I am currently participating in a Bible study through a local church. Our study is Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. This study teaches us to be content in all circumstances. What we are on the inside, what we continually think about, eventually shows in our words, actions, and even in our countenances.
It is all a matter of perspective. It is how we view a certain situation in our life. Are we constantly looking over at our neighbor’s fence post checking out to see if their grass is greener than our own? I know that I am totally guilty about that. Which ultimately results in an discontent spirit.
When I workout at the gym or even at the starting line of a race. I stack myself up against the other women there. I feel inferior. Less than. Not worthy. Yet, if I were to focus on the blessings and positive of my life and my training… I am healthy. I am an athlete. I may not look like those other extremely fit women, nor run as fast as them. But I am healthy. My heart is strong. I am happy. I am an athlete.
Yes, I may struggle with losing these last few pounds for selfish reasons. However, I know that my children and my husband love me no matter what the number on the scale says.
Yes, I write a health and fitness blog. However, I know that I will not lose a reader if I run a slower mile than them.
Yes, I am a homeschooling mom to three little boys. Yes, we are a one income family so I can be a stay at home mom. We may not have it all together… but together we have it all.
Basically what I am trying to share is that I am on a road to learning contentment. Learning to be content in all my circumstances. Learning to not dwell on tomorrow – remembering that tomorrow is God’s not my own.
Contentment is the state of the heart, not a state of the affairs. I need to do a heart check constantly to monitor my contentment. Learning to pray rather than be anxious. Trusting that Christ’s strength is infused into my weak soul, body and spirit.
“I am strong for all things in the one who constantly infuses strength in me.” Philippians 4:13
I am choosing to practice contentment with a change of my perspective. I will be learning to dwell on the positive, be thankful, pray specifically, and giving all my anxieties to God. This thought process goes in line with all things in my life: faith, family, fitness, food and fun! It is all a matter of perspective.
Taking a step back, I have realized that I set lofty goals for my half marathon planning in March. I was getting bored with the training plan, dreaded running even. I decided to focus on the positive and switch things up a bit. I decided to create my own plan the last few weeks: a mixture between the Smart Coach Training Plan from Runners World and the Train Like a Mother Own It Plan from the book.
Focusing on what is important to me… my goals in life… being content in all my circumstances… while maintaining my sanity as I train for fitness races… makes me content. Knowing that I need to run and workout to make me a happier, better PERSON… I am sharing with you my fitness plan from the previous week as well as my training plan for this week.
Monday: easy 5 miles (elliptical)
Tuesday:
Wednesday: tempo 5.25 miles (treadmill)
Thursday: easy 4 miles (elliptical) & 4.25 miles cycle
Friday: 10 mile stationary bike
Saturday: 4 mile run (outdoors & solo) + 1 mile row + 5 mile stationary bike
This Week’s Training Plan
Monday: easy 7 miles
Tuesday:
Wednesday: easy 5 miles
Thursday: easy 4 miles
Friday:
Saturday: 12 miles w/ strong finish (last 10 minutes)
I will keep pressing on towards my goal of learning balance with my goals for 2013. Learning to be content in all my circumstances is a matter of shifting my perspective. Changing and spicing up my training plan mid training is a risk I am going to take.
My goals are to just follow my training plan as much as I can, and to eat as much real food (as opposed to food products) as I can. I find eating real food and being excited about a training plan and training goal really helps me with contentment and seasonal affective disorder.
PS – have a great week!!
My goals for this and next week are the same. 3 miles every other weekday and 7 on the weekend. Beginning February I will start a 12 wk half marathon training plan that adds cross training on the off days with only one day of rest each week. It will be my second half marathon but my first one where I actually follow a training plan.
What a fabulous reminder! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 “It’s all a matter of perspective”, I need to hang that on my wall somewhere.
thanks for the reminder on contentment! it is so easy to get caught up in what we don’t have, what we haven’t achieved, what we didn’t get done and far harder to rest in the place that god has provided for us. i may have to look up the book you are studying through!
Awesome training plan! I had a plan…and now that I’m sick, I may be changing that plan to involve just taking it easy and resting my body!
Such an important lesson, Rachel! One I am continually learning as well. Thanks for this awesome post. You are very blessed. And best of luck in your training!
Thank you! 🙂
Girl – I wish I could make it one mile without stopping. Shoot! 1/2 a mile would be great! Keep up your good work. 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Girl – I wish I could make it one mile without stopping. Shoot! 1/2 a mile would be great! Keep up your good work. 🙂 Started following you on Twitter.
I love that you have enough faith in yourself and enough commitment to your goals to change the plan mid-way! I’m sure it will help you feel less stagnant and will be a successful choice for you 😉
Thank you! I have learned that sometimes you need to vary up the routine from time to time to keep things interesting. 🙂
Thanks! 🙂