We’ve all reached moments when all we want to do is quit. We feel tired, worn out, and ready for whatever it is we are going through to be over. In reality, the greatest results we achieve happen while this is taking place. Our ability to persevere and push through that mental and physical fatigue will lead to attaining massive results that otherwise would not be possible. Breaking out of your comfort zone is painful. It is a pain many people can not and will not tolerate. This is why most people remain average or mediocre throughout their lives. Success and high level results take enduring through pain and hardship. The harder you push, the richer rewards that pushing will bear.
Fighting the battle within
As I’ve written about over the last few weeks frequently on our blog, I am in the midst of training for my first marathon. As of right now, I’m exactly a month out from the date. Last week, I ended the week’s training on Sunday with an 18 mile run, nonetheless after I had put on around 30 miles during the week prior to this run. I was going on my 6th or 7th week in a row of 50 miles per week or more and my body was (and still is) pretty banged up. That 18 miler was the longest run I had ever had to complete of consecutive miles at that point in training. It was hot, humid, the sun was blaring, and it was 80 plus degrees out. The first 12 miles went by like a breeze. Nothing new to me and a relatively easy feat. Once I hit mile 14, however, I hit a brick wall. I contemplated giving up. I was so thirsty and tired. I entered a dark place in my mind that is so easy to succumb to and quit. Quitting crossed my mind emphatically. Everything in me wanted to quit. After walking about a tenth of a mile and lowering my pace for my run (something that is super frustrating), I came to the conclusion I have no choice but to finish. How could I accomplish my grander goal if I was going to accept failure during training? After a painstaking and brutal 4 more miles, I finally hit the 18 mile mark. My pace was up significantly from where I would want it to be (around 10 minutes and 30 seconds compared to the 9 minute or less pace I was on prior to mile 14), but I was able to push through the dark place in my brain that I could’ve easily gotten stuck in.
This experience taught me a few extremely valuable lessons. First and foremost, everything that occurs in your life is a result of the mental battle occurring in your brain at all times. In my example, my body was capable of reaching the goal I needed to achieve, however, my brain was straining from the fatigue and pain that was inflicted on my body. Pushing through this battle and not giving into the mediocrity my brain wanted for me is something I can take and apply to all areas of my life.
Secondly, I know that the more painful something gets, the closer to your goal you are. As I got closer and closer to the 18 mile goal, the run got progressively harder and harder as I continued to strain to keep pushing forward. This same lesson applied to something like finances is similar and I’ve actually endured comparable experiences to my 18 mile endeavor in the financial realm in terms of the pressure and stress I was under. When you’re flat broke pursuing something you know will work because of the time, energy, and effort you’ve put into it, you will experience the same wall that I hit when I reached mile 14. This is undoubtedly a difficult position to be in. it would be easier to give up and do something mediocre and simple where enough money to just get by might be guaranteed. Pushing through this wall is what separates those who make it from those who don’t.
Being mentally prepared for war
Nothing can prepare you fully from conquering the war within other than experiencing it firsthand. However, knowing this upfront will help you recognize when you’re headed in the right direction and your goals are an extremely painful few steps away. Nothing can prepare you completely for what you may face. This may make you fearful of what is to come. Fear is what paralyzes most people from persisting through the pain. Don’t fall victim to that fear. Use it to point you in the right direction and conquer it when it becomes an obstacle for you. One can only be hardened by war after having gone through it. You need to put yourself in as many uncomfortable situations as possible to become a war veteran in the battle between your ears. The more battles you wage and come out successfully, the more comfortable you’ll feel waging similar battles in the future and conquer bigger more audacious goals!