During my conversation with my friend, we discussed running, and I said, "Oh, I can't run. I've never been able to run more than a mile." After leaving dinner, I found myself reflecting on that statement and questioning whether it was true, much like when people tell me I can't become a full-time artist. At that moment, I realized I had to prove that I could run.
The Running Journey Begins:
When someone who hates running decides to run, there’s an inner battle: Can I do this? Do I want to do this? It's going to be hard. But I knew there was a greater purpose behind my decision to start running. At the time I felt that it was because I needed to prove to myself that I could succeed, and the best part was that I was in control.
I committed to start running at my local gym. I decided to begin slowly and gradually increase my pace. I wanted to push myself but ensure I didn't overdo it, so I would want to keep running. I settled on running at least twice a week. Once I got into a rhythm, I began having the most creative ideas during my runs and cool-downs. What I used to hate transformed into a valuable tool for expressing myself and sorting through the ideas that were swirling in my mind. This felt like a win for me, and I would have been happy with just this realization.
It wasn't until 6 months into running that I discovered it was much more than just exercise. In the first couple of months, I had so much pent-up emotion, as I was going through a challenging time in my life—something that was altering everything for me—a year after moving to a completely new place. I didn't have the space to understand why I was running in the first place. Yes, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it, and by that point, I had already demonstrated I could run more than a mile, sometimes even more than two. However, I felt that there was something more.
My "Aha" Moment:
Eventually, I came to this realization: I kept running because I could. I was showing up, doing the work, and sticking to it. A light bulb went off in my head: Where else in my life was I showing up, putting in the effort, and remaining committed? It dawned on me that my art journey reflected this. I had running, which I could control, and then there was being an artist, where some aspects were within my control while others were not.
I flashbacked to every time I felt like giving up while running or thought I couldn't do another lap. In that moment I reminded myself that I could do it. I was exercising a mental muscle that I desperately needed in my life to keep showing up for the business I was growing. I was proving to myself that just because something’s hard doesn't mean I can't do it.
Note: Next time you think you can't do something, do it anyway. You never know what you'll discover in that discomfort.
Love, Mikayla
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