"Do or do not. There is no try" Yoda once said.
But I did tri.
Back in 2015/16 I was going through changes and I felt a tad lost.
Change can present itself in many different ways and can be scary. Symptoms of dealing with change can be
- Irritability
- Low mood
- Self doubt
- Uncertainty
- Depression
I knew something had to change so I decided to challenge myself by doing the 2016 Salford sprint triathlon, after being encouraged by a friend to give it a go. That year, training for the triathlon was just one of many challenges. Following a redundancy I was prompted to have a change in career direction. I went back to University for a Masters degree in Business Management. While I was testing my mind, my body was also being put through it's paces. It was a daunting task and I had a few raised eyebrows at both endeavours.
But I was looking for new opportunities in my personal and professional life. It was hard, but I looked at tactics on how to embrace this and grab those opportunities. Here are 5 ways to embrace changes in your life.
- Research. Change can be very scary but that fear comes out of the unknown. Regain your power by learning about the change that you fear. Understand it and grow.
- Test yourself and say yes. Like a river, the course is never set. Go with the flow and you might be surprised by where it leads you.
- Change a negative to a positive. Like in a job interview “What are your weakness’” can, in a different light, be turned into your strengths. For example, you might be impatient, but in a different light, that could be shown as being a proactive doer. Step out of headspace and try to look at things from a different perspective.
- Appreciate the Monkey ‘old brain’. This brain is designed to spot dangers and stop you from doing things like being eaten by a tiger. But in today’s world, we are much safer than when the old brain first evolved in humans. Appreciate the caution that it is giving you, but don’t be ruled by it.
- Talk to other people. Generally, you already know the correct answer. You just need to talk it out.
That year I chose option 2 and said yes to the challenges!
The lesson I learnt from the experience was YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. The only limitation is what you put on yourself. I completed both and better than I had anticipated.
Through my triathlon training, I was thrown into the world of open water swimming. I trained at Salford Quays with the weekly slots run by Uswim. It is a great set up. One which allowed me to go at my own pace whilst feeling safe with the kayaks and safety boat not too far away. After the triathlon had passed I found myself back again at the Quays for a weekly cold water dip.
From the love of open water swimming, a new itch started. In 2020 (after the horrid lockdowns eased for a moment) I added SUPing to my hobbies thanks to being inspired by my friend @liverpoolsupco.
The open water has given me friends, confidence in my own abilities, body, and peace of mind thanks to my surroundings. Now it takes me into the world of online retail. Helping other women on their journey to finding their confidence and peace of mind by sharing the Changing Tube.
It all started with me saying 'Yes. Go on then'.
The path of a river is never set. It can move and change over time. What you were like at 15 will not be the same when you are 30, 45, 60. What I'm trying to say is that you are capable of anything and who knows where trying something will take you!
Embrace the challenge. Embrace the change. Take a deep breath and jump in!