“Success is accomplishing that thing you tried talking yourself out of.”
~ Michelle Cederberg
There’s no better feeling. So why do we choose to settle for ‘good enough’ when we know that we’re capable of more? This afternoon I spent an hour talking myself out of a 40-minute run. Then on the run I tried talking myself into doing less, even though I’m capable of more. In the end, I dared to go the distance…and I survived.
Where in your life can you dare to do a little more instead of settling for good enough? Watch the short video below, or read the transcript that follows, to learn what 4-year-old Ellie taught me about all this.
Michelle Cederberg here. Just finished a 6K run and I am pondering the whole idea of good enough versus pushing just a little harder.
I am back to running so the distance was short today; just a 6K, but I’m training up for a half marathon at the end of the summer. It’s nice to be back at it, but I found my body was not quite responsive to this idea of working hard.
At about the 3K point I started talking myself out of finishing 6K. I said to myself, ‘Maybe 3K is good enough?’ But then I talked myself into going just a little further. I got to 4K and thought, ‘Maybe 4K is good enough?’ You know, this is early season. But then I decided I would change how I was talking to myself and I told myself, “Michelle, you’re feeling pretty good. You’re cardiovascularly fit. You’re not feeling any aches and pains. Do the distance. You got this!”
So I pushed for a little more and 5K turned into 6K and I got the work done. I talked myself out of going for less. I spent the weekend with a very precocious four year old who probably taught me a little bit about positive self talk, because this little girl, she wanted to do everything and she would tell herself, “Yes, I can. I can do this!” We would go adventuring and she wanted to go longer and further and try different things… and she never told herself she couldn’t.
So I think we could all learn a few things from Ellie. Set your goals. Decide what you’re going to do and then instead of settling for good enough, tell yourself, “Heck yeah. I can do a little bit more.” We should all be a little bit more like four-year-old Ellie and talk ourselves into doing the amazing things that we know we are capable of.
Until next time, I’m Michelle Cederberg, reminding you that we only get one chance to do this fantastic life. I say dare to live it BIG and dare to do a little more.
Over and out. I’ve got to go stretch.
Michelle Cederberg, CSP, MKin, BA Psyc
CEP, CPCC, ORSC
Empowering today’s dreamers, leaders and go-getters to create the life and career they want.
www.michellecederberg.com
403-850-5589
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