Daily Gratitude: This is another way of saying that you only need to see 200 feet ahead of you. Have you ever felt totally overwhelmed by something you’re working on? So overwhelmed, perhaps, that you’re just spinning your wheels and not really getting anything accomplished? The first thing to do is stop and take some deep breaths in an attempt to calm your nervous system. Then see if you can decide what the very next thing you need to do is. Something small. So small that no one would notice unless they knew the process. When it’s that small, it takes the pressure off you a bit since you aren’t as worried about all the eyes that might be looking at you. But the pressure is also lessened because this is probably something pretty simple and you know how to do it. Once you finish that one thing, you can feel more confident and also then decide what the next step is (remember to make it small) and continue on like this. Vol state (the 314 mile race I do in July) is a great example. If we look at having to run or walk 314 miles, it seems impossible. But if we look at it as only 16 miles in the next 12 hours, it becomes more attainable. And sometimes, if you’re like me, that 16 miles becomes “I just have to make it to the next guardrail”. You just have to make your big project into lots of little projects. I also call it “chunking”. Take a goal or project you have going now and think about what the next small step you have to take is. Now do that small step and you’re on your way.

I hope that you copy this quote and put it somewhere that’s easily accessible. It would be nice even if you read it every day. All too often we’re feeling despair when something isn’t going the way we want it to. We have blinders on and can’t see anything but the discouraging event and “possible” consequences. I put possible in quotes because they are really imagined consequences because they haven’t happened yet. Because of the blinders, we don’t look around the room (at the rest of our life) to see the good things that are there right in front of us – if we took the blinders off. Nothing is all bad. Here’s what I could have focused on after my recent race in Tennessee which ended up with a fractured clavicle: I had to stop the race so I didn’t finish it. I am a failure for not finishing. I am too old or I wouldn’t have tripped on that asphalt lip. I shouldn’t ever do any races again. I had to give in and go to an ER (gasp). I can’t do anything with my right arm for at least 6 weeks. I can’t continue writing my book or doing my podcast interviews. And on and on. So, what was hiding in the corners beyond where I could see if I kept the blinders on? The love and concern other people showed me. The true friendship of someone who gave up 3-4 days of his life to come drive me home. The fun I am having conquering doing everything with my left arm. The rest I’m getting since I can’t do much else. Actually enjoying watching this healing process which is fascinating. Reading more since I have more time. I think that these things that crept in through the door I left open far outweigh the “bad” things I could only see if I kept my blinders on. I’m sure you have similar examples in your life IF you’d simply look for the breadcrumbs to the door you left open. Why don’t you try to follow the clues and let us know.

Daily Gratitude: Perhaps this is a cause of the frustration many of us feel right now – “how can I possibly make a difference? I’m just one person. I can’t change anything.” And yes it may be true that your or me cannot change the whole world by ourselves. Instead, though, ask who you can influence. Is there someone in your small sphere who can benefit from the love and care you can provide? Is there someone you can mentor, even unofficially since some people might resist such an official designation? How can you impact someone else’s life. I’ll give you an example. Yesterday I was at Target and at the self-checkout as I only had 2 items. One was a can of Red Bull and the other was a blouse. It was on the hanger. The gentleman supervising that area (meaning making sure we didn’t steal things I imagine) came over and asked if I wanted the hanger. I said “no” and then said “when you get that off, could you please scan it for me?” I’d already realized that the blouse was going to flop all over and getting the tag to scan with one arm/hand was going to be an acrobatic feat. He was so pleasant and kind and said “of course” with a smile. As I was leaving, he added “I hope you heal well”. That kind of made my day. He could have begrudgingly said yes when I asked him to scan it for me and didn’t have to say anything when I left. Instead, he used kindness to help my day be better. That entire interaction took less than 2 minutes yet it changed how I felt for the rest of the day. Can you spare two minutes to lead by example? Can you spare more than 2 minutes? What can you do today that will affect “the one” even if it doesn’t affect the masses? Ask yourself this question every single morning. Right it on your bathroom mirror so it’s the first thing you think of. Get out of yourself and get into others.