Go the distance.

As a runner, I do my best to follow the ‘start slow, finish fast' strategy.  It means I start each run intentionally slower than my body wants to go, then increase speed along the way to keep my energy and confidence in check, and prevent injuries.

It is important for me to know what distance I plan to go, and how prepared (or “in shape”) I am for what I want to do. This is how I pace myself.

Perhaps this strategy to pace ourselves in running also applies in our work, relationships, and lives too.

Move too fast into something new, and it can be a real problem. Like a runner who starts too fast in a marathon and hits exhaustion at mile seven, we can give or expect too much of ourselves too soon, get disoriented or hurt somewhere along the way, and end up out of alignment with ourselves and those around us. Too fast, too soon means we don't feel our way into the metaphorical terrain, and we don't go the distance we thought or even knew was possible.

The truth is, we're not usually all that sure about what's ahead. The course of each new experience will take unexpected ups and downs, and twists and turns. There’s a good chance we aren’t prepared or “fit” for what life has presented us either, and that is okay. We can take time to figure out how to make it sustainable and meaningful. How to make it work for all of us. We just have to pace ourselves.

Slow down. Pay attention. Trust that you can always pick up the pace later. Go the distance.