Training Session #46-July 28: Your happy place is not out there

In 2013 I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disorder that chewed a hole in my cerebellum, atrophied various muscles, impaired my vision, balance, coordination and consequently stole my confidence and my ability to run. I have dedicated the summer of 2018 to regaining my strength, coordination, balance, and relearning how to run. I am participating in a 5k run on September 23rd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is my training journal.

This is my attempt to grow physically and mentally strong again.

Write on. Fight on.

The previous training sessions can be found here, under “Fight on- Summer Training Log”

Time:

7:30 am – 8:35 am

Conditions:

Outdoor- light rain , 73 degrees

Training Maxim:

No hurry. No pause.

Training Performed:

Jogging/walking intervals- 2.2 miles

Accomplishment:

Completing the 2.2 miles in a personal best time– 35:33.

Quote I’m Thinking About Today:

“The stories we tell each other will lead to the actions we take.”~ Seth Godin

Reflection:

The other day I heard someone say they can’t wait to leave here and get to their happy place.

“Where is your happy place?” I asked.

“A beach far away from here.”

We all want to change how we feel. However, we convince ourselves that the good feelings we seek are out there– on a beach.

But what if that beach is 100 miles away? And what if you don’t leave for another three weeks?

Can you find happiness and peace right here, right now?

Can we condition ourselves to be happy and at peace anywhere? Standing line at Walmart? Sitting in traffic? Having a difficult conversation?

I believe we can. But it takes real work. It requires you to not let your external environment to control internal happiness.

So how can we make any place our happy place?

Tony Robbins suggests making a list of ways we can immediately change how we feel, to go from pain to pleasure, and feel good immediately (Awaken the Giant Within).

Maybe its holding hands with your spouse. Smiling with your children. Playing music. Taking a walk. Taking a moment to admire nature. Replaying a pleasant memory.

The point is– your happy place is not at the end of the highway. You don’t have to pay tolls to find peace.

Happiness and peace are in you. They always have been.