When I was jogging on the treadmill the other morning I got to thinking how exercise is a metaphor for life. (I do some of my best thinking while on the treadmill, by the way.)

Each time I get ready to get on the treadmill, I usually have to push myself to do it. Often times I would rather not exercise at all because I’m tired or because there are other things frankly I’d rather be doing like playing power rangers with my kids, sitting on the couch watching TV, scrubbing the floors with a toothbrush, pretty much anything else… you get the idea.

 I stretch, and my body feels stiff or sore, and I don’t want to move. It’s hard to get going, but I do it anyway.  I tell myself that even if I only do a little bit, it’s better to at least try than do nothing at all. The first 15 minutes I am warming up and it’s not great. I am out of breath trying to get a rhythm going, and my knees or hips ache. But then after a good warm up and some good music going, I feel in a groove and my lungs and legs feel great, and I can go faster than I thought I could. I push myself a little bit more to go faster, and when I’m getting tired I push myself to commit to just one more minute, then one more minute again, and then it turns into five and ten minutes longer than I thought I could run, at a faster speed than I thought I could. I take it just minute by minute. But I wouldn’t have been able to do it unless I pushed myself. Every day that I get back on that treadmill, I do a little bit better each time. When I’m finished, I feel so good about what I accomplished! It’s such a boost of confidence from just a simple exercise. When you push yourself and work hard to do something you didn’t think you could do, it feels so good when you’re done!

 If I am not satisfied with my current status, than I have to actively be doing something to change it. That is my new strategy for life, take action! Don’t just dwell on something by sitting and thinking about it, or stressing about it, or making excuses in other areas in life because of it. Do something! Like Nike says, “Just Do It.” Once I make myself do something, whatever it is, I usually discover it wasn’t as bad/hard/scary as I anticipated it to be. The hardest part of anything is usually the first step: having the courage to try. Actually, many things I have dreaded doing I realize are actually enjoyable once I get in the swing of it! Or maybe it’s something I thought I would fail at because I wasn’t smart enough, good enough, or whatever the fear is at the time. Part of this challenge is not being afraid of failure. I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that many people who find success have failed over and over before they get it right, but the thing they did differently was they kept trying, and were not be afraid to try and fail again.

Trying is the first step to success.

Each day I get back up on the treadmill, knowing I might not be able to run very fast or very far compared to some, but that’s OK. I only compare myself to who I was yesterday.  I do what I can, and tell myself at least I’m getting up and trying. That’s more than many other people can say. Even if I’m not the best, or not even that great, at least I can say I am trying.

Apply this thought to any area in your life. What’s something you’ve been thinking about doing, but are afraid of taking the first step? Just do it! You might surprise yourself!

I’m curious to know what y’all think, leave a comment above.

Peace and Love, Leah