Courage and the 'Critical Moment'
I recently had the privilege of doing a podcast interview with RunnersConnect's "Run to the Top" weekly program covering a wide variety of questions on overcoming mental barriers in running. This is a topic I love discussing because the longer I run and work in the field of sport psychology, the more I feel comfortable discussing this topic and it does seem to be helpful for others to apply to their own running and lives.
Some feedback and questions I've gotten since center a lot around the 'critical moment' in a race, hard workout, etc and I wanted to address some of this here and try and apply it to a larger scope beyond the road or track. This post kind of springs off of my previous; I guess I'm on a "moments" kick-who knows?
Anyhow....So, for starters, I'll explain what I refer to as the 'critical moment' before we get into everything. My definition simply is simply this: it's one that moment in a race, workout, exam, project, discussion, whatever, where we have to decide to push through the discomfort and challenge and excel-or choose to back down and return to our sense of perceived safety. It's taking that risk and talking to that person at a party, it's letting go or what others think of you and letting who you really are shine. It's embracing vulnerability. It's saying "yes" instead of your usual "no"-to others, but more importantly, to ourselves.
Often, this one moment or series of moments are brief and we must decide which avenue to take rather quickly and leads to either feelings of success and accomplishment or feelings of mediocrity or disappointment if we don't mind the moment properly. I think a lot of what drives our decision to push past discomfort and get outside of our comfort zone is courage. It takes guts and grit to test our boundaries and self-imposed walls.
The problem is, getting this right is difficult for a lot of us, and I count myself as one who finds this challenging. Humans are wired for self-preservation by nature, and preserving our egos in today's world is the new 'survival', since last time I checked I haven't stared down any bears or tigers lately...
So if by nature, people struggle with being comfortable being uncomfortable, what can we do to move the needle in our lives the other way? I think it depends on the situation and what we're dealing with.
For instance, I participated in a small road race yesterday. One objective I had, since I wasn't rested and the course wasn't conducive to really running a fast time-was to say 'yes' when my legs and mind tell me 'no'. I think preparing for being uncomfortable, whether you have your running or dress shoes on before entering a situation is a good starting point. We need to actually accept over denying that what we are about to do is going to be difficult at some point.
Next, we practice this. Yes, we have to practice managing a critical moment and being ready to deal. At least I do. I try and apply this to speaking in public or working with groups; I tend to overthink my delivery and whether whom I'm working with is into what I'm discussing. A couple weeks ago, I had was at a juncture where I had to go with my instinct and take some risks or play it safe with yet another 'safe' (for my ego) activity. I minded the critical moment and took the former, and this was perhaps one of my best, most enjoyable workshops to date. And I learned that I have the ability to let go in the moment and it was awesome. I went in telling myself I was good at my job and willing to go where I needed to to be most effective.
Grit and growth. Critical moments create both. As Penn researcher Angela Duckworth discusses, "a growth mindset separates those who experience success and those who don't". So if we want to be more courageous, we must do courageous things. Simple, huh?! I suggest we start small, pay attention to those things where we have the opportunity to go for more, to go to those places we usually aren't willing to-regardless of if the situation is personal, professional, or athletic. We won't always get it right, but hey, isn't that where growth comes from anyway?
So whatever this looks like for you, I challenge us all to push past our uncomfortable moments and see what's on the other side. If nothing else, we emerge wiser and a little braver. What is safety if we stay in the same place all the time? Something to think about.
Some feedback and questions I've gotten since center a lot around the 'critical moment' in a race, hard workout, etc and I wanted to address some of this here and try and apply it to a larger scope beyond the road or track. This post kind of springs off of my previous; I guess I'm on a "moments" kick-who knows?
Anyhow....So, for starters, I'll explain what I refer to as the 'critical moment' before we get into everything. My definition simply is simply this: it's one that moment in a race, workout, exam, project, discussion, whatever, where we have to decide to push through the discomfort and challenge and excel-or choose to back down and return to our sense of perceived safety. It's taking that risk and talking to that person at a party, it's letting go or what others think of you and letting who you really are shine. It's embracing vulnerability. It's saying "yes" instead of your usual "no"-to others, but more importantly, to ourselves.
Often, this one moment or series of moments are brief and we must decide which avenue to take rather quickly and leads to either feelings of success and accomplishment or feelings of mediocrity or disappointment if we don't mind the moment properly. I think a lot of what drives our decision to push past discomfort and get outside of our comfort zone is courage. It takes guts and grit to test our boundaries and self-imposed walls.
The problem is, getting this right is difficult for a lot of us, and I count myself as one who finds this challenging. Humans are wired for self-preservation by nature, and preserving our egos in today's world is the new 'survival', since last time I checked I haven't stared down any bears or tigers lately...
So if by nature, people struggle with being comfortable being uncomfortable, what can we do to move the needle in our lives the other way? I think it depends on the situation and what we're dealing with.
For instance, I participated in a small road race yesterday. One objective I had, since I wasn't rested and the course wasn't conducive to really running a fast time-was to say 'yes' when my legs and mind tell me 'no'. I think preparing for being uncomfortable, whether you have your running or dress shoes on before entering a situation is a good starting point. We need to actually accept over denying that what we are about to do is going to be difficult at some point.
Next, we practice this. Yes, we have to practice managing a critical moment and being ready to deal. At least I do. I try and apply this to speaking in public or working with groups; I tend to overthink my delivery and whether whom I'm working with is into what I'm discussing. A couple weeks ago, I had was at a juncture where I had to go with my instinct and take some risks or play it safe with yet another 'safe' (for my ego) activity. I minded the critical moment and took the former, and this was perhaps one of my best, most enjoyable workshops to date. And I learned that I have the ability to let go in the moment and it was awesome. I went in telling myself I was good at my job and willing to go where I needed to to be most effective.
Grit and growth. Critical moments create both. As Penn researcher Angela Duckworth discusses, "a growth mindset separates those who experience success and those who don't". So if we want to be more courageous, we must do courageous things. Simple, huh?! I suggest we start small, pay attention to those things where we have the opportunity to go for more, to go to those places we usually aren't willing to-regardless of if the situation is personal, professional, or athletic. We won't always get it right, but hey, isn't that where growth comes from anyway?
So whatever this looks like for you, I challenge us all to push past our uncomfortable moments and see what's on the other side. If nothing else, we emerge wiser and a little braver. What is safety if we stay in the same place all the time? Something to think about.
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