Finding Your WHY: The Power of Running for Something Bigger than Yourself
As runners, we have a tendency to get caught up in numbers– pace, time, always striving to get that PR…
Of course we’re trying to improve these things and there’s nothing wrong with that! But sometimes our results become stagnant and progress seems to “plateau.”
When race days feel more like failures, or the goals you've been chasing become frustratingly difficult, it’s easy to give up.
But that’s where finding your WHY can make all the difference!
Transcend Your "Self"
I recently revisited a book I find really interesting called “Peak Performance” by Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg.
The goal of this book is to help you “elevate your game, avoid burnout, and thrive with the new science of success” – I highly recommend it to anyone trying to improve performance in any setting, whether it’s athletic, artistic, scientific, or anything in the realm of your career!
One particular chapter in this book, Transcend Your "Self,” always stands out to me.
The basic idea is that we can tap into a deeper level of motivation when we connect what we're doing to something BIGGER than ourselves.
Instead of focusing entirely on your own performance, discomfort, or results, your attention should shift towards a greater purpose.
Magness and Stuhlburg interviewed a college professor that discovered this theory of focusing on a “self-transcending purpose, or a purpose greater than self, allows people to become capable of more than they could ever imagine.
The professor believes that this idea of self-transcending purpose is due to the fact that “when we concentrate deeply on something beyond ourselves, our ego is minimized…When we transcend our ‘self’ and minimize our ego, however, we can overcome the fears, anxieties, and physiological protective mechanisms that so often hold us back from achieving major breakthroughs.”
And since we’re in the thick of cross country season right now, I thought about this in terms of running for a team–
Imagine that you’re deep in the well during a cross country race and you have no goal in mind other than crossing the finish line or running your own personal best– You’re probably going to throw in the towel or slow down a lot quicker than that “fifth” runner (the one that counts the most) on a team who’s fighting for every place to help their teammates earn a qualifying spot for the State meet.
It’s the same reason why athletes tend to split faster times in the 4x400m relay than in an open 400m race.
You could be representing your team, honoring someone who has supported you, racing to inspire your kids or showing others what's possible when you refuse to give up…
That goal of hitting a personal best is still there, but the reason behind it changes.
When a workout gets uncomfortable or the final stretch of a race feels impossible, having a meaningful reason to keep going can provide something to inspire you beyond your own desire for a better result.
The same principle can apply outside of running too– we often show up differently when someone else is counting on us.
Removing the focus from yourself can give you an edge when performing!
How to Find Your WHY
For some people, it's their family. For others, it's their teammates, their community, or the desire to set an example for someone who is watching.
For me personally, my faith is the center of my “why.” I aim to use the abilities/gifts God gave me to honor Him through my effort and glorify Him through my performance.
Your “why” is completely unique to you and it may even change throughout different seasons of life!
Your reason for showing up should mean more to you beyond the results.
Put It Into Practice
You absolutely don’t need to abandon your goals or stop caring about the results. Just work on giving those goals a deeper meaning!
Because at the end of the day, a PR is exciting, a championship is rewarding, and achieving a big goal you’ve worked towards feels incredible, but those moments unfortunately don't last forever.
Your self-transcending PURPOSE can carry you through the days when the results aren't coming, progress is slow, and when you need a reminder of exactly WHY you started in the first place!
And if you're looking for other ways to improve performance, decrease injury risk, and treat injuries, then look no further!
It's our mission at AWAKEN to provide the highest level of INDIVIDUALIZED one-on-one care through our specialized services in order to help you AWAKEN YOUR POTENTIAL!
Written by: Mackenzie Lowe
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