Life can feel like a perpetual marathon sometimes. We’re constantly on the move, constantly working and learning. Trying to balance your work life alone can be tricky, but throw your personal life into the mix and it can be a real whirlwind. I have found the solution to all of this is having the right mindset.
I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in several marathons over the years, and in my experience, the only successful way to tackle one is by having a marathon mindset. But, how can you tackle holding a marathon mindset and what does that mean?
Well, we all know life is more of a continuous sprint most days, so making sure we set ourselves up for success with the appropriate mindset is not only important, but proven. To persevere: means to persist steadfastly in pursuit of an undertaking, task, journey, or goal, even if hindered by distraction, difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement.
Your mindset is the established set of attitudes you hold. How can you help mold a successful mindset?
Although subjective, and you may have heard these references before, these tips have helped build my marathon mindset:
1. There is a problem and a solution. Every problem/challenge/obstacle has a solution. Most likely, there are some problems that just may be impossible to fix, but that doesn’t mean 100% can’t be tackled. To me, there is no problem too big to take on. Your mindset of taking anything head-on is key.
2. If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger. This is a saying we have all heard before and it is true. When running I like to think this: there is 100% chance you will be in pain but a 99% chance that this pain will not kill you – meaning your mindset of perseverance will take you far. If you give up or let your foot off the gas when faced with a challenge or pain point, not only will you not be able to learn from your experiences, but you will miss out on some great lessons and successes. This is a great reference to one of my favorite quotes, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
3. It doesn’t rain forever. There is no light without dark and it will certainly not rain forever. There will be obstacles and there will be challenges that may leave you feeling like success is unobtainable. To me, there is always a way, or at least a way to try because there is an upside. Knowing about the bright side and homing in on it will keep your legs moving when your personal marathon gets tough.
4. The feeling of success and/or completion is one full of adrenalin. Completing something feels great. Knowing you worked your absolute hardest to get something done wipes away a lot of the stress that comes with working on a project. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of crossing a literal, or figurative finish line. Use that as motivation as you navigate a tricky project.
5. One step at a time. It’s the only way to get where you’re going. Count your steps (so-to-speak). You might have 100 things to do today, but being able to check off the small steps you’ve made towards getting that number down to zero will help you maintain a positive mindset. I often remind myself that my races are long, but the only way to get there is one mile, one minute, and one step at a time. It’s always a mental game, so being mentally prepared and having the right mindset from the very beginning will one of your greatest assets.
I believe mindset has saved my life, while that may sound impossible and far-fetched, I believe it whole-heartedly. The power of positive mindset has significantly impacted my life. The power of mindset and perseverance is a strong one, one not worth underestimating. Some may say this is hard wired, while others say it is a choice. I believe this is a combination of both, but I strongly believe it alters any outcome.
For a brief background, check out this TEDx Baltimore video that shares some raw impact of mindset. Everyone has their own story and I hope my story can have an impact on yours. Especially as we get deeper into the holiday season, where thankfulness and gratitude come to the forefront, take the time to share your mindset – you could impact someone, big or small.
