There are so many beautiful things to discover (both in the world and within yourself) through running. Here’s a shot from one of my recent runs around the lakes on Notre Dame’s campus.
Hello Beautiful People!
I was recently coaching a woman who told me wants to like running but she doesn’t know how to make that happen, or if it’s even possible for her. She dreaded that idea that she might just be confined to a lifetime of hating exercise. I also hear from people all the time about how they wished they loved to work out like I do, because if they did, then they would do it regularly.
Whenever I hear this, it makes ME wish I could spend a week walking (or running) this person through their workouts. I wouldn’t teach them running techniques, but I would teach them how to train their mind to love to exercise – because this is the way it should be. Our bodies are MEANT for movement, they are designed to move and they truly do love even the hard work.
So, what I really want you to know is that learning to love to work out is completely possible, realistic, AND it just might be one of the best things you will ever do for yourself. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can become someone who loves to workout every single day, and thus become someone to whom all the immediate and long-lasting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of exercise comes naturally – with ease and strength, rather than emotional struggle and suffering.
I really, truly do love to work out – most days – but it isn’t an accident. There was a time when I absolutely dreaded hard workouts (running included) and I still occasionally have my days when I dread it as much as the next person.
But I now look at these “dread” days as flukes, hiccups, and not who I really am. What I’ve taught myself is how to coach myself – mind, body, and spirit- into a place of loving it so that I am able to do the difficult physical work without the mental strife and emotional exhaustion. I’ve coached myself into the belief that I am a soul athlete and that exercise not only feels great but does incredible things for my mind, body, and spirit. I’ve coached myself into being a “natural athlete.”
And I know, beyond a doubt, that being a soul athlete and a natural athlete is possible for you as well. Not only can you get your body into the best possible shape of your life, but you can get your mind into badass, elite warrior/athlete shape as well so that it can do the work of your soul.
Today’s post is just the beginning of an answer to these things (bear with me as I’ve never tried to train anyone who isn’t actually right with me at the moment!). Again, I am absolutely, 100% positive that if I could move in with you and do all your workouts with you, coach you (meaning YOUR MIND) through them step-by-step, that we could make some big leaps in getting you to love working out as well. I hope this audio will give you some of those same ideas and tools.
So, please help yourself to the 35 minute coaching audio below. Again, this is for those of you who want to want to run, those who are already running but don’t really enjoy it, or those of you who already love to run but want to pick up some ideas on how to break a PR or how to use running as a way of training your mind.
I believe anything can be a spiritual practice and a spiritual training ground – and running is no exception! Running, in fact, is an excellent place to practice training your mind to become a stronger, healthier, more clear channel for your soul, because, if you’re running hard enough, it will bring up absolutely everything that’s been holding you back…so that it can be released. Pretty soon, you’ll be running so strong and steady that that negative thinking won’t be able to keep up with you!
If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you! You can email me at leah@leahcb.com or post a comment to my Facebook page.
Recent Comments