Monday, October 1, 2012

Remind Run Repeat



There’s one word hanging over my desk. Thanks to a summer spent in a preschool where the ratio of teacher to student was 1:2, HB (age 4) can now read it. Standing under it and looking up, she sounds out the letters:

“R says ruh, U says uh, N says nuh. Ruh-Uh-Nuh. Run!”

Yep, the word over the desk is RUN. Not that I have been. I’ve been out for two weeks. 

I felt guilty for a week or so but I don’t now. My ankle was hurting, my shoes are going bad (again!) and I’m not that excited about the group I’ve been with. They’re nice but I haven’t made any real friends there.

I bailed like HB at dance class. I am still looking for a NE Cola running group (send suggestions), but taking some time off. I'm changing direction.

So why does the word RUN have such prominence on my desk? What the heck does it have to do with Kasie’s Autonomy? It’s a mantra reminder.


I’ve said before how powerful I believe mantras to be. Repeat after me: love the mantra. Simple phrases that remind us of much bigger concepts. Repeated, the mantra can create a focus zone.

So the mantra that I’m reminded of when I see the word RUN?

I run because it’s hard. It’s hard because I don’t do it with the consistency and passion that others apply. I hate to run. I dread going, I’m miserable while I do it, and the payoff is good (not going to lie about that) but usually isn’t good enough.

But I don’t want to be afraid of hard work. I don’t want to take the easy way out. I don’t want to fail to achieve my goals because I was too lazy to do the work.

I’ve said before that I don’t believe all people who fail are lazy. So don’t get crazy and think I’m being a big achievement snob that thinks 47% of people are useless.

I’m not talking about other people. I’m talking about me: I’m not lazy.

Sometimes, like yesterday, I have to remind myself that it’s okay to take a rest and that resting doesn’t mean I’m lazy.

More importantly, days like today when the weather is nasty and I don’t have anything scheduled and the future is waiting for me to make it wonderful and I don’t even know where to begin, I have to attack the part of me that says “good enough is good enough” and the part that says, 

“The problem with going out on your own is that you have to do all the marketing and sales-pitching, too.” 

I have a mantra for attacking self doubt and other-people's doubt:

To get what you want you have to work for it. Earn it. Chase it down the street and tackle it. Take it.

I had a great spin instructor in Easley who used the mantra: no one’s going to do it for you

To which I would add, in my head, “if you want it, Kasie, TAKE IT.”

Like running, achievement requires a dedication to the habits of achievers. Those habits, thanks to Stephen Covey, are pretty easy to identify. The two I keep front-and-center are: First Things First and Principle-Centered Decision Making. More on the 7 Habits and Covey’s life instruction book some other time.

For now, know I’m running.

What's your mantra that keeps you running? Imagine it here:

Share it in the comments.

8 comments:

  1. One of mine is "Everything happens for a reason." No matter how cliche it is, I stop and figure out what my reason is, and it always helps.
    I enjoyed your post!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting Clemson Road, Linda! I've heard that "everything happens for a reason" mantra before. It certainly helps when adjusting to things out of our own control.

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  2. Kasie, you know that I agree 100% with Linda Hatton ... it has been that mantra which has helped get me through some of my toughest times. But a new mantra was introduced to me recently ... by a friend I met while doing something worthy and scary at the same time. "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." It certainly doesn't replace "Everything happens for a reason", but it give a new perspective to the next step. Love you, Sheila

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sheila. You taught me the "everything happens for a reason" mantra and it helped me deal with quite a few things that were beyond my control.

      I like your new mantra. Comfort zones allow us to survive but keep us from being able to thrive. Leaving your comfort zone takes courage. I hope I am modeling courage for HB.

      Thanks for coming by!

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  3. "I believe it can be done" is my mantra of late and it relates to not only my physical fitness, i.e., running and yoga, but also my mental well-being. As for "everything happens for a reason" mantra, I do believe there are many times when this applies since we do not have control over all that happens and that is as it should be. When I apply the "I believe it can be done" mantra to my daily life I find I am able to accomplish much more than if I allow self-doubt to enter my thoughts. Once again, you have brought to my attention the importance of knowing oneself and believing in oneself. Dreams are goals just waiting to be accomplished! So to quote NIKE, "Just Do It!"
    You are an excellent role model for HB! I am so proud to call you my daughter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, mom. I think "I believe it can be done!" is a great mantra. It encourages us to believe in things people say can't be done while also reminding us that we have to DO something to make those things happen. Thanks, as always, for reading and supporting me.

      Delete
  4. I need a running mantra. I don't enjoy running at all. Right now I keep thinking of that stupid phrase, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." I'm on a strict diet right now and I'm finally getting results. That pops into my head whenever I consider cheating.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Heather, thanks for coming by Clemson Road.

      The key with mantras is to find one that makes you feel wonderful. I was really mean to myself in my early running days, it didn't make running any easier. I found when my voice was kind, I enjoyed running a lot more.

      Long runs I like to use: "settle in," and "you're going to be doing this for a while and that's okay." Try to enjoy yourself, the scenery, the run.

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