How we do one thing is how we do everything. Take a moment
to pause, ponder, and consider this. Are you typically a procrastinator or do
you jump straight into the fire? Are you organized to perfection or a chronic
case of disarray? Do you primarily listen to your head or does your body have
the option of weighing in on decision-making? Do you operate from the learned
behavior of others or can you recognize the epiphanies of your own heart? What
works for you? How do you operate in the world?
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| Finish Line Approach |
Throughout my life I have been each and all of the above,
but as I become more aware of my ways of being I see how the initial statement,
How we do one thing is how we do
everything, rings true on a relatively consistent basis. Two perfect
examples are the writing of my book, As I Lay Pondering, and the half marathon I completed this past weekend. In each
case, the spark in my heart said, “Go for it!” and set in motion a journey
toward the finish line. In either case, was I prepared? Yes and no. Did I
believe I could achieve the goal? Yes and no. Did I keep putting one foot in
front of the other no matter how challenging, scary, or disheartening things
became? Unequivocally Yes!
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| Turtle Steps @ Green Lake |
Here is where I am reminded of the timeless story of the
tortoise and the hare. My essential way of being holds both characters. I typically leap
quickly into the race (once the spark ignites) and then pause to notice what
I’ve set in motion. If the goal continues to ring true, I turtle step my way
through until the finish. On Saturday, I believed I would finish the race even
though my training routine was a bit underdone (just like my book
writing experience). All along the route, I checked in with my body and noticed
when I was able to push forward and how I needed to occasionally hold back. I
ran on the downhills when things felt easy and smooth, and I muttered under my
breath on the uphills as I systematically put one foot in front of the other.
(To author the book, I kept showing up to the page... even when inspiration or completion seemed a long way off).
When I got scared or tired and felt my heart beat with
anxiety, I kept the end result in mind. I felt the exhilaration of crossing the
finish line (or holding a completed manuscript in my hand). I believed
completion was possible. I chose to follow my vision and turned my back on the
naysayers (including my internal critic) who said I couldn’t do “it” without
proper training. I wasn’t fully prepared in either instance, but I was prepared
enough to begin. In the last two miles of the race, I came upon a t-shirt that
read “Courage to Start. Faith to Finish.” It was just what I needed to see me
through those last paces.
On Saturday, I set out to have fun, hang out with my
daughter and sister, and move my body 13.1 miles without serious injury. I
wanted to break my record of last year, but mainly I focused on my intention: Have Fun and Finish. I succeeded in both
(and I broke my record by 15 minutes.) It happened one step at a time,
because I've learned that...
how I do one thing is how I do everything!
Tortoise? Hare? Combo? Other? What’s the “everything” style
that works best for you?
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