Moment #7

As I was riding up the hill my thoughts turned sour.
“I am so out of shape.”
“I suck.”
“This ride sucks.”
“Why did I think this was a good idea?”

Five minutes earlier I had been thoroughly enjoying myself. What changed? I was starting to get tired, that’s what changed.

This is a common pattern for me.
I am doing something, like riding my bike, thoroughly enjoying myself and then one small, minute thing happens or changes and the whole day is shitty…. in my mind.
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I have been getting good at catching these moments, sometimes right away, sometimes after a few minutes.

On this ride they went on for a few minutes before I realized what I was doing.

I was having a pretty spectacular pity party, that’s what I was doing.

Unmanaged Mind: 
Circumstance: I was riding my mountain bike.
Thought: I’m getting tired because I suck.
Feeling: Defeated.
Action: Dwell on sucky-ness.
Result: Feel even more defeated and day is ruined.

Managed Mind:
Circumstance: I was riding my mountain bike.
Thought: Wow, I’m getting tired.
Feeling: Tired.
Action: Slow down, gear down and take my time.
Result: Thoroughly enjoy my ride despite my tiredness.

The key to this mind management moment is that I caught myself in time to turn it around. That has taken a lot of practice and I’m super stoked that it is starting to pay off.