Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
Now let's get started by talking about something that has the ability to zap your motivation perhaps more than anything else can... complaining. But this toxic pattern of thinking and speaking doesn't just destroy your desire or willingness to step up to the start line or press on to the finish line, it can increase your levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Chronically high levels of cortisol can then lead to a variety of health problems, including increased risk of depression, digestive problems, sleep issues, higher blood pressure and even increased risk of heart disease.
And do you know what else complaining has the power to do? Affect the morale of those people you are running with. Ever heard the saying, "One bad apple spoils the bunch?" Well one complaining runner can have the same effect. A person who is speaking negatively can literally ruin a run for everyone around them by causing them to take on those negative thoughts themselves. And as every runner knows, a positive mindset is the key to completing a run or race; especially a long or hard one.
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| Gretchen and Rachel are beside me after completing the 50k with our friends joining us to walk the last 4 miles |
Consider the following example from Monday's run with two of my best friends, Rachel and Gretchen. We were intent on running a 50k on a trail near our home. Midway into the race though, I made the remark that it was going to get really hot really quick. And while I thought I was preparing my friends for what was to come, it must have sounded like a complaint because Gretchen called me out on it, "Hey!" she said. "It's not like you to complain. What's up with that?" "Yikes!" I responded. "I certainly didn't mean for it to come out that way. Let's turn that around. Boy am I thankful for the shade this trail provides. It's gonna be a great run!" And just like that the mood changed back to being positive. And it's a good thing that it did because very soon after deciding to speak only things that were clearly and over the top encouraging, enthusiastic and uplifting, Gretchen took a spill on the trail and might have given up without the words and spirit of exhortation she heard and felt from the other runners in our group. Even when the pain caused her to walk the last few miles, she didn't give up. With friends by her side to cheer her on, she pressed on to the finish line. That's how powerful our words and actions are. They have the power to build up or to tear down. And in the case of running, they have the power to discourage or encourage which determines whether a person gives up or gives it their all.
Gretchen said it like this, "Words of encouragement have so much power because when you undertake a difficult physical task, it is draining. If people are complaining, that just adds to the mental drain. I feel like keeping a positive, "I can do this" helps to keep the body moving. Knowing you have people on your side who want to see you be successful can make all the difference. And then she added... Finding the right group of friends to do all the crazy things with you makes a world of difference!
And the right group of friends is always the group that doesn't complain!! Surround yourself with people who are positive and you'll not only find that you have an easier time reaching your goals, but will eventually adopt the same mindset that aims to see the positives in every situation.... a mindset that is crucial if you want to overcome the many obstacles you will encounter over a lifetime of running.
1. It Makes You More Likely To Think Negatively
The more you complain, the more likely you are to think negative thoughts later on. Neuroscientists commonly use the phrase “Synapses that fire wire together,” to explain this concept.
Every time you complain, your brain physically rewires itself to make it easier and more likely for that reaction — aka the type of thought — to occur again. Negative thinking ends up breeding more negative thinking.
2. It Can Damage Your Memory
MRI scans show that constant complaining can lead to shrinking of the hippocampus, the region in your brain responsible for cognitive functioning.
A smaller hippocampus leads to a decline in memory and the ability to adapt to new situations, among other functions. This can occur from even just a few days of stressing out and lead to long-term damage.
3. It Increases Your Levels Of Cortisol (The Stress Hormone)
When you complain, you increase your levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Chronically high levels of cortisol can lead to a variety of health problems, including increased risk of depression, digestive problems, sleep issues, higher blood pressure and even increased risk of heart disease.
4. It Can Shorten Your Lifespan
Constant complaining is not only bad in the moment, but it can be detrimental in the long run. One study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that optimists live longer than pessimists, with a 55 percent lower risk of death from all causes and a 23 percent lower risk of dying from heart failure.
5. It Makes The People Around You Negative Too
No one wants to be around unpleasant people, but if you keep complaining, you might find your peers adapting these negative habits as well. Listening to someone complain makes you more likely to be negative as well, which can just perpetuate the desire to release all those unhappy thoughts.
As they say, birds of a feather tend to flock together, so if you want more positivity, look for people who keep their sour thoughts to themselves.
So there you have it friends. If you want more positivity in your life (and we all should if we want to be happy and successful in our homes, in our relationships, in our work and in our running), find positive friends who refuse to waste time complaining about the things they can't change and who are too busy changing the things they can to give negativity a second thought. You'll not only be doing yourself a favor but will find that people flock to you. And who couldn't use a few more friends to run with right? So get out there with joy in your heart and a smile on your face today and remember... no complaining!
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