(Estimated reading time 2 minutes)

A few weeks back I decided it was time to get in shape physically. To be honest, the past six months I’ve had my focus elsewhere. The extent of my exercise has been walking the dogs. Walking is good, but I decided it was time to up my game. I signed up for Bootcamp. If I was looking for more, I certainly got it! It’s an intense workout. I must admit to feeling a bit wobbly following these Bootcamp sessions. As we were hurling thirty pounds of slam ball in one of our workouts, one of the long-time participants said, “This never gets any easier!” She’s right. I’ve worked out with this trainer before. It never gets easier. What does get quicker, in my experience, is the recovery time.
Easier recovery time is not only for exercise.
This morning I was trying to get ready to go to Toronto for my third coaches training workshop. I woke up early to put the laundry away, pack, make a list of things for the boys to remember while I’m gone, walk the dogs, clean up the kitchen and write a blog. Departure time 10 am. Do-able? You’re right…probably not. One thing I’ve learned about myself is that I often overestimate how much I can achieve in a day … or a couple of hours. Trying to do too much in too little time is frustrating and stressful. All in all, it was not a good couple of hours. I recognized the manic list-making, have-it-all-as-close-to-perfect-before-I leave attitude. There is no joy in that place.
It’s hard to see what’s going on when you are in the middle of perfectionism. Caught in the swirl, I rush from one task to the next, no sense of getting to the end because perfectionism always moves the finish line. As I exercise the part of my brain that recognizes perfectionism, it gets easier to spot. Once I see it, it is easier to stop, breathe, recover and return to normal.

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t. Rikki Rogers