I’ve witnessed a certain phenomenon time and again in the young athletes I’ve coached. They put in the work, their body adapts and they get faster. However, the brain doesn’t quite keep up with the body. They limit their progress by thinking the same old thoughts about themselves and their capabilities. Once they gain the skills to turn those thoughts around, they realize their potential and I get to watch them fly.

The same phenomenon is true with adults. Emily is an awesome example of this. When Emily decided to start running more miles and completed more targeted workouts she didn’t really realize how fit she was getting. She surprised herself with her success at the first marathon she ran after changing her running routine. She went on to qualify for the Boston Marathon and run competitive times in all the distances, placing in her age group much of the time. Her brain didn’t keep up with her body, however. While her times showcased her success she still thought of herself as a back of the pack runner, shying away from running with others that she felt were her athletic superiors. It took deliberate work to allow her mind to reconcile the athlete she previously thought she was with the athlete she had become.

When we go to the gym to lift weights or go for a run we break down our muscles. In response to being broken down, the muscles regrow even stronger in response to the stimulus. We all know the soreness and aches that can accompany this process. However, unlike pain from an injury, we can celebrate the soreness knowing that it’s part of the process of getting stronger. 

As I have learned from my athletes, mental growth is as equally important as physical growth. Interestingly enough, the process of mental growth follows a pattern similar to muscle growth. There is some pain involved as we expose our mental weaknesses and self doubt and seek to overcome them. 

Limited beliefs about ourselves will show up in our lives as we seek to be honest with ourselves. It’s painful to see these beliefs for what they are and it’s painful to work on replacing them with ones that serve us better. This change is uncomfortable. It can produce anxiety. It’s fine though. It’s supposed to be a little painful. That’s the process.