Last week on Instagram, I shared a short post about how we can start somewhere small. I spoke briefly about how I never used to ever see myself as athletic (but now do), and how you can empower yourself based on my experience. Here’s how to just get started.
That was then: I was super UNathletic
When I say I never used to see myself as athletic, I mean it, in a big way. I used to have zero trust in my body. I hated phys ed my whole childhood. I had no cardio ability to speak of. I wasn’t physically strong, flexible, or mobile.
Well into adulthood, the thought of doing anything remotely physical was intimidating and terrifying.
This is now
These days, I consider myself athletic.
In fact, I’m currently training to run a half marathon in February (yes, in Canada). And ideally, I am longer-term training for a duathlon.
How on earth did I bridge that divide?
NOT ALL AT ONCE! In fact, I did not even anticipate that I would ever be athletic.
So what happened?
I just went with the next thing that I was brave enough to try, just a little, and continued to explore things that made me feel genuinely good – mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Malumir Logan, acornandburdock.ca
For example, 15 years ago, I joined a gym and started using the weight machines four times a week. I saw a difference in how I looked and how I felt. I noticed that I didn’t enjoy the cardio machines. Did that mean I threw out the entire gym experience? No! It meant that I didn’t spend time doing something that didn’t resonate with me, and I did spend time on the weight machines that worked better for me at that time.
The first time I went to a spin class, I was entirely intimidated, and I only went because someone I knew was coming with me. It was not even a good first class! I didn’t understand the instructions, and I didn’t resonate with the instructor. But there was something about that movement that I liked. So I went back by myself later that week. And then I reached the point of doing 7 – 10 spin classes a week!
I used to hate running. And now I’ve recently run a marathon relay (a quarter of a marathon), multiple 10k runs and am into my second virtual run program (by Kardia Athletica). And it feels great. Physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
What’s the point of all this?
Try out new things that intrigue you.
Just experiment and explore, just a little.
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it again. But you can follow the feeling of “yes!” and follow your curiosity. Because you never know where it might take you.
And what if it takes you somewhere awesome that you never even dreamt was possible?
So, start small. And have fun with it! I look forward to hearing your stories about starting small with something.
Blessings and empowerment to you.