The Sunday Sessions: 4.8.18 Edition

Sunday is traditionally a day in which we slow down, take time for reflection, and recharge. Every Sunday, I will share a poem or excerpt that will make us think, wonder, or even laugh as we prepare ourselves for the upcoming week.

We’ve been out of town for a weekend at Lake Chelan, so I have not been a committed blogger this weekend. I didn’t even crack open my computer while we were gone! This was mostly because I was either trying to get my kid to sleep or waiting for her to finish sleeping. This has nothing to do with today’s Sunday Session. I’m just trying to explain (and apologize for) posting so late today.

I shared in my March newsletter that I am training for a 5K at the end of the month. I have no intention of actually running the whole thing, but I want to at least be able to run more of it than I did last year at the same race. In preparation, I’ve been going to the gym and walking/running on the treadmill 3 to 4 times a week.

The treadmills, like all the aerobic exercise equipment at my gym, face a wall with a mirror on it. Usually, I am in the second row of treadmills. My image in the mirror is obscured by the treadmill that is in front of me, which suits me just fine. On Thursday, though, the only available treadmills were in the first row, and I was able to see myself perfectly in the mirror.

I do not look like I thought I look while running. When I run (okay, jog), I feel not exactly gazelle-like, but in the area of gazelle-like. That is not how I look. My steps are not light, nor are they swift. There is a definite effort in every stride I make.  Let’s just say I will not be outrunning any lions come race day.

The reality of how I look compared to how I thought I looked while running was quite discouraging. I wanted to stop and forget this whole 5K nonsense. Turns out I’m not a runner after all. But then I remembered this interview I listened to between Marie Forleo and Brenden Burchard about habits of high-performing people. Burchard said that high-performers talk to themselves in the second or third person. Instead of saying, “I can do this”, they say, “You can do this” or “Caitlin can do this”.

So that’s what I did. I told myself, “You are so strong. You’re running for twice as long as you were only a few weeks ago. Keep going. You’re almost there!” Let me tell you, it worked. I finished that workout and will be back at it on Monday, using encouraging words and reminding myself how much I’ve improved. All in the second or third person, of course!

Question of the Week

When you are feeling down about yourself, what words of encouragement do you use to lift yourself back up?