Author: CLFurlong

Running is beneficial in every aspect:

• It is beneficial for overall health; it can raise the levels of good cholesterol;
• It can boost our immune system and it can help in every way, literally.
• Running can help us lose weight. Actually running is the second most effective exercise considering burned calories per minute. First is cross-country skiing.
• It act’s as a ‘positive drug’ giving you a sweet torture to your body, followed by a joyful experience

4 Lessons You Can Adopt From Running (you should run to feel this for yourself):

You Should Never Underestimate Yourself

“It’s not who you are that holds you back. It’s who you think you’re not.” – Denis Waitley

Fauja Singh is 102 and is believed to be the world’s oldest runner. Since taking up running, aged 89, he has run nine full marathons. Singh retired from competitive races in February after completing a 10K race in Hong Kong. But he still jogs every day in east London. He talked to Nadeem Badshah about what running means to him and how he keeps himself in shape. If this amazing man can do it – so can anyone else. Running can make us self-confident and boost our self-esteem. The experience in achieving a goal is widely known. Simply by the fact that we set and achieve a goal (to run 30-35 minutes or run 6-7 miles or roughly 10km) we feel much happier and empowered.

Runners Meditation

Our brain is relieved from bad thoughts and it is forced to think on our left-right legged frequent steps. Although it feels automatic, the brain is forced to give commands to every part of our body. By the fact that it gives commands to the body and makes symphonically perfected movements, it is relieved from the aberrations accumulated from everyday life. After only a few minutes of running, the brain starts to relieve hormones that naturally improve our mood. One of them is the endorphin or so-called “feel-good” chemical.

The Accordance of Body & Mind

Imagine as the body argues with the mind that he is always the pessimist. The mind always hurts the relationship between them and the body always wins the argument. The best way to see body and soul as one is with running. It’s the balance between the physics and psyche. If we lurk a bit inside the process of running, we can conclude that by the process in the physical world, the body forces the mind to make ourselves feel good. By doing the movement of running, the body drags the mind’s attention away from the negativity and, in a positive way, forces the mind to produce feel-good chemicals.

“The Feeling”

Since we deciphered three of the codes, “the feeling” is the outcome of all three. It’s the feeling when we stop, when we stretch, eat a banana, and get a hot, steamy shower. While we are busy torturing our brain to release feel-good chemicals, we get prepared for the final feeling. I call it “the dessert”, except its not physical cake or something sweet. It’s like feeding the brain with the cake without touching a spoon.

We cannot explain how being in love feels or how being drunk feels. We can’t explain “the feeling” either, but we can give a pretty good example of how to get to it. GO RUN.

So before you can have this amazing new lifestyle you need to do two things.

1. Go through a process of SELF-DISCOVERY. It will be the best lesson you will ever learn.
2. Get a pen and paper and ask yourself a bunch of questions (listed below) and see your results.

From these, you can take a blueprint, a plan or food for thought and have something to move forward with. You can take action and actually start working towards a new lifestyle design. Make that passion happen! So let’s do this.

1. A process of self-discovery.

– original article by Isamar Avery

Sometimes we find ourselves so totally lost like you are following the path that has been designed for you, but you have no control or say, like a puppet, and still find yourself in the middle of nowhere without a map or compass to guide the way, or a mobile to call home. That is what life is: a paradoxical Bermuda Triangle. You have no one but yourself as a resource to stay afloat. (you do have God – don’t ever doubt it or him. Want more info on God? You can ask me about that anytime)

We spend the best years of our lives going to school to learn how to be something. After learning that something we go into a life long career to pay a mortgage or to be a cog in a machine, with a big dream to one day hit it big…. but with no plan on how you will. In the real world, books won’t lead you out of the woods. You can’t look for answers in the dictionary, and a map will never lead you where you ought to go. They can guide you but the answer comes down to the discovery of the self and how it is the most valuable lesson you were never taught.

Here are 8 Self’s you need to get to know: (read full article here)

• Self-taught

• Self-aware

• Self-drive

• Self-worth

• Self-realization

• Self-trust

• Self-hate

• Self-love

2. #askyourself

Finding your passion is never an easy process – but one way and a way which reveals the most is through pen and paper and your mind. So go grab some paper and write down these questions and get your mind in the right place for this process.

1. Make a list of things that you are good at. Skills and strengths. For example, are you good at sports? List the sports you’re good at. Other examples: reading, writing, filing paperwork, algebra, running, driving, caring for animals, etc. List any and all skills that you have.
2. Make a list of things that you enjoy. Things that are fun for you, or that you are passionate about. Anything at all…animals, reading, playing games, exercising, celebrities, helping people, algebra, etc. List any and all things that you enjoy doing and/or are passionate about.
3. Make a list of careers that you could pursue using the things from BOTH lists. If you like animals, you could list things like “veterinarian” or “animal shelter worker”. If you are good at math, you could list things like “math teacher/tutor”, “computer science”, or “finance”. Make a list of careers that you could pursue using either your skills or your passions.
4. Now look at your first two lists and ask yourself: is there anything that you are BOTH good at AND enjoy doing? If so, you are lucky! Not everyone has a skill that they also enjoy doing. Look at where this specific activity fits into the third list you made of possible careers. Ask yourself, is this activity something that you would like to pursue as a career? It can be very enjoyable to do something you love for work.
5. If there is NOT something that you are both good at and enjoy doing, don’t worry! Many people are in this situation yet are still able to live happy fulfilling lives. You’ll just have to think a little harder about what you want your future to be like. If this is the case, here’s what to do next:
6. Choose something from your lists to try. You cannot find out what you want to do without trying some things, especially when you are young and have less experience. The more experience you have, the more you will learn about yourself, your abilities, and what you want out of life. So choose a few things and pursue them as best you can.

If you are not sure what to try, here is an answer about passions and strengths that might help you to narrow it down: How do you get to know your passion?

Still, don’t know? Have a look here: How do I discover my passion?

Want a book to read about it? –  $100 Startup: Reinvent The Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau

An Active Body

An active lifestyle enhances blood circulation throughout the body and energizes the brain to think stronger & deeper. It does not mean you have to burn sweat like insane; just a daily 20 minutes of brisk walking would be fine to keep you sharp. However, different exercises work for different people. I have found getting out for a HIIT Sprint for 2km will get my mind back on earth, refreshed and ready to rumble!

Organize The Data

Your brain loves order & it gets tougher for it to remember things if there is a severe lack of order. Thus, you must take time out to organize the needed data so that it gets easier to recall in a proper meaningful way. More complex is the subject matter, more important is the organization.

Challenge Yourself

This is one of the most important things when it comes to sharpening up your thoughts. If you are too much into playing safe & keeping the brain in comfort zone, you would soon be losing out on your mental edge. The brain gets lazy in too much of comfort and hence you have to stimulate it from time to time with new challenges. So, never be scared of plunging on the new projects or campaigns in your company. Take a growth mindset and see what you can do, see where you can go.

When you have two good options, always go with the one that scares you the most, because that’s the one that’s going to help you grow. – Unknown

Brain Exercises

There are some typical exercises that supply the needed stimulation to your brain which in turn helps to hone up your thought process. It could be solving a maze or a crossword puzzle or a game of scrabble. You can even take out your old high school math book for a practice session as math problem solving is one of the best exercises to stimulate your brain power. The main point here is to keep your brain proactive, energized and alert.

Read Well

1. He accepts failure

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something.”

2. Always try again

“…But I can’t accept not trying.”

3. Practice daily

“I set another goal…a reasonable, manageable goal that I could realistically achieve if I worked hard enough. I approached everything step by step.”

4. Take action

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

5. Enjoy the game

“Enjoy every minute of life.”

6. Let go of expectations

“If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.”

7. Be dedicated

“He didn’t miss games. He played hurt, with pain, when he was sick. He came out and performed at an intense level. I don’t think anybody ever went away disappointed after watching Michael.” – Phil Jackson

8. Be humble

“There will be a player greater than me.”

9. Stay focused on your goals

“The game has its ups and downs, but you can never lose focus of your individual goals and you can’t let yourself be beat because of lack of effort.”

10. Leave fear behind

“Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion”

1. Remind yourself of your Why! When you feel like quitting, think about why you started it in the first place.

2. Do it for your family, mates and fans. You have started your journey to doing what you love. Along the way, people are starting to follow and engage with you. You don’t want to let them down.

3. Find inspiration. Find people with the same journey and connect. Bounce ideas and do this together!

4. Stick to The One. Whenever I feel unmotivated it’s because I have too much distraction that’s going on, I lack clarity, or I am putting too much pressure on myself to deliver. Pick one goal and make it your focused priority.

5. Put on your favorite music playlist. Music does wonders!

6. Share your Goal with People. As humans, we don’t like to lose face when we’ve committed to doing something. Help them keep you accountable.

7. Shine among the Doubters. In the end, you have got to believe in yourself. And the bonus is shining among those who never believed you could.

8. Mind Your Own Business. Remove distractions and get into some scheduled time which is just for you.

In the journey to living your dream you will find:

1. It’s not always fun
2. You have to keep pushing
3. There will always be struggles
4. Sometimes you have to settle
5. It can overwhelm your life without you realizing it
6. You start to wonder if this is what you wanted the whole time
7. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you keep going and keep climbing

Based on the above – even when you get to your destination of fulfilling your dream (the top of the mountain), you should have a plan for something more… There is always a new level – a new goal, a new achievement. This life is not meant for those who want to be happy with little. No matter what – the minute you decide you are satisfied is the minute your dreams start to slow down. Look for new dreams and realize that though this is hard – it is always worth it. Remember a dream doesn’t need to be a lifestyle change. 

Firstly, you should try accepting the reality and find the goodness in the present, rather than compare your present life to an ideal life. The comparison and the ideals can cause dissatisfaction. The reality isn’t so bad if we let go of the ideas and just see the present moment as it is. If you take the time to look at any moment, even uncomfortable ones, you will find that there is a lot to be curious about, a lot to appreciate, a lot to discover and love.  I’m not suggesting you give up your ambitions and aspirations. It’s only difficult when we attach too tightly to them, and then we can become unhappy with the present. I’m suggesting you loosen the attachment to these ideas, turning to the present to appreciate it and that getting to know what’s in front of you is better.

Once you do this, and accept what’s in front of you, you reach a place of peace.

Either way, you take action towards your aspiration, but it can be either from a place of dissatisfaction (and wanting to change something crappy) … or a place of acceptance and peace and wanting to do something good for yourself (or others).  As a high level, here is how you can take action in regards to this:

1. Notice your dissatisfaction.
2. Notice your ideas that you’re holding tightly to.
3. Loosen your hold on these ideas, and turn to the present moment.
4. Really see the present moment with curiosity, find something to appreciate.
5. Accept the present moment completely, with love.
6. From this place of peace, respond, take action. It might be an aspiration, or not, but it’s a response from a good place.

How about we make today something more than the just category of good or bad. If it is bad, then why is it bad? What has defined it or limited to being bad? Get real and ask yourself what has made the day so bad that the whole of it should be discarded. Have another think, have another look and see what you can learn and possibly grow from. Just because it didn’t go your way, doesn’t mean the day should be all that bad or at least defined as it. Try finding 3 things great, positive and encouraging from each day. Before you go as far as turning your attitude sour and discarding the day. Every day has a lesson, every day has a chance to be better than what it really is. It is all about attitude, perception, and choice.

With this in mind – let’s not make today just a good day, but a day bigger, better and greater than before. You can make it so much more than it is, if only you look, work and take action in doing so. Yes, it is great to have a good day… But once again what is making it good? What is the meaning behind it and how it can that be utilized to empower another day or each day forward? Ask yourself!

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life. – Joel Osteen

You see I have a mentality of a perfectionist. I am an all or nothing kind of guy and though this will have its pro’s and con’s it creates a lifestyle in which I am always on the journey to conquer more and be more no matter what. So when change comes – this is like getting punched in the face while casually standing at a bus stop. The unexpected impact comes to a surprise and throws me off my usual, expected routine. Now the old I would have given up, however, the new I has a goal to make it happen and get my result – no matter what. Learning to adapt is a challenge in itself. 

This brings me to my real point of this blog. Being hard on yourself can take a toll – but I think it creates a lifestyle in which will create you essentially into something better. Have a look and you’ll see what people who are hard on themselves will understand:

We Spend So Much Time Trying to Perfect Things

For most people, it’s fine to simply allocate an hour or so a day to accomplishing their goals. But not for people who are tough on themselves, we spend all of our free time perfecting our goals. This is often at the cost of our social life and family commitments. Everything is forgotten about in the name of perfection.

We Become Defensive When Criticized

People who are tough on themselves struggle with criticism even if it is delivered in a gentle way. We take it to heart and store it in a special place for the next time someone criticizes us. Then we bring it back up to the surface again and remind ourselves how imperfect we are.

We Go For All or Nothing

If we think we might get full marks, or first prize we will go for something full speed ahead. But if we think that we can’t reach those high standards we simply won’t get involved at all. This is how much we dislike not winning.

We Are Highly Critical of Mistakes

For the most part, we are intolerant of our own mistakes. But we are often critical of others when they make mistakes. We see perfection as attainable and something that everyone should be aiming for. Anything less and the perfectionist doesn’t understand.

We Set Out To Be the Best at Everything We Do

We aim to be the best and not second best. We feel a sense of urgency as we work in case someone is passing us. We panic at results time if we don’t ace the exam/assignment/test and get an A. We get frustrated during a game if we don’t score enough baskets.

We Get Nervous Sometimes

Anytime we have to perform (at an interview, a presentation, on stage etc.), everything has to be perfect. We put ourselves under enormous pressure to achieve the impossible and so the nervous system caves. This can become worse over time if not addressed. (I control this now)

We Feel Humiliated When Others Perform Better

If it turns out that someone else scores higher on a test, or runs faster, or just generally performs better in a particular area of life, we feel humiliated and disappointed. After all, we worked harder than them – so if we can’t beat them now, we’ll never beat them.

We are Our Own Worst Critic

It doesn’t matter how many times somebody tells us that it’s okay, we will continue to beat ourselves up over the smallest things. If we make a mistake or do something ‘wrong’, we still berate ourselves for it long after everyone has forgotten about it. Sometimes we never forgive ourselves and this can drain our emotional resources.

We are Horrified When Exposed

When we are exposed as being imperfect (which of course everyone is in reality), we are horrified. We cover up our imperfect bodies, and we keep our substandard results to ourselves because disclosing our imperfections is just too horrifying. It’s a lot of hard work when you are hard on yourself.

We Play Things Over and Over in Our Minds

If things don’t turn out the way we hope, we play it over and over in our minds – as if thinking about it will alter the outcome. This becomes obsessional almost, can be difficult to stop and is quite destructive.

We Only Focus on The Result

We keep our eyes firmly on the prize, be it a first place or a good grade, the best outfit or the cleanest house. In the process, we forget to enjoy the journey. The value of learning is lost on us and the joy of shopping for the outfit is immaterial. It’s all about being the best at the end of the day.

We are Acutely Aware of Others

What other people think of us is of major concern to us. We want them to know that we are the best, the best-looking, the most charismatic, the best performer etc.

We aren’t Always Happy

People who are hard on themselves often suffer from depression and anxiety as they live in a world where they are in constant pursuit of the impossible. We push ourselves harder and harder to achieve something that is unattainable. Of course, this can only result in great disappointment. After some time, this kind of strain becomes too much for the human spirit and we start to break down.

But it is possible to change – to learn how to go easier on yourself. 

I have taken the steps and I still am to ensure I am making the most of the pros, the values, and the structure being hard on yourself enables. In terms of the negatives, these I have diminished or have already and if you’re like me and hard on yourself… don’t worry you will get there too.

“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.” – African Proverb

Take a moment to just dream of the things you want to aspire for. Not just the goals for next year or goals you have already accomplished, but the years ahead. What do you want your life to look like? Are you going to stick with the same? With the old? Are you going to be part of something you don’t even enjoy?

If you don’t have a dream to work for than who are you actually working for?

Is it possible to follow our passion and make a living? Ask writers from J.K. Rowling to Zadie Smith, filmmakers from Steven Spielberg to James Cameron, artists from Jeff Wall to Tracy Emin, musicians from Adele to Will.i.am, sportspeople from David Beckham to Usain Bolt. No matter what the industry is there will always be someone out there living their passion. The funny thing is, following your passion can even potentially pay much more than the traditionally esteemed jobs.

Here is a list of the top regrets of those on their death-bed:

“I wish I had lived my own life rather than how society taught me to live.”

“I wish I discovered my purpose earlier.”

“I wish I had taken more risks.”

“I wish I had taken better care of myself.”

“I wish I’d allowed myself to love.”

“I wish I had touched more lives and inspired more people.”

“I wish I had been a better partner or parent.”

Now if that list doesn’t prove why following your passion is a need, not a desire, then nothing will!

So today’s challenge is to ask yourself…

What do you want to be saying at the end?

The only thing required for a dream. Is a determined heart.

Follow your dreams, your passions and see where your heart takes you.

If you do what you love, you will always love what you do.

Why are your dreams at stake? If you are not willing to put in the time now, to invest in yourself in picking up the slack and really working to achieving your goals. How can you expect yourself to get to these dreams, if you not willing to do anything about it, let alone a subset of it?

The characteristics, the skills and the motions you learn, develop and put into action from achieving short-term goals, are all going to play a HUGE part in the long run.

Think about it. Is it worth it?

I think so.