#129🚿 Balance is Baloney.

Accepting the imbalance of “ultra"

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I’m on a mission to put the “Personal” back into Personal Development

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Shower thought🚿: Accepting the imbalance of “ultra”.

I’m not sure when, why, or how; but somewhere down the line the powers that be on the internet started preaching “balance” in the name of wellness and a good life.

I’ve bought into this message, hook-line-and-sinker. (Maybe you have too) I’ve obsessed over morning routines, habits, and anything and everything to keep my life “in check” and everything humming in the right direction.

But, as our former President says, I’ve been sold a “load of malarkey”.

“Ultra” by definition is Unbalanced

I’m living in two worlds that are at complete odds with each other.

On one hand, I want Balance, by definition — steady, equal, harmonious equilibrium.

But, my actions and choices are Ultra — extreme, beyond, exceeding the range of limits.

I’ve been running ultramarathons for 5 years. And even before that, I’ve always pushed boundaries. It’s what I seek at my core.

This may also be you.

You don’t have to be an ultramarathon runner to feel this way.
You could be a seeker, searching for answers.
Or an explorer, charting new paths.

If you’re tired of the balance nonsense, like I am, allow me to defend Ultra.

Accepting the imbalance of “ultra”

I could write for days on ultramarathons.. But I will lose most of you, so I won’t.

Ultramarathon racing is the best training ground for life.
Because life is the ultimate endurance sport.

What I love about racing is every ultramarathon is it’s own unique, unpredictable adventure.

It’s messy. You don’t run for hours on end and look or feel your best. You get real.

It’s full of ebbs and flows. You experience extreme highs and the lowest of lows.

It requires full focus. You must stay in the moment, always focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Everything else takes a pause.

There are many ways to train.
And many “racing strategies”.
For a 100-mile race, I’ve found acceptance to be the greatest tool in my toolkit.

Accepting the pain, unknown, and everything a day of running will throw at you.
Accepting that I am not, and cannot, be in control.

Be Grounded, not Balanced.

I continue to race for continued growth. Quite simply, you cannot run upwards of 50 miles and not come out a different person.

I want that.
Because I seek growth over comfort.
And I know growth lies where you are most uncomfortable.

Back to the balance police.
There is nothing wrong with balance.
I too seek lots of this.
But there is no such thing as a perfect, harmonious life. (not in this life at least)

What’s more important than being balanced, is being grounded.

Knowing who you are.
Knowing what you stand for.
And being stable during the unpredictability of life.

— Keep moving forward.

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THANK YOU for making it to the end!

The ColdShower: Weekly ideas for better health, habits, and happiness.