Ahead of my Time
Posted: April 10, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, quotes, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 18 CommentsThe best is the enemy of good-
Why do we allow others to inflict the burden of excellence upon ourselves when we’re not even sure what it means? The broad discussion I am asking you to contemplate this morning: Is the quest for “elite” performance – results, eroding our true inner ambition, our true talents?
We should not be pushed away from developing enthusiasm, passion for our talents. We should not be trapped inside what is regarded as potential by the supportive folks around us. In essence: We are being caged by possibility. We are being driven towards developing an “excellence” that might be better called “obsession.”
Notes:
“Excellence” shouldn’t be a burden every time you click in, go for a run, step with presence on your yoga mat; achievement shouldn’t be a weathered rope around your neck in the gym(box) or a weight tied tightly around your waist. Doing well, just being you. Should be a choice, a gift, a chance, a pleasure … a chance to be free.
CultFit 
I need to read this post every day. Multiple times a day.
– Perfectionist Jill
Maybe leave the hair scrunchy thing in the car and let your hair down during your next run … 😉
Take care today!
Thank you for this, it’s as if you were reading my mind 🙂 Shared on FB
Thank you for sharing the post today 🙂 For some time now I have been trying to put into words how we allow others to burden us, suppressing our true talents. We see this a lot with kids and well meaning parents. As with most of my posts: A discussion best had with close friends and a few drinks. Be inspired today and please take care. 🙂
This is nice. Also sharing on my Facebook. Thanks —
Thank you so much!
very true…
I hope all is well 🙂 The topic today is rather “rich” and “dense” … Take care today and thank you for stopping over.
Right on! I was thinking about this but from a slightly different vantage point today. About there not being perfection and how we can move to ease. Here’s a link. http://wp.me/p3erQm-aM
This is what I love about the blogging community: Bringing together like minded folk, engaging in thoughtful conversation – Awesome!
I think this is a beautiful view. Thanks for the insight of another way to break the pain of reaching “perfection”. Your picture was also a motivation for me to accepts the risks with unknown results. Thank you for my dose of inspiration!
Our quest for perfection at times can be all consuming, leaving us with little time to focus on other areas in our lives. Much of what I try to write about here is rediscovering these hidden areas.:)
I hope you are having a great day, take care!
Terrific, thought-provoking post today! My ego, fueled by the opinions of others, can often “inflict the burden of excellence” on me. I need to learn how to run with my heart, and not with my head.
Thank you for this post. It feels so much better to work for the love of something. I needed this reminder today!
This is an excellent point you bring up and something I really struggled with last year. This year I’m a little torn… I want to be as fast as I can but I’ve taken it pretty easy so far and I’ve enjoyed myself a lot more. Great post and thanks for bringing it to the forefront.
Such an important point to make. Thank you!
I love this. I’m an avid runner, but not a gifted one. I highly doubt I will ever be an “elite” athlete, or even come close to it, and I struggle with this when deciding what kind of goals are worth setting. What matters is being the best version of yourself. It’s easier said than done, but comparing yourself to other people (who have completely different talents and circumstances than you) is the quickest way to misery. Great post.
true true true