“Change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle and best at the end.” ~Robin S.Sharma
Change takes courage…when you move away from what is familiar into unknown territory, it takes courage. When you don’t know what to expect, it takes courage. When you don’t know what the outcome will be, it takes courage. When you don’t know how the changes will impact your daily life, it takes courage. When you don’t know how the changes will impact your goals and dreams, it takes courage. It is time to tap into my inner courage and forge into the unknown.
I have been actively learning about living brave this semester in Brene Brown’s Living Brave Semester. Courage is not easy. Change is not easy. I am constantly having to remind myself to embrace courage over comfort in all aspects of my life and training.
I am actively working on changing some aspects of my daily life to master sabotaging patterns, to face the hard stuff, and to make me a more open, balanced, and a happier person.
I am also actively working on changing some aspects of my swim form, glute/hip strength, and recovery to make me a stronger and faster triathlete with fewer injuries.
Since this is the beginning, this is when change is hardest. I know it is going to get messy before the uncomfortable starts to become comfortable, but I am willing to work through the hard and messy to reap the benefits and rewards of all of the changes I am working on.
Have you took on huge, uncomfortable changes to make you a better person? athlete? If so, what advice do you have for me as I endure this process?
PushMyLimits 
The number of times I’ve taken on big, messy changes in hopes of becoming a better person/having a better life are too numerous for a single comment. The only bit of advice I can offer is understanding that all growth is going to be uncomfortable in some way, and remembering the alternative – always being comfortable, never making mistakes or feeling like a beginner – is basically stagnation, and what kind of life is that?
I find life is a lot better when I embrace that discomfort as a necessary part of becoming the person I want to be than when I go out of my way to avoid it. It doesn’t make the suck go away entirely but it does make it bearable.
Thanks for the advice Caitlin! I know change is uncomfortable and well worth it, so I just keep working through the mess.
My advice….know you are not alone! Striving to improve and breaking out of our box is definitely not easy. I just try to keep an open mind and focus on what the process can possibly bring in the long run. I have been uber focused on my swim stroke as well and just try to not discouraged when I don’t see the changes I expect.
Thanks Lee!! I am struggling with not seeing results as soon as I’d like, but know it is part of the journey patience is not one of my strengths, but this process is helping me become more patient with myself. After all, we are all a work in progress 😉
I know 100% what you mean. My commitment to the pool this winter has not paid the dividends yet that I was hoping for. I certainly will keep doing all I can to improve and try my best to not let it get me down on those tough days. Keep at it Kecia!
Thanks Lee!! I will keep moving forward through the mess. You do the same! 😉
If you don’t mind me asking… what type of sabotaging patterns do you have?
One of the things I am working on is improving my glute/hip strength. I got really mushy and weak in these areas during my pregnancy. Because of this, it affects my IT band and knees. The first thing my physical therapist did during my first few visits was give me a ton of glute strengthening exercises. Strong glutes = strong triathlete!
I am my own worst critic and a perfectionist. I often don’t let myself reach my true potential because I shame myself and/or guilt myself out of the success I was hoping to achieve (not just in training and racing, but all aspects of life).
I too am continually working on hip/glute strength, but I am also working on a faster/more efficient swim form. I need to be patient. I want to see my hard work pay off now, but it is a much slower process. The tortoise won the race, right?! I have to keep reminding myself of that! 😉
It was a relief to read the post and comments about folks not seeing results as soon as they should. I got completely derailed from not seeing the scale change few weeks ago that I really believe I had earned. Then I pushed myself too hard and got hurt-ruining any progress that I did make.
You’re working so hard Kecia-keep at it and the benefits will come.
ps. Yes, I’m going to take my own advice 😉
It is human nature to want to see immediate results when we put work into something. I am just as guilty, but I also have to remember that the tortoise won the race, not the hare 😉🐢
P.S. I’m glad your taking your own advice!!