Additude is everything. It is our additude or mindset that makes a difference in outcomes. We may have an obstacle that we can’t imagine how we will ever overcome. Or, maybe we have a goal of something we’ve always wanted to do but struggle to believe we can actually do it. The first obstacle or step that needs to be examined is our mindset. If we ask ourselves, “How am I thinking about this obstacle or goal?” or, “What am I telling myself about this?” we will discover our mindset. A negative mindset will get in our way every time, guaranteed.

I recently had the goal of running a 1/2 marathon. On my practice runs, I would feel pain in my hip and question why I ever wanted to do this. I would get mad and resort to walking. My husband jokingly referred to me as an “angry runner.” I was! I wasn’t having fun, but I didn’t let go of my goal to run a 1/2 marathon. I wanted to challenge myself to do something I wasn’t sure I could do. Yet, that was my problem. I didn’t at the heart of it believe I could do it and when I felt the pain, I took that as a sign that I couldn’t. I would give into the pain in those moments and let it get the best of me and I’d resort to walking. Rather than learn to tolerate the pain and discomfort, I gave into it. However, when the 1/2 marathon came along. I made up my mind I was going to run the whole way. I was determined not to walk. And guess what? I ran the whole 13.1 miles (and without any cussing or walking). I think I even surprised my husband!

There were many lessons in this experience for me but the big take away was to examine my attitude in facing any obstacle or challenge. Another lesson for me was the importance of learning to tolerate discomfort and pain. There are many things in life that can be uncomfortable or even painful. If we let the discomfort or pain deter us we might never discover what is on the other side of that discomfort or pain. If we can learn tolerance, we just might discover what is possible and what we are truly capable of.