Ten Secrets to a Successful Running Life – Secret Number Two – Align with your life purpose.
Last week in secret number one you committed to take responsibility for your own self. You committed not to abdicate this responsibility or to blame others. You made a decision to take control of the things you can control. How does that feel?
This week I want to talk about purpose. If you are going to be a successful runner, or a successful anything for that matter, you need to understand and internalize how your running aligns with your life purpose. More succinctly; how does this activity fit into the bigger picture?
If have interviewed folks who have done impressive things, like run across the country, or beat a illness. At some point in their journey they will have a moment where they are at risk of quitting, of losing everything. The thing that keeps them going is their higher purpose.
For some it may be as simple as a belief in God. For others it is a responsibility to others. It is a commitment that they have made and internalized that is bigger than losing a few pounds or getting into shape. You have all heard it their voices. Something like, I would have quit but I thought of the orphans, and I couldn’t let them down.
The question you need to answer as you embrace a lifetime of getting up and sweating at your chosen vocation is how does this thing, this activity fit into your life’s purpose. It doesn’t have to be grandiose. Some I have heard are, “I want to be around for my kids” or “I want to set a good example for my family” or simply “I add more value to my role in the world when I’m mentally and physically healthy.”
Align with your endurance life style with your life goals, your passions, your bigger picture, your major purpose.
You need Desire. Napoleon Hill said “Desire is the starting point of all achievement” Desire drives action. What do you really want? Do you want to have control of your life? Do you want to be all you can be in serving your community, your family, your God?
Abstract it. Make your running a manifestation of your core desires. This is where you create that emotional and feeling that will get you through.
How can you create or find that desire? How can you align it with your core purpose and passion? You have to have a pruoseful life. You don’t need to know all the answers or even half the answers but you need to know, at your core, what make your life happy and worthwhile and how this thing we do fits into it.
Your homework this week is to write down what is important to you. Is is family? Is it service? Is it helping others? Is it simply joy and health? Is it adventure? Is it the ability to play tag with your kids or hike a mountain with your grand kids? Write those things down. Make a list. So that when that time comes, and you are challenged deeply, you can remember why you are doing it and keep on keeping on.
Chris Russell lives and trains in suburban Massachusetts with his family and Border collie Buddy. Chris is the author of “The Mid-Packer’s Lament”, and “The Mid-Packer’s Guide to the Galaxy”, short stories on running, racing, and the human comedy of the mid-pack. Chris writes the Runnerati Blog at www.runnerati.com. Chris’ Podcast, RunRunLive is available on iTunes and at www.runrunlive.com. Chris also writes for CoolRunning.com (Active.com) and is a member of the Squannacook River Runners and the Goon Squad.
Email me at cyktrussell at Gmail dot com
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