On September 15, 2018, I was re-introduced to my worst enemy…” NEGATIVE SELF TALK”.
It has been a long time since I’ve had a feeling like that. In fact, I would even say that having rebounded so quickly, past episodes of that type, were just a blip on the radar. Although one of my biggest challenges, I was convinced that years of negative self-talk, keeping me from accomplishing my “BIG HAIRY, AUDACIOUS GOALS’ (BHAG’S) had been conquered. I pride myself on my mental fortitude and resilience.
However, on Saturday, September 15th, at the Spartan Killington, Vermont Ultra Race, my mental toughness weakened, and I was fatigued! Without a doubt, this was the single-most important factor in me not accomplishing my goals. The mountain was stronger than my mind! I was being defeated and the worst part about it, was that I said it out loud…to other people. I shared my self-talk and infected their minds with my negative language. For that I am truly sorry. I have more regret for that behavior than anything.
Normally, when the chips are down, I am the cheerleader. I was not the cheerleader on Saturday, September 15th! Fortunately, I did recover, but it was a little too late. I found my resilience. I found my mojo while carrying that heavy fucking bucket of rocks up the hill and while navigating the slippery and rugged terrain. For a long time, I really felt alive again and as much as my legs were burning, I was in my happy place. Unfortunately, the first 5 hours of negative self-talk had slowed me too much off my pace. I had become the walking dead!!
Reflecting and now fast forwarding, I am somehow HAPPY and THRILLED! I am thrilled because that experience ignited and reaffirmed my fervent belief in the POWER of the mind and positive energy.
For several weeks, I have been mulling around the idea of creating an incentive for the Fall Season Program. Now, more than ever, I am sold on it. For a few years now, I have made it a priority to ONLY SPEAK IN A POSITIVE MANNER. I don’t ignore adversity, challenges or mistakes, but INTENTIONALLY I choose to speak in a manner that will allow for redemption, recovery and victory. A quick example: For too long on the mountain, I was saying things like "this mountain is defeating me", but when I regrouped and found my mojo, I decided to say, "I’m getting stronger!" This is absolutely a true statement, because I know from experience, that pushing myself through things like this makes me stronger, and not just over time, but in that EXACT moment. When I kept repeating "I get stronger!", I could feel my legs get lighter, my mood was uplifted, and my speed increased...dramatically! Same mountain, same muscles, new mindset. I felt like I had wings.
The Unbreakable Fitness “In-Cent-ive”.
The Set Up
By now, most, if not all of you have put some pennies in the jar. We've got 10,000 pennies in there. At the bottom of the jar, is a blank check for $100. You will also notice several other jars on the table. Each class has its own jar (5, 6 and 9AM; 6, 7 and 8PM).
The Task
The goal is to be INTENTIONAL and AWARE of the WORDS that we use in communicating with others, including the words used during self-talk. There is power in our choice of wording and I need you to feel the power of your own words. This is a gift that you already have and are not aware of it. We are going to focus on positive communications. For the next 11 weeks, all instructors will be listening. We will LISTEN INTENSELY to your language. We must hear the positive messaging for it to count. Each time we hear positive communication with others or positive self-talk, your class will receive a penny in your class jar. EVERY STATEMENT AND WORD COUNTS. At the end of class, the instructor will tell you how many pennies you earned for that hour. Once all 10,000 PENNIES, are gone, the team that has the most pennies will receive the check for $100 to deliver to the charity of their choice. Every time the pennies are gone, we will start over. My hope is that we will be able to get through this project about 6 times during the Fall Season Program.
I am convinced that this will be the program that helps people defeat that final, yet most daunting opponent…THEMSELVES!
Reward and Bonus
Not only will we be able to help ourselves, but our positive words will be a gift to share with others (your favorite charity). This is awesome. I'm excited about it, and the positive change that it will deliver not only for us individually, but for us as a team and for the many others in whom lives we can influence! Sharing our gift with others is the way of THE UNBREAKABLE. WE ALL GET STRONGER!
It has been a long time since I’ve had a feeling like that. In fact, I would even say that having rebounded so quickly, past episodes of that type, were just a blip on the radar. Although one of my biggest challenges, I was convinced that years of negative self-talk, keeping me from accomplishing my “BIG HAIRY, AUDACIOUS GOALS’ (BHAG’S) had been conquered. I pride myself on my mental fortitude and resilience.
However, on Saturday, September 15th, at the Spartan Killington, Vermont Ultra Race, my mental toughness weakened, and I was fatigued! Without a doubt, this was the single-most important factor in me not accomplishing my goals. The mountain was stronger than my mind! I was being defeated and the worst part about it, was that I said it out loud…to other people. I shared my self-talk and infected their minds with my negative language. For that I am truly sorry. I have more regret for that behavior than anything.
Normally, when the chips are down, I am the cheerleader. I was not the cheerleader on Saturday, September 15th! Fortunately, I did recover, but it was a little too late. I found my resilience. I found my mojo while carrying that heavy fucking bucket of rocks up the hill and while navigating the slippery and rugged terrain. For a long time, I really felt alive again and as much as my legs were burning, I was in my happy place. Unfortunately, the first 5 hours of negative self-talk had slowed me too much off my pace. I had become the walking dead!!
Reflecting and now fast forwarding, I am somehow HAPPY and THRILLED! I am thrilled because that experience ignited and reaffirmed my fervent belief in the POWER of the mind and positive energy.
For several weeks, I have been mulling around the idea of creating an incentive for the Fall Season Program. Now, more than ever, I am sold on it. For a few years now, I have made it a priority to ONLY SPEAK IN A POSITIVE MANNER. I don’t ignore adversity, challenges or mistakes, but INTENTIONALLY I choose to speak in a manner that will allow for redemption, recovery and victory. A quick example: For too long on the mountain, I was saying things like "this mountain is defeating me", but when I regrouped and found my mojo, I decided to say, "I’m getting stronger!" This is absolutely a true statement, because I know from experience, that pushing myself through things like this makes me stronger, and not just over time, but in that EXACT moment. When I kept repeating "I get stronger!", I could feel my legs get lighter, my mood was uplifted, and my speed increased...dramatically! Same mountain, same muscles, new mindset. I felt like I had wings.
The Unbreakable Fitness “In-Cent-ive”.
The Set Up
By now, most, if not all of you have put some pennies in the jar. We've got 10,000 pennies in there. At the bottom of the jar, is a blank check for $100. You will also notice several other jars on the table. Each class has its own jar (5, 6 and 9AM; 6, 7 and 8PM).
The Task
The goal is to be INTENTIONAL and AWARE of the WORDS that we use in communicating with others, including the words used during self-talk. There is power in our choice of wording and I need you to feel the power of your own words. This is a gift that you already have and are not aware of it. We are going to focus on positive communications. For the next 11 weeks, all instructors will be listening. We will LISTEN INTENSELY to your language. We must hear the positive messaging for it to count. Each time we hear positive communication with others or positive self-talk, your class will receive a penny in your class jar. EVERY STATEMENT AND WORD COUNTS. At the end of class, the instructor will tell you how many pennies you earned for that hour. Once all 10,000 PENNIES, are gone, the team that has the most pennies will receive the check for $100 to deliver to the charity of their choice. Every time the pennies are gone, we will start over. My hope is that we will be able to get through this project about 6 times during the Fall Season Program.
I am convinced that this will be the program that helps people defeat that final, yet most daunting opponent…THEMSELVES!
Reward and Bonus
Not only will we be able to help ourselves, but our positive words will be a gift to share with others (your favorite charity). This is awesome. I'm excited about it, and the positive change that it will deliver not only for us individually, but for us as a team and for the many others in whom lives we can influence! Sharing our gift with others is the way of THE UNBREAKABLE. WE ALL GET STRONGER!
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