Mindfulness | Relationships
Stop Chasing A Moving Goal Post
Be In the Moment
Years ago I decided to start running.
I hated it. Most of the run was spent thinking about the end. When would I get there? How much longer did I have to go before I could stop this awful thing that hurt so much?
I asked a good friend, who was a runner, for their advice.
He told me to change how I thought about running. Instead of focusing on the end, I should focus on each step as I was taking it. One step at a time, I would eventually reach my goal.
It completely changed my experience.
I don’t know about you, but right now I’ve slipped into the bad habit of focusing on the end goal. We talk about it all the time.
- When we beat this virus.
- When we have a vaccination.
- When the lockdown ends.
- When we will be able to get back to normal.
- When we will be able to see our friends and families again.
- When we can hug people again.
The problem with this way of thinking is we are living in the future, not the present.
And they keep moving the goalposts, so it’s even more frustrating.
So, I’ve changed my focus.
I’ve decided to think like a marathon runner.
Focus on the step you are taking right now.
My good friend Joe Luca talks about the concept of being in the moment in this excellent article.
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