The Bigger We Dream The More We Have To Embrace Right Now

Last week I interviewed two long distance runners for my TwoTim47.com podcast series - Solomon Whitfield and Harvey Lewis. Whitfield has been running for years but has recently started adding on miles with no end in sight to how far he wants to go. Lewis is a world renowned ultra runner; he won the famous Badwater race back in 2014. I spent about 45 minutes with each of them talking about their running journeys. Although they both filled that time with great wisdom and inspiration, I was left with one overwhelming thought:

"Our dreams for the future are invitations to be more invested in the here and now than we've ever been."
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When I asked them both about the mental obstacles they face when tackling miles most of us would never dream of traveling without a car and a full tank of gas, they both responded in their own ways that they kept their minds focused on the next step. Whitfield said when he runs he thinks about things going on in his life instead of thinking about the challenges of the next step in his run.  Lewis said he often focuses on the beauty of his surroundings, choosing to be grateful for the step he's in instead of dreading the one to come. With both of them the prevailing message seemed to be that even though they are running a long way, the challenge is keeping the mind from running too far ahead of them.

Dreams of running that first 50-miler or running more miles in a 24-hour race than anyone ever has are invitations to think big, to plan for greatness. But big dreams can also be big distractions. It's much easier, often more fun, to imagine the accolades and the sense of personal accomplishment that come at the finish line of our dreams than it is to train our minds to overcome each challenging step to getting there. 

That idea has tripped me and my dreams up more often than I like. Whether it's my running dreams, writing dreams, life dreams - when I start tackling them the hurdles that pop up are often far less attractive than the glory of the dreams I've been imagining. Too often I start tackling dreams without reminding myself the key to success is staying commited to the mental and physical strength required of the current moment, not a future one.  As a result, too many of my dreams die. 

I get tired of dreams dying that kind of death in my life. But thanks to Solomon and Harvey I'm doubling down this week on the power of the next step. I want to spend less energy on my dreams and funnel more of my passion to that next step, that next word, that next interaction in a relationship. Harvey said when our minds believe it our bodies will follow. I think I need to train my mind to start believing more about this moment and less about the moment 135 miles down the road.

Harvey Lewis

Solomon Whitfield