Permission to break your programming

I grew up in a competitive family.

We all ran.

Early on, I understood the options:

Run faster. Run farther.

Slowing down was weak.

Walking was failure.

It wasn’t until much later in life that I let this programming go.

I was out for a run in the 90s (the degrees, not the decade) and was feeling miserable.

Hurting.

The voice in my head was relentless:

“Keep running. You’re not allowed to stop.”

Then another voice appeared that was kinder.

Quieter.

One that had been growing stronger over the years:

“You can walk.”

…so I did.

Giving myself permission to back off…to rest, did not make me a failure.

I was still the same person. The only difference was that I claimed the power to make healthier choices for myself.

Mentally, physically, and spiritually, this was a turning point.

It was okay to slow down.

At least on my runs…

Lately, I’ve been on the go both physically and emotionally and I’m feeling the effects.

I’ve noticed the relentless voice resurfacing; beating like a drum.

I need rest. “Faster. Farther.”

I’m overwhelmed. “Faster. Farther”

I can’t keep this up. “Faster. Farther.”

Instead of listening to that harsh voice, I’m willing to let the lesson from my past echo in my present:

It’s okay to slow down.

How about you?

Where might you need rest?

Listen closely…

This might be the turning point you’ve been waiting for.