Most People Never Run Far Enough on Their First Wind to Find out They’ve Got a Second

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This quote reminds me of the beginning a of fitness program I started years ago. At that time I could barely run around a 440-yard track at my local Civic Center. If you are assuming that I was in terrible shape you would be correct.

At the end of that small 440-yard run I would be huffing and puffing as if I'd run some incredible distance. Basically, my goal was to run around the track….once. Each time I made it around the track I would stop as that is all I had set out to do. Then one day as I was running I realized that I was at the end of 440 yards and I wasn't tired. At the end of 880 yards I was winded, but decided to keep running anyway. In the end I ran 1 mile which was a lot for me at the time.

From then on I increased my distance more and more to 3 miles, 5 miles, 7 miles, 10 miles and so on. So what was my secret to increasing my distance? There was no secret. Something happened the first time I ran a distance that was beyond my comfort zone. I realized that I could go past my comfort zone and run longer distances. I learned that just because I was exhausted that didn't mean I couldn't go farther. At that point I discovered my “second wind”, “third wind”, “fourth wind”, and so on.

It is true that most people will not wander outside their comfort zone and as a result they will never know how fast, how far, how high they can go. Remember that right outside your comfort zone there is another faster, stronger, smarter, more amazing you waiting to be discovered.

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second – William James

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The Greatest Weapon Against Stress Is Our Ability To Choose One Thought Over Another

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Stress can be a tough thing to overcome. Many of us have found ourselves allowing negative thoughts to rob us of a peaceful night of sleep. After awhile, the tossing and turning and feelings of stress and negativity continue to build. The next thing you know, it seems that you just can't get back to sleep no matter how hard you try.

While the above scenario can be extremely frustrating there are ways for us to alleviate such stress. Here's a technique I have used with great success. If I find myself tossing and turning in bed from one issue or the other I make this simple declaration to myself, “If you are not going to get out of bed and do something about the issue right now then stop thinking about it.” Sometimes I have to say this to myself several times, but it defintely works.

One effective way to stop thinking about any issues that may be causing you stress is to, as Willam James said, “choose one thought over another”. Thought substitution is a powerful method for combatting stress by replacing the negative thought that may be associated with stress.

When dealing with stress thought substitution is simply a way of distracting you mind and taking it off the negative path it has taken. You can reflect upon something pleasant such as that tranquil vacation you spent at the beach or that relaxing afternoon at the art museum.

One of the most common ways to implement thought substitution is with a change of scenery. With me, for instance, my Sunday morning walks along the river never fail to sooth and relax me. Now a walk along the river may not be your cup of tea. What change of scenery or activity would help you to relax and feel more at peace? Whatever that change of scenery of activity is take some time to enjoy it.

 

The Greatest Weapon Against Stress Is Our Ability To Choose One Thought Over Another. – William James

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It Is Our Attitude at the Beginning of a Difficult Task Which, More Than Anything Else, Will Affect Its Successful Outcome

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Keeping this quote in mind has helped me transform my attitude towards performing certain tasks that don't necessarily rank highly on my list of things I want to do. If I approach a task with reluctance and dred then I have lost the battle before it has begun. If, on the other hand, I reframe my approach then the task is not only easier to complete, but is often times enjoyable.

You can reframe your approach by making one simple change. Rather than saying to youself,

“I dred doing this” or “I have to do this” or “I sure wish I didn't have to do this”

say to yourself,

“I want to do this” or “I look forward to doing a great job”

Reframing our approach allows us to begin and complete tasks in a much more enjoyable and efficient fashion. The end results will often times be better as well. This makes perfect sense as we are more likely to do a better job of completing a task we enjoy rather than one we approach with reluctance. As an added bonus we are less likely to procrastinate when it comes to tasks that we don't dred.

 

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”

William James

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