RUNNING TO STAND STILL

 

How many times have you thought about taking another direction only for the realities of life to keep you spinning away on your never-ending hamster wheel? Sometimes it takes a significant life event to bring us to a complete standstill, forcing us to take stock of our current circumstances and truly consider what our dreams and life goals really are.

We are constantly bombarded by TV and magazine articles and motivational speeches, all encouraging self-improvement, many referencing exceptional individuals who have overcome difficulties in their own lives to achieve something extraordinary. But how do we apply the lessons learnt by these examples to our own lives? Life goes at an incredibly swift pace and trying to keep up can be exhausting. So many cases of burn out stem from trying to emulate someone they know or to be who they feel they 'should' be, due to external pressures, not simply the best version of themselves. Trying to meet all the requirements and follow the advice of others can be frustrating, if not detrimental to your health and wellbeing. The thing to keep in mind is that everyone is different and the least constructive thing anyone needs during times of personal reflection and global uncertainty, is to be compared to everyone else.

As a running enthusiast since I was a child, I had built up my endurance and long distance running ability. So, finding myself in a situation where I could barely walk due to herniated discs and a deep vein thrombosis has been a really strong dose of reality. I think the worst part about my recovery has been the off-the-cuff comments, including "you'll just never run again", "you'll probably always have nerve pain", and "no more long trips". Sometimes people express opinions without reflecting on the impact they are having on others, or considering whether they truly know all the facts. The problem is that, heard enough, these comments, though often well-meaning, can be extremely damaging if they affect our mentality and therefore become our reality. From personal experience, I would be cautious when listening to personal anecdotes or advice given to you whilst you're progressing. Whilst constructive criticism can be useful, I will repeat what a friend once told me; be careful about ulterior motives, conscious and unconscious, such as their own health issues, fears or previous negative experiences.

To take a leap of faith and head in another direction can be challenging and somewhat unnerving to say the least, but ultimately the immense satisfaction and fulfilment cannot only change you but also those around you. I am currently on my journey to change and believe me, the obstacles are there. However, by surrounding myself with the right people who encourage me, creating a regular work plan towards my goals (broken down into attainable objectives), networking well, studying and gathering information from those in relevant fields, things have started to change.

Information, training and study are fundamental in the early stages of preparation. Being structured and deciding on specific subjects or points of interest is important. Sometimes when you have a number of things you are passionate about or have numerous talents, choosing can be difficult. Breaking down the options can take time. I would suggest a vision board and even questions on your fridge to get you started. For example, what ambition or project are you so passionate about that you would get at 4 am in order to complete it? Keep questioning and exploring different avenues if you are not completely sure which direction to go in. If you have more than one thing you enjoy doing, think about which inspires you more and could practically become a profession or how to combine them, even with some hard graft involved.

Once you have the goal in sight, give it everything you've got. Don't doubt yourself, just be aware there will be tough moments. The important part is how you manage these and continuing even when you have a dip in enthusiasm levels. The essential thing here is consistency. Working with practical goals, regularly reviewing your progress and keeping tabs on your networking progress. Don't expect everyone to share your drive for your goal and definitely don't let negative attitudes put a dampener on your progress. Dig deep and you will make it. I have no doubt that if you continue you will start to see the results, maybe even a different path will open up. Try not to be too rigid in your approach, flexible thinking will allow you to manoeuvre through any small roadblocks along the way. Celebrate your progresses, however small you may feel they are at the time and watch them grow!

One final tip; document your steps! The difficulties you encounter on the way, and the strategies used to resolve them, could help someone else later on. If we all shared our experiences we would not only empower others but we would also build up our own confidence in our abilities to be creative and deal with any potential issues - valuable tools in any profession.

I have met many people on the way who have inspired me to make changes in my life. These include:

A single mum who left her job in banking to go to University, working in a shop throughout her degree, in order to have enough for her and her son to live on. She then became a brilliant teacher and has inspired a lot of others.

A group of sisters set up an amazing cakery and created a great community spirit in my local area.

A pianist friend of mine who created a successful academy in spite of critical comments from various official bodies.

These are just to name a few of the many who have been great examples of how things can develop for the better. The secret is to try, as there is truth in the adage that you will regret the 'what ifs' in life more than any stumbling blocks met when going all out in pursuit of changes that might just bring about things that you truly never imagined. If you don't try, you'll never know! I wish you and incredibly exciting journey.