After announcing my two-month summer sabbatical, I heard from many of my readers. What came through loud and clear was that the idea of taking a significant break was quite appealing. But along with all the “I wish I could do that” or “I really need a sabbatical,” there was a chorus of reasons why it was unfeasible and impractical, at least right now. This realization that many of us desperately want and need a break has permeated my thoughts for weeks.
Then I viewed an Instagram reel from Allison Hare, who had interviewed me last year on her podcast. She was setting out for a 12-Hour walk and walking out her front door for twelve hours with no external input – no music, podcasts, audiobooks, social media, conversations, etc.- just her and her thoughts. As I watched Allison’s video at the end of her twelve hours and the day after, it struck me that she experienced something akin to a mini-sabbatical.
My curiosity about this potentially life-altering experience spurred me to listen to Colin O’Brady’s audiobook, The 12-Hour Walk. It’s an inspiring book with many stories from O’Brady’s experiences as a multi-world-record-holding endurance athlete. After listening to the book, my biggest takeaway was that we need to examine the limiting beliefs that are holding us back from experiencing growth and reaching our potential.
What is a limiting belief? It’s a state of mind about yourself that restricts your thinking, attitudes, and behavior (aka mindset) in some manner. Our high-stakes achievement culture, for instance, continues to produce students with unhelpful restrictive mindsets around school and their learning fueled by limiting beliefs about their abilities that sound like, “I’m not smart enough”, “I’m not creative”, “I can’t write”, “I can’t do….”, or “I’m not good at…”. These beliefs lie at the heart of their productivity paralysis.
We all have limiting beliefs. One area I have always doubted and discounted my ability is my athleticism (or lack thereof). I believe I am uncoordinated, self-conscious, and intimidated on a team, and I am adamantly opposed to sweating and breathing heavily. These are super convenient reasons (limitations) for talking myself out of the 12-Hour Walk challenge.
To confront my limiting beliefs head-on, I generated a list of my fears and concerns on my kitchen whiteboard.
1. My plantar fasciitis will get worse, and I’ll be in pain or unable to walk.
2. Where will I pee? (Seriously, that’s a big one!)
3. What if it’s bad weather?
4. Where will I walk?
5. What if I can’t finish the walk?
These fears center around my need for comfort and control and my fear of failing. Yikes, busted! I (quite literally) need to walk the talk and take my own advice.
P.S. I completed the 12-Hour Walk! I know I sound like a broken record, but what we choose to model is our superpower so check out my YouTube playlist to witness me walk my talk.
What are your limiting beliefs?
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