Life is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

A lot of times in life, we take the short view. Something is happening right now that isn’t how we want it to be, and we get frustrated. Our circumstances go up and down, and our mood goes up and down as well. We’re focused on what’s happening right in front of us, rather than taking the long view. The problem with this mindset is that life is a marathon, not a sprint. When we’re focused on the short view rather than the long view, we can lose.

Taking it Easy in Crossfit

I’ll give you a quick example from my own life. I was warming up for my Crossfit workout the other day, and the prescribed weight felt pretty heavy for me. My back was also feeling sore from my previous workout. So, I decided to take some weight off the bar and do the workout with a lighter weight.

I made it through the workout fine, and when it ended, I felt like I still had some gas left in the tank. I immediately started to feel badly about myself. “I probably should have done the heavier weight,” I thought to myself. “I didn’t work as hard as I could have this morning.”

Life is a Marathon

But life is a marathon, not a sprint. By feeling badly about my workout, I was taking the short view. The reality is that it’s not a bad thing to have an easier workout once in a while. I’m not trying to make the Crossfit games. I’m trying to get stronger and stay healthy long-term. What if I had used the heavier weight and hurt my back? I made the decision to go lighter, and it was fine. I can always adjust and go heavier next time.

Take the Long View

If you feel frustrated or upset by something that is happening today, press the pause button and think about the long view. Is this thing you’re upset about going to matter a day from now, a week from now, or a month from now? Do you think you will even remember it a year from now? For most things, the answer is probably no.

Remember that life is a marathon, not a sprint. Adjust your perspective to match the reality of the situation.