Enough Already

Our heads know lots of stuff. They are the custodians of the archives, housing records, memories, hopes, wants, needs and dreams. They remember the last time you were totally in the moment, racing. They remind you, every so often, about feelings and anxieties, fears and goals. About how hard life is most of the time because (pick one) we aren't:

Talented enough
Rich enough
Good looking enough
Young enough
Bold enough
Connected enough
Smart enough
Deserving enough
Available enough
Strong enough

There are more, but these are enough. For now. We call them limiters. We think that because we have them, that we always will, and therefore, we will never be able to do what we want because of them. They limit us. Worse, we spend an enormous amount of time and energy reinforcing them. Don't we? One of my favorite quotes from Donald Shimoda (The reluctant Messiah) from Richard Bach's marvelous mini-epic "Illusions" is:

ARGUE FOR YOUR LIMITATIONS-AND THEY'RE YOURS.

You want 'em-you got 'em. Limiters. They keep us from being free, healthy, whole, and moving in the direction of growth. Towards the light. Down the road. On the path. In the moment. Livin' the dream. Fightin' the good fight.

In this mornings follow up 60 minute (to yesterday's 90 minute) high-intensity spin session, we talked about the combination of the head (caretaker of the limits) and the heart (purveyor of verbs). The head knows the why's. Why we do this; Weight loss, enhanced fitness, stress management, cholesterol control, changes to BMI, race training, speed, endurance and power training, yadda yadda. Yet, and sadly, without the heart, BMGs (big muscle groups), lungs, optimum blood mixture and connecting joints, ligaments and tendons, it isn't enough.

Because the body knows the How. Our bodies respond to work and stress faster than the head will acknowledge. And then nine times in ten, the head will try to find a way to slow down, back off, stop or find something else to do. Limiters.

Wouldn't it be nice if the head and the heart were working in tandem towards a common goal? Maybe we could start by cutting the limiters. Ending the debate. Forming a new and powerful alliance. Being ONE. Make it a part of who we are (not who we think we are).

Next time your heart and BMGs want to go for a run, don't let your head say, "But it's so cold out there."

You'll be warm enough.

Pic: "You should see some of the crap I got stored in here!"