Six world marathon majors, smiles and consistent performance.
The first quarter of 2015 is almost here. Now is the perfect time to assess your progress. How are you doing on those New Year’s goals? Are you on track?
I hope your passion and focus on those goals are keeping you on track. But, if not, it is not too late to make adjustments and get back on track. Here are some tips, ideas and inspiration that I hope help to keep you moving forward.
In 2009, I started the amazing journey of running the six world marathon majors, a series of the largest and most renowned races: Boston, New York, London, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo.
As a result of persistence, support and smiles, on Feb. 22, I proudly joined a small group of runners from around the world that have completed this journey.
People ask me which one of these six marathons I enjoyed most and I loved them all.
Yes, I loved running each of those 26.2 miles and they were all beautifully unique and with one constant — no shortage of smiles from the sidelines.
The smiles from volunteers and supporters provided all the runners with a boost of cheer and energy to continue moving forward to the finish line.
The same holds true for our interactions with colleagues, clients and staff. A simple smile can brighten someone’s day, help them achieve a goal or successfully finish a challenging task. I encourage you to share your smiles with gusto.
People also ask me how I was able to complete this journey with my busy schedule as an immigration attorney and involvement in The Jacksonville Bar Association and community.
It is not easy to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle when we have many demands on our time and attention. It takes persistence, focus, inspiration and dedication. But, the rewards are worth it.
What is keeping you focused on your goals? What is pulling you forward? I invite you to review your New Year’s goals and the simple tips below to keep you moving forward on your fitness and/or other goals.
Set, commit and visualize your goal: Begin with a small goal; think about it and visualize it; schedule and commit to a weekly goal review; and make adjustments as needed. By looking at and visualizing achieving your goal you train your mind to help you achieve success.
Say no to low-priority activities that interfere with your goal: This will mean saying no to a few happy hours, parties and other events.
Start your day with a simple and short exercise routine: A 15-minute walk, stretching, yoga or core routine (ideally outside) will improve your mental and physical health and energize your day. If you are not a morning person, find out what works for you and stick to it.
Get prepared the night before: Set aside 10 minutes every night before going to bed to set out your workout clothes, check the weather and plan for your breakfast and morning workout. I many times get up and do not feel like working out, but at the end of the day, I am glad I did.
Resist the “monkey mind”: The monkey mind is a Buddhist term to describe the incessant chatter that goes on in our heads which distracts us from our goals. Like a restless monkey jumping from branch to branch, the mind is always on the move. Fight the monkey mind and get started on your goal for the day, the week, the year.
Schedule rewards for achieving your goal and consequences for not achieving it: For example, a reward could be a massage, a new pair of running shoes, a pedicure (yes, this goes for guys also), etc. When your goal is not accomplished, no rewards.
Expect setbacks and determine how you are going to handle them: There were times during this six-year period when I was very busy and/or injured and learned that I had to be flexible with my goals and approach the setback as an opportunity. For example, during a period I had to cut back on my running I used the extra time to learn and practice Bikram Yoga, which has become one of my favorite forms of exercise.
Let’s use our smiles and persistence to be healthier, happier and positively impact our lives and those of others. To smiles and health.