Overcome challenges like a daily workout

Many of us go to work and sit at a desk all day, then when we’re able to get a workout in, we step away from our computer screen and destress by sweating it out and challenging our bodies. These two things are completely separate parts of our life and we tend to approach them in very different ways. But what if they aren’t so different after all? How can the way we approach physical challenges help us overcome mental challenges?

We all know that when it comes to working out, half the battle is showing up. Once you’re there, you’ll fully participate and put the effort in because simply showing up was a commitment to yourself that you’d do so. Now, think about if you’re doing that in other areas of your life. It’s so easy to let our goals fall by the wayside because we’re busy or have other things on our mind. But what if we just made a point to show up. Go to a coffee shop to work on your business, text that old friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with, or buy the materials necessary to try out that new hobby. Take the first step and show up to establish a level of commitment to yourself.

Think about how you feel after a workout. Like you could take on the world, right? That energy feeds on itself. The more you allow that energy to sink in, the more it will seep into everything you do.

Get into a routine that will habituate you to take on challenges in all areas of your life. Use physical challenges as a way to give yourself the confidence you need to take on other challenges in life. When you work out, don’t just go through the motion of working out, but truly challenge yourself. If you get used to taking on new challenges in a casual setting such as the gym or your crossfit class or yoga classes, you’re better prepared to take on challenges at work and at home.

Often, the reason we don’t try something new is fear of failure. If we continually see ourselves overcome challenges, we condition ourselves to be more confident when it comes to new or risky hurdles. If you take on a new challenge with confidence and drive, you’re much more likely to overcome that challenge successfully.

When you exercise, you physically build muscle. When tiny muscle tears are created, the muscle grows back even stronger. It’s a process of straining to strengthen. Now think about whatever goal you’re working towards at the moment. What if little by little, you strained yourself in order to strengthen yourself? Take a small risk, learn from it, and improve. Then take on a new challenge and overcome that one as well. Piece by piece, you’ll be headed straight for your goal, building bravery and courage along the way.