Running through humidity

Yesterday here at the gym I was having a conversation with a couple people about yesterday's email about Monday motivation.  The topic of how to pivot your way of thinking when there is something you hate to do, but know that it needs to be done. The subject was running when it is really hot outside. Admittedly it is not easy when you are dealing with the environment at times. We have only a small number of days when the weather is perfect to be working out outside in the elements. So we have to work with what we get from mother nature.

I said that I love running when it's hot and humid. The looks I got where the looks of are you nuts, running when it's hot sucks. Well yes, from that perspective it does suck. But what if you told yourself that everytime you run when it is hot and humid outside the sweat you feel coming out of your pores of your body is nothing but toxins and crap leaving your body. When you are done with this run, the cool refreshing water you are going to drink is going to be nothing but goodness coming into your body, while you just got rid of nothing but negative crap trapped inside your body. This perspective or way of thinking about hot humid runs is vastly different and actually quite motivating. 

We as human beings are designed to take on adversity. Adversity isn't about something just about something awful or something that is a pain in the ass. Adversity is nature's way of making us stronger inside and out. Adversity is how we learn the most about ourselves and those around us. Adversity teaches us who we can count on when the proverbial $#!% hits the fan. Adversity is a tool now just something that makes life difficult.

If any of you have ever seen the movie Wall-E you will know that one of the main lessons to be learned from the movie is that when we try to remove all adversity from life and continue to try to make life easier, we end up surrendering our freedom of choice and our autonomy. For me, these two virtues are the absolute most important virtues you can possess in life. When we refuse to take on adversity, adversity ends up taking us on and always ends up winning. Don't let your adversities win. Own your adversities and make them become the fuel to your success.

Michael Meeker