Just....Keep....Moving

What to do when you prepare, you feel confident and things still manage to go south.

I had been in the water multiple times, I had tasted this river before, this was not the first time I had felt it's current. Why then did I feel like I could not go any further?

Panic was taking over me, I did not understand. I had the current in my favor why was I struggling so much? What where all of those months of triathlon training for? If not for this! Was the training not enough? Am I not enough?

I think we have all been in this position before. Maybe not specifically while swimming during your first triathlon, but for sure while performing during that thing that you been prepping for months. Its do or die time, the app goes live, the board of directors is ready for the presentation, the company goes public. All of the sudden things take a turn for the worst. Panic rises, Why is the app crashing? Who was supposed to check the presentation? Why is nobody buying? We quickly troubleshoot and our mind reaches the same conclusion. The problem is you, you are simply not enough. You could have prepped better but you didn't, you could have checked this, could have tested that, should have anticipated the other, you, you, you, you, you are the problem. Goes the record in our head as panic swells and defeat knocks at our door. What do we do?

We keep moving, but how?

1.Still your mind.

Put and end to that spinning record. You will not be able to move if you keep living in what you could have done. It is too late for that, the only thing you can affect now is the present that determines the future. so let the past be in the past and realize that regardless of how much of this is your fault or not, the only one that can choose to do something about it is you. You are no good while panicking so get your head in the game, stop that spinning record and begin to focus on the now.

I was gulping water until I decided that enough is enough, either I get myself out of this water or I sink to the bottom. So dig in, you are enough!

2. Make small actions and let them add up to a big result.

Ok, my mind is calm, now what? Take step one, no matter how small, it is better than inaction. Reset the computer, ask for 5 more minutes to prep, pull the back end of the app, run the analysis. These small steps might not solve the problem on their own but they will often lead you on a trail of more small steps that give you the solution.

I flipped on my back, took some deep breaths and rolled back over, I floated for a second and caught my direction. There is the buoy I was looking for! It is not the end of the swim, but if I get to it I will be a step closer, swim to that, one stroke at the time, you will get there.

3. Just keep moving.

I made it to the edge of the water, A kind volunteer helped me up on to the steps that led away from the water and towards the cycling transition area. I took a step onto dry land and it happened. Vertigo plowed on to my brain. I could barely keep myself upright and the thought of a 12-mile bike ride followed by a long run was overwhelming. Panic was beginning to rise up again.

Isn't it how it always happens? We take the right steps, we calm our mind, we move forward in small steps only to realize that the overall problem is just now getting started and we are already exhausted. What now? Just keep moving. No matter how many times you have to do it, calm your mind, find a small problem and fix it, repeat. Over and over again, just keep moving until you cross that finish line, whether real of metaphorical.

I dug deep, decided that quitting was not an option and kept moving forward, got to the cycling station, placed my shoes over my dripping feet, grabbed my bike and repeated to myself "Just...Keep..Moving." I repeated that over and over until I no longer felt panic at my door, I repeated it until I felt on top of the situation. Many miles later I crossed the finish line of my very first Triathlon. I had done it, panic wanted to have its way, but panic did not know that I was bigger than it, or rather more stubborn.

I don't know what curve balls life has thrown your way. But what I do know is that no goal worth achieving is ever easy. Often times your worst enemy will be your panic fueled by your insecurities. You are bigger than you think, you are smarter, faster, and more driven than your inner demons. Remind them of that and just, keep, moving.