You, too, probably have those experiences from time to time when the same message seems to come from a zillion different areas in your life. For me, over the last several weeks, I have been hearing a similar message in my running, my professional life and business coaching work, and even in my spiritual practice.
Last week, the wonderfully enthusiastic Todd, who is one of the coaches for the Team in Training group in Long Beach, paused with me at a fuel station on our longer Saturday training run as we all continue our preparation for the L.A. marathon in March. (I'd be remiss if I did not offer you the chance to support the fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, so here it is!)
Todd gently inquired about a light strain I have been carrying in my right calf—I think it is the soleus muscle. And he did so with the exceptional caring and humility that belongs to truly experienced (Todd has run hundreds of marathons and many, many of them barefoot.
That's Todd with barefoot running maestro Ken Bob. Visit the barefoot running site.).When he asked how many mid-week miles I was running, I told him 8-8-12 for my Tu/Wed/Thur runs, and then there was our 10+ on Saturday.
"You might consider running less. See, your real goal now is completing L.A. Your other running needs to support that goal, not hinder it. You can go back to your regular schedule after L.A."
You want me to run less?! I replied like an addict asked to give up his favorite high. OK, then. Give me some numbers. He offered me 5-5-5.
So that is exactly what I have done. And my experience? Fabulous! While my runs have been quantitatively less, they have been qualitatively so much more. I have been more open-hearted, more at peace, and more in joy—even in the pouring rain. And, importantly, that strain has not shown up at all. I come in from my runs strong, with plenty more to give. Elated.
By doing less, I am clearly accomplishing more.
As a part of my professional work (though in reality this is an experience that is touching every area of my life), I am a member of a wonderful mastermind group facilitated by master coach Steve Chandler. So just over a week ago, I got this from Steve:
Desires, when they are strong, can be converted into clear commitments. And then pure enthusiasm causes the creation of time. Soon there's lots of time. All the time in the world. When the desire is strong, we have all the time in the world.
Not too many years ago, I simply tried to think of too many things every day. And by thinking of too many things every day, I never gave anything enough time or enough real thought to develop it. I was always on the mental run. I didn't realize that the real career strength in life came from slowing down and slowly choosing what to focus on. Until I saw how strong that idea could be, I was taking every phone call and pondering every hit of email with equal energy and that is definitely weak. That is not a strong way to live.
I wish I had known to tell myself this: Slow down. Do less. Accomplish more. Once someone asked Sir Isaac Newton, "How did you discover the theory of gravity?" He said, "You would have discovered it too if that's all you had thought about every day."
So there is was again. And then, in my mastermind group meeting in Phoenix last month, I was talking with coaching powerhouse Justin Rohner during a break. Justin is very knowledgeable about Byron Katie, and I was asking about her thoughts on debt.
Justin explained that in many ways, living by creating debt is living in the future — becoming attached to the future money that will be needed to feed the debt payments. Debt is like arguing with reality, according to Byron Katie, who encourages to understand that we have all the money we are supposed to at any given moment. "If you don't believe me," she writes, "Go check you bank account!" Justin added, "It's like pulling on your arm, saying 'You're supposed to be longer!'"
As if this was not enough, I was listening to some inspirational tapes as part of my spiritual practice, my teacher was sharing about how many times people will come to him and ask, "How do I progress on my spiritual path quicker? I want to evolve quicker!" When I heard the response (and I paraphrase here), I felt goose bumps all over my body. For me that's a sure sign that I need to sit up and listen. If you want to evolve faster, slow down.
OK already!
As I slow down in all areas of my life, I am finding I am more focused, less easily distracted, less anxious, more available to my Self, my family, and my fellow human beings. As a result I experience more joy, more inspiration, and more clarity and fulfillment.
As you run (or whatever your chosen form of exercise might be) today, let yourself do it in a softer way. Less distance, less push. Less willfulness and more willingness. Willingness to experience yourself not just as a human doing but as a human being. And beyond that, perhaps, no longer just as a human being searching for spiritual experience, but as a spiritual being having a human experience.
Happy trails!
