It’s all mental.
As an avid runner, I am quite familiar with this phrase and it’s context. Approaching the starting line of the Chicago Marathon 11 years ago, I remember telling myself, “It’s all mental”…to me, this meant, that all of my physical training was completed (over the previous 5 months!). At this point, the remaining work, that day, was in my head. I knew my body was properly trained…it was my mind that had to perform. If I kept positive thoughts through the grueling 26.2 mile run, chances are that I would finish. If my thoughts were negative, chances of my finishing the race were slim.
I was reminded of this concept this weekend. My family aways runs a local road race every Memorial Day. This year, a special treat for me, was to run with my only nieces. They are in elementary school and really seem to enjoy running, as their mom, my sister, and I do. My oldest niece asked me to run next to her. We ran together for the 5K race. It was HOT and for a 10 year old…it was long and exhausting…and throughout the race, she clearly needed some positive mental energy. Her Dad and I kept encouraging her, telling her how strong she looked, what great form she had and that we knew she could do this!
Not only did she make it…she sprinted into the finish line! I told her; once we were recovering…it was all mental.
Moms…when was the last time you were so frustrated because the kids were not going as fast as you wanted them to? Or the last time plans changed right under your nose and you fought it? Or when the collective decision to celebrate a holiday a certain way goes against your idea? Or how about judging someone based on your ideas of what you think is the ‘right way to do things’ ? (I know we hate to admit that last one!)
I am realizing, little by little, that it is MUCH easier to change my thoughts on how fast I think my kids should move, than to get them to move faster.
It is easier to change my thoughts on how to approach last minute changes, than to stay rigid (and thus crabby and stressed).
It is easier to change my thoughts on how our family should celebrate holidays, than to force 20 relatives to do it my way.
It is much easier to change my thoughts on someone else’s way of doing things, than to pile up the reasons that they are crazy.
What is one thing that you can think about differently this week, to let go of a little stress?
