Let Go and Enjoy the Ride
TENACIOUS TUESDAY ~ When I first starting cycling years ago, my favorite thing to do was climb hills. The bigger the hill, the more fun I was having. I craved the feeling of reaching the top knowing how hard I had worked to get there. The downhill felt sweeter when it felt earned. Even with that, I rode my brakes most of the way down. Running was much the same, I would charge up hills and pace myself coming down. During a race, a good friend said to me, ‘You’re doing it backwards! Conserve your energy going up and let it all out going down.’ But, for whatever reason, I resisted letting the momentum carry me out of fear of losing some control. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
During training for my second triathlon, I realized that if I wanted to surpass my PRs (personal records), I had to do more than build strength in my climbs. I needed to lay off the brakes and pick up speed on the other side. And that’s when things started to shift. I did the thing that scared the bike shorts off me and went fast, downhill, surrendering to the speed and trusting I wouldn’t lose control. Yes, it worked, but more importantly I discovered a second rush in learning to let go. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Collectively, we’ve all weathered the last few months by learning to let go of some control in our lives. Sometimes we step willingly into these types of transitions and other times we leave a trail of scuff marks in our wake from digging our heals in resistance. When it’s all said and done, what often transpires is that the thing we are fearing most brings a surprising jolt of energy, a spark we need to reawaken our spirit. We tend to hold on tightly to habits, ideas, situations, even people, that feel comfortable and safe because we fear the unknown or the sense of loss of control. To loosen the grip takes trust, faith and a dose of courage but it’s well worth the risk. You can’t fly unless you’re willing to let go and leap. What are you waiting for?