This is a perfect read for me before I go out for a trail run. Like you, I’m in the midst of a large pivot. Entering Spartan Trail races and GoRuck events, looking for ruck clubs and other sports to try at 53. My wife affectionately refers to me as “midlife” :). Most times the thing holding us back is our own fear.
I might modify Question 1 to say, “Do I want to grow up?” I remember as a kid lying on my back at night outside looking up the stars, wanting to go there, and wondering if there was another kid somewhere looking up at the same stars on another planet, in another solar system, in another galaxy. In those days, nothing was impossible. Over time life wears us down and narrows what we think is possible. We need to be that kid again, believing anything is possible and willing to challenge our abilities.
Your lovely comment makes me think about the U-Curve of life happiness. As we age, we can come back up the other side and return to our willingness to challenge and believe in what is still possible. I will take you up on that Spartan Race. Knowing what you can carry with a trap-bar, you'll do great.
Crazy…I published a very similar post today on identity and capabilities! Your post is great, and it’s so cool to see common threads in Substack. Have a good run this morning!
James Clear writes about the power of identity in Atomic Habits, and I love his take on it: change your identity first. It's a lot easier to get up at 5:00 a.m. for that run when you identify yourself as an athlete. But this presupposes that you are flexible enough with your identities to change them. 😊
Bonus: his newsletter today had another quote that is pertinent:
A question from Nick Cammarata to inspire action:
"If I had 10x the agency I have, what would I do?"
That's a much better question in my mind than "what do I want to be when I grow up" because really frees the brain to think about what you actually want to do.
Thank you for sharing the link to Manson’s tools and tactics. This reader’s quote is particularly noteworthy- “Perfect is my kryptonite. Perfect is the enemy of done.”
This is a perfect read for me before I go out for a trail run. Like you, I’m in the midst of a large pivot. Entering Spartan Trail races and GoRuck events, looking for ruck clubs and other sports to try at 53. My wife affectionately refers to me as “midlife” :). Most times the thing holding us back is our own fear.
I like your wife already. She's funny. I'm headed out soon for a run myself. Let's get it done!
Yeah she’s pretty entertaining. Have a good run!
Great post Gwendolyn. You never cease to amaze.
I might modify Question 1 to say, “Do I want to grow up?” I remember as a kid lying on my back at night outside looking up the stars, wanting to go there, and wondering if there was another kid somewhere looking up at the same stars on another planet, in another solar system, in another galaxy. In those days, nothing was impossible. Over time life wears us down and narrows what we think is possible. We need to be that kid again, believing anything is possible and willing to challenge our abilities.
Now about that Spartan race.
Your lovely comment makes me think about the U-Curve of life happiness. As we age, we can come back up the other side and return to our willingness to challenge and believe in what is still possible. I will take you up on that Spartan Race. Knowing what you can carry with a trap-bar, you'll do great.
My identity says I don’t do Spartan Races ‘cause I’m too old and it’s too late to start.
OK, Gwendolyn how do you suggest someone gets started? Looks like Colorado Springs or Montana are reasonably close and give me time to prepare?
Reference the Spartan race, I need to find that kid to show me how to climb the rope.
The opening to this article was amazing and the rest of the article was even better!
Thanks Kyle! Continuing to enjoy your stuff over at Resilient Mental State.
Gwendolyn, you and Kyle are changing my life or killing me. I’m still exploring which.
😂
Crazy…I published a very similar post today on identity and capabilities! Your post is great, and it’s so cool to see common threads in Substack. Have a good run this morning!
Thank you. I checked out your post. Well done.
James Clear writes about the power of identity in Atomic Habits, and I love his take on it: change your identity first. It's a lot easier to get up at 5:00 a.m. for that run when you identify yourself as an athlete. But this presupposes that you are flexible enough with your identities to change them. 😊
Bonus: his newsletter today had another quote that is pertinent:
A question from Nick Cammarata to inspire action:
"If I had 10x the agency I have, what would I do?"
That's a much better question in my mind than "what do I want to be when I grow up" because really frees the brain to think about what you actually want to do.
Cool - I like the 10x agency idea too. Even 2x agency is a good thought-starter. See you on the course I hope this year.
I love this, Wendy!
Thank you for sharing the link to Manson’s tools and tactics. This reader’s quote is particularly noteworthy- “Perfect is my kryptonite. Perfect is the enemy of done.”