(Estimated reading time 3 minutes)

This morning’s Bootcamp was brutal. If I’m honest, it wasn’t that the exercises were harder than usual. They are always tough. That’s why Jeff Boris of Trainers Den calls it Bootcamp. This morning was different because of what was happening inside my head. I didn’t feel like being there. I was tired. A cup of tea in bed sounded much more appealing. My body was at Trainers Den but my head … not so much. My mindset made me feel like I was trying to do the exercises carrying a 100 lbs on my back. Ordinarily challenging, the workout felt impossibly hard.

At a recent social engagement, I had similar feelings. I really didn’t feel like going, and somehow the not feeling like it turned into being somewhat overwhelmed and insecure at the thought of making conversation with people I didn’t really know. What was easy earlier on in the day or a few days before suddenly felt hard.

I think it’s okay to skip something on occasion, but this was not one of those times. Both of these choices were about giving time and energy to something that matters in my life.

In each of these examples, I was doing something that had previously felt straightforward, and yet I noticed that on this occasion both situations felt overwhelming and burdensome. The ease or difficulty of the task ahead seemed in large part to be determined inside my head before I even began. When I focused on how challenging it was, how much I didn’t want to do it, what lay ahead seemed to grow to unmanageable proportions while my own abilities seemed to shrink in front of me.

What I know for sure is that I don’t want to be someone who lives from a place of weakness, insecurity and fear. The hope and potential feel like they are draining out of me when I make choices based on these things. Worry and self-doubt form the foundation of a house that is too small to live in.

I want to live courageously. I want to grow my capacity – spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically – so that I am better ten years from now than I am today. I want to develop the strength to do what is significant not just what is comfortable. I wish that I had reminded myself of these things earlier on in the week – it would have made my activities much less daunting!

Remembering what you value, and why something is important will smooth the path to decision making, taking action and determining whether something has a place in your life.

As a coach, I am trained to help others figure out what is important at their core. I’d love to help you build this framework so that your decisions and your life flow from what matters to you the most.

If you’re interested in finding out more about working with me, you can connect with me here.