For most of my life, I have seen myself as physically weak. I think this idea came from the fact that I have always been scrawny skinny and never really gotten into peak shape. Somewhere along the way I also got the idea that I was hypoglycemic and that hard workouts would be a struggle for me. This thinking kept me from playing sports as I’ve gotten older, and from exercise in general.

Then, about a year ago, I joined a gym with a buddy and started working out at 5am most mornings. This is something I thought I couldn’t do; I had previously been convinced I would just pass out if I even tried! And now, I signed up for this crazy GORUCK event that is going to be the most physically challenging thing I have ever done. Crazy right?

As I’m training for the GORUCK event, I’m pushing myself harder than ever before, and I’m stronger than ever before too. I have realized that all of those ways of seeing myself were completely false. I’m not weak unless I choose to be weak. I’m not going to pass out from working out early or hard. I don’t have to be a scrawny skinny, stick man.

I now see myself as an athlete training for an event, and that has made all the difference. How I see myself frames my thinking and in turn affects my actions.

Is there a way that you see yourself that is holding you back? Have you ever changed the way you see yourself, allowing you to achieve more than you thought you could? I would love to hear about it!

Photo by Anton Darius | @theSollers on Unsplash