Hurdles

This week as I was walking my 1 Intentional Mile on a rainy day, I started thinking about hurdles. (If you didn’t catch the other post about my daily 1 Intentional Mile, read here.)

Visualize.

Imagine you are at the starting line for a running race. You are a sprinter and are a pro at jumping hurdles. You look in front of you and see all the hurdles in your path. The race starts and you are off! Expertly jumping over the hurdles that you know are there, because you planned for them, trained for it, and know how to navigate. But then suddenly, the hurdles vanish in front of you. You have a straight path to the finish line, with nothing in your way.  Even though you were prepared for anything you had planned for in your path, you decided to remove the challenges you had added to your path, and you glide gracefully to the finish line. Doesn’t that feel amazing?

Placing hurdles in my own path.

Walking in the rain, I realized that I am the number one hurdle in my path in most scenarios. With my intentional mile for example, I used to look at the weather and think, “Well, it’s raining today, guess I won’t get my walk in.” And I wouldn’t go. Mind you, I have all the gear necessary to walk in the rain. I have waterproof boots and a rain jacket. But I would get in my own way, placing a “hurdle” in my own path. If I truly wanted to walk, I could find a way. I just need to find a way over, under, or around the hurdle.  

Navigating hurdles.

Remember, I am talking about things within my control. Sometimes we get sick or have to prioritize other hurdles that life throws at us. But think right now about the things within your control. In the visualization exercise above, the hurdles suddenly disappear. While that would be incredible, often times it is more the scenario of walking in the rain. The weather is the hurdle placed in my path. I can’t control the weather, but I can control how my reaction to the weather. I know the goal is to walk 1 mile. If I begin with the end in mind (anyone else love 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?), I can chart my plan to get there. I can get my rain gear. I can go to my local gym. I can do it. I just have to see the hurdles, and find a way to navigate them.

Journal Prompts:

• Where am I placing hurdles in my own path?
• What can I do to remove or navigate the hurdles I placed there?