With the weather taking a turn for the worse and the rail strikes affecting many people and businesses, it’s easy to be a bit down about things. Cold, wet, stuck in traffic or spending hours commuting can certainly knock, even the most resilient person.
Before you know it though, something else will be front page news, and the pain will be forgotten. The ability to change our focus is brilliant, especially when things are tough.
Having completed a few Ironman triathlons I think that ‘mental toughness’ is an element required to do this event, but for me, it is having the ability to focus on something else, and be around great people, gets me through to the end.
Sometimes, I focus on what I have completed rather than the stuff to be completed, especially when doing an event! It works for me to break things down think about things in a positive way. On my last triathlon, at 15 miles into the run, I was in pain with blisters getting bigger and bigger, with every step, and it would have been so easy to just sit down and stop. (It did, briefly, cross my mind)
I could have spent loads of time thinking about how painful the rest of the run would be, but instead, I just thought “Over halfway, on my way home” I thought how I would feel having finished and could see myself running down the final straight with the crowds cheering, getting my finishers medal. I also had my mate encouraging me to keep going and pushing me along.
That got me to the finish line.
I watched a video the other day called Froning: The Fittest Man In History. This documentary is about a Rich Froning and his journey to become the CrossFit World Champion. His ability to focus on what needs to be done to win, is amazing and I found it an inspirational watch.
Click here for a 2 minute trailer and, if that makes you wanting more, go to Netflix and watch the 30 minute version. It takes things to another level of inspiration, for me!
Rich, and the people he competes against, certainly have a winning mindset and a ‘can do attitude’ that gets them through some amazing challenges. It must be so positive to be around them and their energy is contagious and spreads to everyone near them.
That type of environment that can be created in work, if you have the right people around you. I’m not talking about The Wolf of Wall Street but something that is inspirational to be a part of / involved with and feels great, every day.
By changing our focus we can create a positive environment and, before you know it, positive things start to happen, more and more. Being around positive people is really important to me and I limit my time with ‘energy sappers’ – it’s the only way I can focus on the good stuff and really enjoy life.
How is your environment and where is your focus? What could you do, that would inspire others to achieve great things and overcome some amazing challenges?