Last week I shared my approach to goal visioning – creating a short list of focus areas I can easily hold in mind without becoming overwhelmed.
In each of those focus areas I have an idea of what success will look like (sometimes it’s clear from the beginning, sometimes it’s a work in progress). Usually (and especially as these are focus areas for a whole year), these are not visions I’ll be able to realise overnight, they’re going to take time and steady commitment.
These are three strategies I’ve learned from running that I apply, not only to my fitness goals, but to other areas of my life as well…
Tackling the Byron Bay lighthouse running track
For those who might be unfamiliar with it, the Byron Bay lighthouse track offers a gruelling climb from the beach, followed by a torturous (and seemingly never-ending!) stretch of stairway winding right up to the spectacular lookout (a nice reward after all the hard work).
While on a family holiday to Byron, I decided to take on the lighthouse track. I thought a cross-training workout would be the way to tackle it – run then walk then repeat. But as I stood at the base of track, with that shiny white goal post towering in the distance, I wondered if I could go the distance.
Tip #1: Just start
I’m a big believer in just ‘giving it a go’. Win or lose, life’s about making the effort and seeing what happens. If you get exactly where you were headed, great! If you don’t quite make it or you veer off the path, that’s OK too. It’s all good information and experience that will help you fine tune your approach for the next goal or challenge. So, with that in mind, I set off on the track.
Tip #2: Watch the people who’ve gone before you
As I made my way up the hill, I kept looking into the distance and to my ultimate goal. That’s when I noticed the other people running the track and climbing the stairs. Many of them were not looking up; they had their eyes down and were focussed on what was directly in front of them – the next step. They were steadily moving towards their goal by simply putting one foot in front of the other.
Tip #3: Sometimes it’s better not to have your eye on the prize
For the first two thirds of the run, constantly looking up to the lighthouse in the distance was daunting. Sure I was determined to give it a go, but each time I saw how far I had to go, niggling thoughts would start up. “Huh, I haven’t come far and I’m already knackered, how will I get all the way up there?” “Maybe this was a bad idea, maybe I’m really not fit enough to do this, maybe I’m just a bit off today.”
But when I switched my attention to the next step, and then the one following that, and so on… before I knew it I was at the top of the hill! It’s an approach that’s helped with many hill runs, and with other goals too.
What’s your goal?
We are often told that we need to have a big vision, to keep seeing ourselves successfully achieving our goals, to imagine ourselves victorious at the finishing line. But what happens when the big vision stops you in your tracks?
My advice is just start, focus on the first step, and then the one after that. Keep moving forward one step at a time and before you know it you’ll be at the top of the hill enjoying the view!
Image by CCox888
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