28 November 2024

The Power of Small Steps

Break Through Resistance

Our minds are incredible tools, capable of imagination, creativity, and planning. But they can also be the very things that stop us before we’ve taken the first step toward our goals. That initial moment—beginning from a standstill—is often the hardest part of any journey toward change or success.

Whether your goal is monumental or seemingly small, the principles remain the same: it starts with a single step.

Shifting Into Action

To begin, we often need to shift a few things:

Our Thinking: Replacing doubt with belief.
Our Habits: Building systems that serve our goals.
Our Focus: Directing attention away from obstacles and toward what’s possible.

Ironically, the same mindset that propels us forward is also the one that keeps us locked in place. Resistance whispers excuses, self-doubt clouds our vision and inertia becomes the default. But here’s the key: you don’t need to tackle the entire mountain at once.

Take one step. Just one.

Congratulations—you’re already closer to your goal than you were a moment ago. Now, take another.

Each step builds momentum and before you know it you’ve created a rhythm. Small consistent steps form the foundation of big achievements.

Overcoming Resistance

The Silent Opponent Resistance is everywhere. It shows up as procrastination, fear or the inner voice questioning why you’re even trying. This is where mantras and promises to ourselves come into play.

These are the tools that can override the moments when motivation or enthusiasm inevitably wavers.

One mantra that has worked time and again is: “I’ll do it anyway.” This phrase cuts through the noise of doubt. It’s the voice of action speaking louder than that of hesitation. It’s a refusal to let resistance dictate your choices.

The “So What” Muscle

As ultra runners, we can learn to cultivate a “so what” mindset:
So what if it hurts?
So what if I don’t feel motivated?
So what if the goal seems overwhelming?
These are just transitory moments in the experience. They don’t last, and they don’t define us. In fact, I’d say that our superpower lies in the confidence that everything changes.

Feelings, moods, emotions—they are all temporary. The very nature of existence is change, and every tough moment will eventually give way to something else. This knowledge allows us to push forward, even when it feels difficult.

Mindfulness: Paying Attention to Experience

The stories we tell ourselves about discomfort are often the source of unnecessary suffering. The aversion to how we feel—not the feeling itself—is what makes things harder. Mindfulness teaches us to pay close attention to our experiences with curiosity and acceptance.

When we focus on the energy patterns and sensations that come with thoughts and emotions, we realise they’re like signatures—unique, fleeting, and always shifting. By noticing their impermanence, we loosen their grip on us. We stop resisting and start connecting with experience.

The acronym we use at Future Trails is A.C.E. Attention, Connection, Experience.

Living a Lifetime in a Day, Running an ultra marathon is a profound metaphor for life. In a single day, you experience highs and lows, joy and struggle, doubt and triumph. It’s a condensed version of the human experience, where each mile teaches you something about yourself and the world around you. I think I’ll forever maintain that running teaches us more about life than it does about running.

Through running and through life we come to understand that every step matters, every moment passes and every obstacle can be overcome with perseverance and attention.

So when resistance whispers that the goal is too big, that you can’t do it or that you’re not ready – remember this:

Take one step
Do it now
You’re already closer

What a life to have lived.

If you would like to know more about Eddy Prince Ultra Runner Coaching please find his details below and feel free to get in contact with him to see how he can help with Ultra Marathon that is Life.