Running With Vision: Mindsetናሙና

The Last Mile

After years of telling myself “You’re not a quitter,” toward the end of long runs, I decided a few years ago to change my wording and instead I now say, “I finish strong!”  Though there’s nothing wrong with the first statement, the second has a positive spin on it. It made me think differently about how I would finish a marathon. Not just getting through it and finishing, but finishing strong. So, on every run, even a short one, I began to see my last mile as mile 25. I began to see myself feeling and finishing strong. I visualized the finish line, all the work I’d put in, and how I would feel when I crossed the line. Instead of feeling like I can’t give up, I started feeling strong and upbeat as I hit that last mile. Shockingly, even after long runs, my last mile started to become one of my fastest. That mindset change helped me push myself harder than I ever had, and I began to believe that I could do something I’d never experienced before. After my training, I had developed a new habit at the end of every run that changed how I thought and performed, and in turn I got to finish a marathon actually feeling strong unlike the past races where I felt like I might collapse. Helen Keller once said, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” As you begin to exercise a positive mindset, I believe your actions will follow and you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish. 

As Christians, what is the last mile? What’s our goal? Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told his disciples they were to go into all the world telling others about Him. We have that same commission. To live our lives in a way that honors Him, and share the good news with those He has put in our sphere of influence. If we thought about this “last mile” every day, how would it change the way you lived? Would you be more aware of what you were saying or doing? Would it nudge you to give someone a call to encourage them or invite them to church? Let’s live a life on purpose, with the last mile in mind.

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