Many have said, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.”
But what happens when you find yourself doing both at the same time?
If you’ve been living on this planet for any length of time, you’ve figured out life is a long game made of day-to-day sprints.
If you want a big bank balance, you make small deposits over time.
If you want to lose weight, you make small reductions over time.
If you want to get a promotion at your job, you do well every day.
The challenge happens when you have not defined the marathon you are running. A lack of a specific goal can only lead to daily activity that may or may not get you to your destination. If that is happening to you, you may feel worn out, frustrated, and wondering when things will turn around.
There’s good news. That kind of thinking means that you are on the right track to success.
Certain stamina is required to reach any goal. And society today celebrates your ability to put in the hard work no matter what.
There’s only one problem.
If it’s not working for you, it’s not sustainable behavior. Sooner or later, you will decide to make a change – usually abruptly.
Here’s the truth; you will change when you wear yourself out.
Reluctant, fearful, or hard-headed, you will only put up with a less than satisfying path in life for only so long. Eventually, when you wear yourself out.
When you’ve had enough, even if the timing is not perfect, you will change when you wear yourself out.
You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it.
So, what’s the fix?
The marathon we call life will continue until it doesn’t, and there are three things you can do to make it better.
The first is to define your destination with clarity.
Next, match your daily activity with your goals.
Finally, accept that if things don’t go your way, you’re going to change directions anyway.
You will change when you wear yourself out.
You may well skip the bad stuff, make an adjustment, and get to the good stuff right now. There’s no need to wait.