There comes a point when all of us think that we can not go anymore. That another step would kill us, turn of the pedal drain what little energy we have left, rep under the weight of a barbell crush us. Well the truth is, you are thinking you can’t so how the hell could you possibly expect go any further? No matter what you are doing, this point is what many of us like to call the wall.

Time stops, its a surreal moment actually, and you are given a choice. I mean this very literally — your body actually asks your mind if it wants it to go further even though it may hurt, even though our bodies think we are spent and have nothing left to give. Those of us with the courage to take the harder path will say no, I want you to keep on going; whatever happens after that, I will deal with when the dust has settled.

I mean it is true isn’t it? Stop when your body says to and you will go home a little sore  with the sweat on your brow dried, and with a little rest you will be fine. You are no warrior because you can lay claim to conquering no great feat. When I say great feat I mean personal accomplishment, you only did what you knew you could. You did not try to push yourself past what you believe are your limits. But you say, who wants to go home beat and dead. This is who.

Be your own warrior. When your body is asking you to go home, take the reigns and fight back. This is where the pain begins. The burn becomes intense and you can actually feel the fibers in your muscles twitching from the continued stress but they are now slaves to your mind. This ship is not going to stop until you tell it to. It really is an amazing state of being. Our bodies begin producing endorphin in higher quantities, a substance similar to opiates to quell the pain to some degree because it now recognizes that you are not going to let it stop and so it must adapt.

When all is said and done you will likely be in pain but who told you pain does not go away. It is a temporary thing, but what you accomplished is forever. Nothing can take away what you did and you can revel in the fact that you did something that you might have thought was impossible and this is the greater point here.  Do not hold yourself to any set limitation, if you have the will power you can overcome just about anything.

So next time you are running, biking, repping weight, swimming laps or whatever, and your body asks you which road you are going to take, do not even hesitate and forge the unpaved path. Trust me, it will not kill you but it WILL show you who YOU really are.

Be strong, everyday.
Be your own warrior.

As Lance Armstrong said, Live Strong.

An amazing example of someone taking complete command of their body.