Most of us have an ideal when it comes to fitness. We want to be super fit, thin, or healthy, and we strive for it. Maybe we fail and feel bad about it, but we strive.
But what would it feel like to not push so hard for these specific fitness goals? What if we could be more open-minded about what success looks like, and find self-compassion instead?
The Problem With Striving
When we strive for a fitness ideal (which is usually what we do), there are a few fundamental problems to be aware of:
- The Ideal Is One We Will Never Meet. Even if we do reach our goal, it won’t be what we pictured. For example, I successfully ran several marathons because of ideals I had, but they weren’t at all what I pictured. They were still worthwhile, but not even close to what my fantasy was.
- There Is a Good Likelihood of Failing. The more lofty the goal, the more likely it is you will not meet be able to meet it and will then feel bad about yourself for failing.
- You Won’t Achieve Noticeable Results Right Away. Most fitness ideals take several months, if not years, to achieve. So for the first few days or weeks you will endure the activity but not see the results you pictured. This is not fun and it won’t be what you fantasized about.
- Once You Reach the Goal, You May Not Be Content. You may just find another goal to strive for, and another, and another—having never been satisfied—until you’re dead.
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