…when it feels like you might never get there.
Does it feel like you’ve been working towards, or through, something for so long and you’re not there yet?
Are you longing to be the other side of something (an illness, a decision, a project) and can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel?
Are you frustrated and a little overwhelmed? Doing everything right but it doesn’t seem to be coming together?
If so, this one’s for you.
When I feel like this I draw on what I learned about patience and pacing from running (absolutely) my last marathon a few years ago.
The photo is me at mile 19. It’s that magical moment when I realise I’m going to make it.
I definitely hadn’t been smiling so much before this!
So what kept me going then, and keeps me going now, in those moments where I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel?
#1 Remember your purpose
Why are you doing it? Zoom out of the now and hold the big picture in your mind of where you’re going, and the feeling you’ll have when you get there. Mine was finishing with a smile on my face.
#2 Take the time pressure off
Are you setting an unnecessary deadline? Often when we set an arbitrary time goal it can create a lot of drama about meeting it. I didn’t wear a watch for this run and it made for a much freer and more enjoyable experience.
#3 Follow the process
When self doubt creeps in we can stop moving. Find a pace that works for you. Keep taking the steps you know will get you there. Trust you are making progress (even if it feels invisible). When I struggled I focused on running 100 steps at a time.
#4 Celebrate your progress
It’s more fun to keep going when you feel like you’re getting somewhere! Look for any sign that things are changing, that you are making progress compared with where you where. I sang a little song at every mile marker.
#5 Protect your energy along the way
It’s harder to keep going when we’re tired and the voices in our head tell you to stop. Be kind to your mind, stay hydrated, manage your energy. And always take a jelly baby if you’re offered one :-)
So if you’re wondering if you’re ever going to make it, trust the process and keep taking the steps you know will get you there.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and you’re getting there one step at a time.
Wishing you all a great week,
