Reframing When I Was On A Run

Last week I was working out, going for a run, and I just wasn’t feeling it. My legs were heavy from a weightlifting session the day before. I usually run in the morning but this time I was running in the afternoon after a long day, and could tell that I was just feeling grumpy.

My mind started spitting off thoughts like: “This sucks” and “Why are you even doing this?” and “You don’t need to do the whole thing.” It was that last one that woke me up, because it’s true. I didn’t need to keep running. If I really wanted to I could stop right then and there.

It made me realize that I had a choice to make. Even though my body and mind were telling me it was okay to call it, I actually wanted to keep going. I want to be the type of person who can make himself do hard things even when he doesn’t feel like it. Who prioritizes being healthy even when it’s inconvenient or not ideal. That’s what I wanted most. I wanted to finish the run.

And when I made that choice, it felt silly to complain about it. Why would I be all mad about something that I’m choosing to do, and that I want to do? It just didn’t make sense to me. 

So I chose to change my attitude. I forced a smile and lifted my gaze. I found reasons to be grateful for the pain and fatigue, knowing it was making me physically and mentally stronger.  I enjoyed the fresh air that I didn’t have all day. 

This story is a small example of something that is so common in life. First we forget that we have a say in what’s happening. If we’re tolerating something we don’t like, it’s our choice to tolerate it. We often don’t even think to question it. Then if we get honest with ourselves and realize we prefer that over whatever is the alternative, then we can feel reassured that we’re doing what we want to be doing. 

It can be as simple as pushing forward on a run and as real as allowing yourself to be abused. In all cases, we have choice. Now we don’t get to perfectly decide what the options are we’re picking from, but we do get to choose which option of the bunch we want to pursue.

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