Warrior Mode

Warrior Mode:

The human brain is interesting. In one moment it can be experiencing pain or discomfort that reinforces negative thought patterns and in the next moment it can be experiencing the same discomfort but be totally cool with it, telling itself an entirely different story. Being aware that this switch can occur can be extremely helpful. Knowing that your thoughts are not fixed, but a product of your mindset is important. I will give an example.

Today I did a Spartan sprint. The sprint is a 1.5 hour obstacle course where you run ~8km, and have to overcome around 23 obstacles, some harder than others. I had to wake up early and wait outside in the cold for hours waiting for the race to begin. As I sat there contemplating that I had paid $140 to be there, feeling a little weak from yesterday’s workout, I regretted my decision. As we started running up the first incline my heart started to pound as I saw the long path in front of me. If you had offered my a no-regrets refund at that moment I probably would have taken it. 

Then around 15 minutes the cold got worse, there was snow everywhere, the terrain was difficult, and I was running/walking up hills. I should have been more unhappy right? Wrong. With the adrenaline coursing through my veins, and realizing that I was with friends who were also struggling I went into what I call “warrior mode”. The pain became irrelevant, it became something to overcome. I was not complaining to myself I was thinking “I need to tough this out”. That was magic.

I think that mindset is helpful, but it is hard to explain to yourself in the non-warrior state that whatever pain you are going through is something to be overcome and not a fact that has been thrust open you that you are helpless to change. This happens all the time with things, whether its going to gym when you don’t want to, eating healthy, or procrastinating.

I

Be in warrior mode more often.

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