Find Your Marathon: Active Reflection
“I’ve been thinking a great deal about time and motion lately, about being a still point in the ceaseless rush”
Juliana finishes the Copenhagen 13.1
Running is my meditation. As I move through a continually changing landscape, I focus on each breath, each step forward on the trail a success. My runs range from short 30 minute jogs to the slow 26.2 miles that push me beyond my perceived limits. No matter the length of my runs, I always face resistance. Running is hard work and starting is the hardest part.
After years of running, I anticipate the rewards that come from pushing myself into discomfort. The first mile is total resistance, then around mile two, my breathing steadies and I enter the meditative flow of the run. Something happens every time I push myself to work hard, to start the journey, to stay in the moment and not turn back. On those long runs I’ve had many insights about work, personal relationships, ways of being. Running often shifts my perspective. The hard work brings an ease to my day and an appreciation for the scenery along my route.
Presence. Gratitude. Perspective. Persistence. Patience.
Whether you're pursuing a degree (or two!), launching a new career, or embarking on a significant life change, the path forward won't be easy. Beginnings are uncomfortable and endings have their own particular form of resistance, so really it’s the middle part that’s especially rewarding. How to get there? How will you enter your flow? What is your motivation?
First, be kind to yourself, quiet the noise, take time to reflect, and find the process that works for you, Your pace doesn't have to be fast, your process can be slow and steady as long as you remain aligned with your core values and intentional goals. Step by step, achievement by achievement, keep moving forward. Similar to running, equipping yourself with the right gear and surrounding yourself with a supportive community of mentors for holistic guidance—mind, body, and spirit—can make all the difference. Assemble your support system and break through inertia by taking that crucial first step.
Tap into that inner intrinsic motivation that propels you forward. Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?
For a complimentary reflective activity packet, contact me at: juliana@gradappsnap.com.
My book recommendation for this month is Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility, a time traveling story that reflects on personal values and motivations.