I was going through the motions.
I was physically showing up to the classes and yet my grit and determination were still at home.
I was following my regular exercise routine, as if on autopilot, languishing through the dreary Winter months.
I began to feel tight, sluggish and heavy in my body.
I was no longer satisfied with my health and began to care less and less about what I ate.
Discontent was seeping in and it was time to make some changes.
Lucky for me a wonderful group of friends had decided to complete the 50km Upstream Challenge and once again asked me along.
So many reasons to say no whizzed through my head.
Yet, overriding all of this was a strong desire to show up differently for my health.
To once again be fully present and committed to feeling lighter, nimble and completely energised.
As difficult as the walk and training would be, I knew this challenge would have me showing up consistently for my fitness.
Today with months of training behind me, and as I nurse my tingling toes and aching hips, I can truly say I am feeling very satisfied with my fitness.
The progress has motivated me, and even though I am still 5 days away from achieving my goal, my feelings of happiness and satisfaction are already elevated.
I think about all the times in life when we lack grit and gusto.
When we stumble through the daily motions, ticking all the right boxes and yet never feeling truly satisfied.
The frustration we feel as the discontent settles in and eventually true happiness leaves.
How the pursuit of a challenge, a quest with a clear goal and end point, could be the juiciest way out of any rut.
Driving us toward action, toward achievement.
Adding meaning to the areas of life we are languishing in.
Challenges such as
- Cooking one new recipe every Sunday for 6 months
- Taking a an online e-course
- Saving $2000 before the end of the year
- Reading 5 books over the January holidays
- Registering to compete in an upcoming fun run
- Writing a poem each day for a month
- Taking a photo of your kids each day for a year
- Growing an unusual plant from seed
- Learning a musical instrument
- Taking a swimming classes
Instead of wallowing in discontent, identify an area of your life you are not completely satisfied in.
Then set yourself a challenge, a reason to show up differently.
This is your one great life, it is up to YOU to Lead it Fabulously.
Chris Gulillebeau wrote The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life
A remarkable and inspiring read.
A group of our friends have committed to walk “The Way of St. James” in Spain in 2016. It will be about 100k over 6 days. I am slowly but surely getting myself ready for this challenge and know it will be worth the effort.
I love the idea of also setting some challenges in my everyday life as a way to get out of a personal rut.
Mo, what a wonderful challenge and somewhat exotic. Might think of adding this to my list, I might see you there.