When Things Get Tough…..What Next?

I have been running for over two hours. My legs feel heavy and my breathing is ragged and laboured. The road stretches in front of me with no end in sight. I wipe the sweat from my  face and think, ‘How can I ever finish this run?’

I was training for a marathon and was in the middle of a long training run. It was a necessary part of building my strength and endurance for the 26.1 miles I would face on Race Day. I had been excited to begin the training. I wanted to have the trill of crossing the finish line and receiving the medal awarded to every finisher.

And, yet, in this moment, all I want to do is quit!

Instead of excitement, I feel exhaustion. I do not see myself as a runner. I am discouraged. Why did I ever think I could do this?

Have you ever felt this way? It may be you were aiming to complete a goal and things did not go your way. Initial success turned to broken dreams and unfulfilled promises. Instead of reaching your goals with ease, problems and challenges got in the way. You may also have wondered, ‘What am I doing? Should I continue? Is this a sign I should quit?’

Here’s the thing:

What I am describing is the process of growth and change.

Messiness means something is shifting.

Success is not a straight path. Roadblocks and detours show up along the way.

When things get tough, most people quit. What they don’t realize is that the ‘finish line’ is closer than they realize.

They can do it!

My experience as a long distance runner taught me how I could face challenges in other areas of my life.

Here are some principles I learned running all those miles:

1. It is important to remember my WHY.

When my legs ached and my lungs burned, what kept me going? Why did I keep on running?

I knew why I was training for a marathon.

I wanted to challenge myself to be strong mentally and physically. I was inspired by the runners who had completed marathons and I was determined to join that group. I wanted to keep my word to myself to finish a goal I had never completed before.

Keeping my focus on my ‘Why‘ as a Life Coach is the motivation for me to continue on. I want to be of service to those who are looking for deeper meaning in life. I want to ‘run’ alongside those who are discouraged and who may want to give up. I am here to remind them of their own power and wisdom.

2. I am not alone.

As I ran that day, a friend ran beside me. She encouraged me to keep going and reminded
me to drink water and have an energy bar. She was not competing with me, she was not running ahead. She offered support and I received her help. We were in this together! Because of her presence, I kept going.

I can feel alone as a coach. I work from home. I have many hours of individual creation and I get discouraged at times. I compare myself to others. I think I am not as articulate. My business is new and I struggle to see myself as successful.

The question arises, ‘Who am I to think I can do this?’

[pullquote width=”300″ float=”right”]I choose to keep going, to persevere and be consistent.[/pullquote]

This is when I remember my running days. I can ask for support and help. I share my experience with those I trust. They remind me to care for myself and to be patient when the road ahead is long and no end is in sight. And, I choose to keep going, to persevere and be consistent in my business. I feel encouraged as I recognize the many people in my life who are cheering me on.

3. Consistency is the key to success

Marathon training involves hours of running. Regular runs are the the foundation of a successful finish. I realized that my commitment to consistent runs was more important
than other activities calling for my attention. I missed some late night parties and followed a food plan that supported my health. I had a goal in mind! There were days I wanted to miss, and for the most part, I would remind myself of my Why and off I ran.

I want to remind myself of this principle as I build my coaching business. There are times that writing a newsletter every couple of weeks is challenging for me. Does anyone read what I write? And, I wonder, how important is this ‘consistency’ stuff anyway? For me, writing is a way to deepen my self-awareness and explore new ideas. I see it as a chance to share what I am learning, and to hear from others as they respond. I celebrate the consistent practices of my business, and I trust that this will make a difference in people’s lives and in the growth of my business.

4. Faster is not necessarily better

I learned that I needed to pace myself in order to complete a marathon. Starting out too fast caused me to burn out. I experimented until I found a pace that worked for me. Paying too much attention to others’ speed was not helpful. I was successful because I trusted my wisdom to find my own pace. Some were faster. Some were slower. And, we all completed the distance.

This also applies to the rest of my life. I am unique. I have gifts that are mine. I am learning to trust myself as I set the pace in my business. I know that people will find me as I show up with my voice and my way of being. I will be able to keep going as I am true to myself.

5. Play is my mantra, not perfection

I would not have run a marathon if I was not having fun. Sure, there were tough times.

And, I loved being outdoors, running with my friends, and feeling my body get stronger. Every time I ran a longer distance I smiled with joy and I celebrated what my body could do. I competed against myself. I was not aiming to be the perfect runner. I wanted to enjoy the miles and the experiences running offered.

[pullquote width=”300″ float=”right”]Perfection is not my goal. I desire to be myself and honour my gifts as I travel this path.[/pullquote]

Play is my theme word this year. How does this apply to my business? I want to celebrate my commitment and my passion for my coaching business. I want to be okay with not always knowing how things will turn out. I am open to new adventures and I see my skill as a coach growing along the way. Perfection is not my goal. I desire to be myself and honour my gifts as I travel this path.

I finished that first marathon! I cried tears of joy and relief as the medal was placed around my neck. I had reached my goal, and I learned so much about life along the way.

I went on to run several more marathons. They didn’t get any easier! Another lesson for me to remember…….each new goal brings its own challenges and temptations to quit.

What I did learn is that I am not a quitter. I now know that I can keep on until the finish line.

And, so can you! Let me know if you have experienced times of wanting to stop. What did you do? What kept you going? I would love to hear your suggestions for how to overcome times of discouragement, and what you do to succeed.

[disclaim]I have three spots open for one-to-one coaching with me. Schedule a complimentary session to see if I am the one to ‘run beside you’ and support you at this place in your journey.[/disclaim]