be too sick to complete the race. It’s game time. Down a little concoction – electrolytes, an anti-nausea pill and a shot of espresso. The next minute, there I am standing with my team at the start line ready to head off for the beach run.
Guess what happened? No throwing up. Ran (almost) the entire way. When the thought of giving up came to mind – those around me gave me an extra boost to keep going.
I completed the race and got a cool medal to show for it.
Now, let’s break down some of the thoughts I had prior:
“I’m not a runner.” I have always told myself this. However, knowing this challenge was coming up, I had been heading out for runs, trying to tick something off I wouldn’t normally do. Taking the small steps to make this big thing happen.
“You’ve been sick. Are you insane?” – potentially true, but this kind of self-talk is a little harsh don’t you think? Let’s reframe it, “Haley, you are so ambitious.” – hah.
“Everyone else is so much fitter than you.” Also accurate, but if we all thought this way - none of us would achieve anything.
“You aren’t strong enough to complete those obstacles.” Turns out this one was also true. With the support of my team, however, I got through it. We can achieve more than the mental barriers we set for ourselves with the right people around us.
“You might be sick on the course.” A perfectly valid concern - my risk management tool (mind) is working as it should be here.
“This is something your father would do.” Comes across as a little aggressive, and perhaps a little critical towards him (love you, Lance Burdett!). Note: his first comment after finding out what I did was, whilst shaking his head, “Haley, you are too much like me.” In reality, how much has he achieved? Is he successful? Is he doing things he never thought he could? I think we all know the answer to that – perhaps following in his footsteps IS the right thing to do.
So, would I recommend you do what I did, and complete a race on very little fuel and very little sleep? No... You might ask why I’m sharing all this then. To show how we are all better and stronger than we think we are. We can push past our barriers, and we can work with that little voice inside of us. We can take on challenges that come our way or we can retreat from them. Growth comes from doing, not from retreating.
Additionally, having good people around us who are willing to lift us up - whether that be by cheering you on from the sidelines or by literally hoisting you up – (as pictured) can make a world of difference to your achieving your goals.
Haley Burdett - Online Learning Manager - WARN International Ltd
#mindhealth #mentalhealth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #courage #goals #goalsetting