Positive Self Talk

“I can’t do this” is a phrase that popped up sometime in adulthood. It’s a voice that sounds so much like mine that I believe it. I mean, if I’ve lost my persistent positive outlook to that extent, it must be true, right?

When it speaks up during a ride though, the simplicity and focus of what I’m doing makes that voice much easier to silence. It’s not during the noise and chaos of home life, schedules, and coordination… it’s on the trail when nothing exists in that moment beyond my surroundings and my experience.

That’s when I combat the negative self talk. “I CAN do it. I can do hard things and I can do THIS. I can do this for ME. THIS is who I want to be and I’m worth the effort.”

And then, I do it.

Getting Started

It really can be the hardest part. I always applaud people who sign up for stuff and get themselves to the event, even if they don’t feel ready. But I know how much effort it takes to try. Sometimes just believing that you could is more than what you were doing before, so that’s progress. That’s success.