some thoughts on setting goals

Even if you never play an organized sport or compete for a championship, it’s important for every single one of us to aim for something as we pursue active lives of health, wellness, and fitness.  In fact, sometimes the biggest reason that people don’t get involved with running, for example, is that they don’t have a clear motivating factor in mind.  There’s no trophy.  No screaming crowd.  No screaming coach, pushing us forward.  Yet, there’s something that we can all use as motivation to become people who walk, run, and live lives of physical activity and health: goals.  Setting goals for yourself can be, in some ways, the best kind of motivation!  You’re holding yourself accountable to go after something – because it’s worth it.  With that in mind, here are just a few tips for you as you consider making some personal goals this school year in the area of running and physical fitness:

1.       Set REALISTIC goals.  You’re not going to get anywhere if you set yourself up for failure.  If you’ve never run a mile before, don’t set a goal of running 3 miles in 18 minutes!  That kind of goal will only create disappointment and frustration.  Set goals that you believe, after careful thought, are realistically achievable given your body, your time, and your situation.

2.       Set CHALLENGING goals.  There’s no point setting goals that will be a breeze to achieve!  To reach a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, you’ll need to set goals that will require some serious sweat and hard work to attain.  Challenge yourself.  Push yourself.  You’ll be glad you did!

3.       Find someone to HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE to work toward your goals.  Don’t keep your goals a secret!  You should set them on your own in a realistic way, but it will be very important to “let someone in” on your commitment.  If you’re committing to running a mile every day, then ask your friend to text you every morning to remind you to follow through on your commitment.  If your goal is to complete a 5K race, then sign a buddy up with you, and ask them to talk to you all the time about the race you’re going to run together.  Don’t try to do it all alone!

4.       CELEBRATE the completion of your goals.  Running a race – or just running every day for a week – may not be a big deal to some people.  But, if you completed your goal, it’s a big deal to you!  Celebrate a little bit.  Take satisfaction in meeting a goal that you set, especially if it took a lot of hard work and sweat to get there.

5.       Set NEW goals.  Don’t stop after you complete one set of goals.  Make it a practice!  It’s good to always be working toward something – whether in running, health, or life in general.  Be a person that is constantly setting realistic and challenging goals, meeting them, and then moving on to new ones.  Before you know it, you’ll be further along than you ever thought you would be!

I hope these have been helpful.  Remember, you can start by making some goals TODAY.  Don’t wait until tomorrow.  Set realistic goals.  Set challenging goals.  Find a friend, and tell him or her about your goals.  Then…go after them with everything you’ve got!

5 things: Olympics style.

"The Olympics are a wonderful metaphor for world cooperation, the kind of international competition that's wholesome and healthy, an interplay between countries that represents the best in all of us.”
- John Williams

As athletes from country after country file into the arena, dressed in colorful garb (as unique as the countries they represent), the diversity of the total picture continues to grow.  Different countries.  Different colors.  Different languages.  Brought together for two fabulous weeks.  I’m talking of course about the Olympic games.  You’ve probably been as glued to your television set as our family has!  So, what is it about this amazing gathering that captures our eyes...and grabs our hearts?  What is it about sport that has the capacity to bring so many drastically different peoples and cultures together like this?

First, sport speaks a common language.  It doesn’t take the same vocal vocabulary to appreciate and celebrate a powerful volleyball spike, to marvel at a perfect bullseye, or to revel in a long-awaited victory for a teenage gymnast.  Athletes and fans all over the world speak the language of sport; it’s a vocabulary that we all share, know, and love.

Second, sport exposes the range of human emotion.  Unlike almost any other area of life, the realm of athletics gives human beings exposure to the joy of victory, the struggle of competition, and, sometimes, the agony of defeat.  Everyone in the world understands the elation of a goal achieved...and the bitter pain of failure and loss.  In one game – one competition – sport exposes us to these dynamic and powerful emotions.

Third, sport – and especially the Olympics – comes to us inseparably tied to human stories.  I’m sure you’ve been as fascinated as I have by the stories of adversity, pain, setback, struggle, and growth of so many of the Olympic athletes.  Everyone has their own story...and they each bring them along to the great arena that is the Olympic games.  These stories go with the athletes as they run, shoot, lift, hit, and swim.  They motivate them, make them stronger, and bring meaning to their achievements.

Fourth, sport implies cooperation.  Competition, as fierce as it may be, takes place between people and countries who have gathered together and agreed to compete!  They compete according to a set of rules, and they do so for the sake of the beauty of sport.  The Olympic competitions give us a great picture of peace – even in the midst of struggle.

Fifth, and finally, sport brings health and fun to life.  Sports are not life in themselves.  There is much more to life than a big dive, a made basket, or a fast sprint.  And yet, sports contribute vitality and health to life.  They encourage us, inspire us, and enrich our understanding of life and humanity.

As you watch the Olympics conclude...enjoy the wonder of sport.  And I hope you make some room for exercise in your schedule, too, this week!