Whether it’s injury, age, health concerns, over-training, lack of motivation, or life – these are all instigators of declining human performance. For the former athlete or healthy human, few things are more frustrating, maddening and depressing than knowing their potential and failing to reach it.
The past two years have been a struggle for me – for all of us. Between the pandemic, the business rollercoaster, personal commitments, a growing family, and caring for a son with a fatal genetic disease, my training has been less than desirable.
As a result, finding the motivation and even discipline has been HARD. I’ve taken breaks, I’ve quit, I’ve used alcohol and less than optimal food to cope more than I care to admit. Each time I restart the “fitness journey”, I walk away thinking the same thing:
I suck. Now what?
How do you get through the training and the lack-luster-performance blues? Mental rehabilitation is sometimes harder than physical.
Losing your ability to perform or even move without struggle is tough; losing your community is tougher. Finding a replacement to the dopamine high you got from training or working out is critical to keeping your head in the game and feeling human again.
Feeling good outside of the gym is a stepping stone to recovery. But how do we get it back? What gets us back to the “old me”? I have to say now is a perfect time to try a new activity, exercise with no expectations, focus on what you can control, talk with friends, volunteer. The most important thing you can do for yourself right now is to reassess your goals. Don’t put pressure on yourself to perform today. Just do what it takes to move. Take a step back, turn off your watch and leave it at home. When and if you decide to return to your old fitness regimen, reintegrate slowly and cautiously.
One of my mentors, John Welbourn, says, “Training is like moving a big-ass-pile of dirt. Some days you get a shovel, some days you get a spoon. Move the dirt!”
As humans, we are constantly striving to grow and better ourselves. Sometimes just getting out there and moving some dirt is just another stepping stone in our journey.
Inspiration provided by Joanne Cogle at ,theaggressivelyaverageathlete.com.
,https://www.theaggressivelyaverageathlete.com/post/i-suck-now-what