I recently adopted running as a way to build endurance. I’ve always had natural stamina but my endurance has faded over the years.
I’ll be honest, I don’t like running. Never have and probably never will. That doesn’t stop me from running, though. I’ll do it because it gives me the progress I want endurance-wise.
Do you know what I always dread? The first few minutes of running. They feel unnatural. My bones creak. I admit, the thought of turning around and skipping the run always crosses my mind. I’d use any excuse to do so.
Over the last couple of months, I’ve learned something from those first few minutes. After they pass, a rhythm emerges and suddenly life isn’t all that bad. Oxygen starts pumping through my body. My blood starts flowing. My muscles get warmer. My strides get easier.
I’m 98% sure you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s that moment where your mind drifts and you forget you’re running. It starts to think about the weather, your to-do list, or introspective thoughts.
The thing about running is that the more you do it, the more you learn to navigate those first dreadful minutes. You eventually accept the early minutes of strain as part of the process. You learn to shake hands with them because they promise comfortable strides of progress.
But here’s the thing… Aren’t most things like that?
Shake Hands With That Part of the Process
When you go swimming, the first dip is always the coldest. Eventually, you get used to the water and even enjoy it.
When you start a job, you’ll feel nervous and feel like you’re always underperforming. Eventually, you’ll earn your paycheck with confidence.
When you sit down to write, to read, to meditate, you might find yourself scattered-brain. Eventually, you get into your flow.
The early minutes of strain are always the same. It’s part of the process of anything you set out to achieve. It’s natural and necessary. It’s also called warming-up.
If we widen the lens, you’ll notice the same is true of any long-term goal worth accomplishing. You won’t know all the answers. You won’t know where to begin. Everything will feel unnatural. You might feel rusty. Consider it all your warm-up.
Have faith in the rhythm you’ll eventually get into. For bigger projects and goals, it might take you days or months. Nevertheless, comfortable strides of progress will come. You’ll have to survive the warm-up phase, though. And to survive that, you need to at least start.
Trust the process. Survive the strain. Find your groove.