Still or stuck?

I don’t think I can do it.

I was on the treadmill, my eyes glued to the monitor numbers. My finish line was when my heart rate reached 190. I was dying to finish this part of the physical, but I knew the only way to get done was to keep running. So, I did. I ran and I ran and I ran.

🏃🏽‍♀️ 🏃🏽‍♀️ 🏃🏽‍♀️

Let me back up a second. I’m not a runner. And by that I mean that I do it when I need to (like back in gym class and for high school tennis). I tried it out again briefly when I started dating my husband. But the truth is I’ve never found any joy in it.

So, you can imagine my utter surprise when I’m almost to 190 and my doctor assured me that I was doing great and asked me, “Are you sure you’re not a runner?!”

First I was taken aback, but then I checked in with my body. I’d been so busy listening to all the thoughts bouncing around in my head, I didn’t realize that even though I was being physically challenged, I’d also managed to find my stride.

Fast forward seven months and here it was again, that thought: I don’t think I can do it.

At day 147 (out of 288), about to embark on the second half our Asia tour ✈️, I began to doubt whether I could be on the road for another five months. I had spent the last month with family in India. I had finally been able to catch my breath, stop planning, searching, researching, and problem solving. In short, I got comfortable.

Obviously there’s nothing wrong with comfort, but what it does sometimes take away from us is momentum.

Changing gears can feel uncomfortable. It can be a place where we doubt ourselves or our decisions. That transition might require us to do more work.

But change is inevitable. So, I’ll say when (not if) you find yourself on the edge of the comfy old way and on the eve of newness, remember this:

Discomfort isn’t a sign you’re not supposed to or can’t do something. That you won’t enjoy it. That it’s not worth it.

You will find your stride, your momentum, if you keep going. Stillness is not stuckness. Know the difference.

Navigating change is hard. Navigating our thoughts around change can be overwhelming. But, like any other skill, you get better with practice. If you struggle with change, remind yourself:

🏋🏽‍♂️ It’s okay if it feels hard.

Permission is always the fastest way through our emotions.

✨ Do something small to make it easier or feel better.

Life is about perspective and easy or difficult something can be gained from change. You don’t always have to wait to feel better. You can check in and give yourself what you need.

🧘🏼‍♀️ Emotions are information.

Remember that if your new situation consistently doesn’t feel good, you can give yourself the permission to initiate the change you need. (Even if that means accepting that this was not the right move for you.)

If you’re feeling momentum this year to get a little closer to who you want to be and the life you want to live that’s amazing! Don’t stop!

If you’re feeling the heaviness of being stuck, remember that getting the ball moving is harder at the beginning. But momentum is inevitable.

A taste of being back in that familiar comfort zone is sometimes enough to lull us back to our “normal”.

Normal is just a state you define. You are, or aren’t, whatever it is you decide. However you see yourself and your life is a choice.

Momentum helps you reach your new normal with more ease because you’re showing yourself that you can create the change you want.

You’ve got this!