Believing is Seeing
Visualization is an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to achieving our goals and it intrinsically ties into one of our coaching philosophies that believing is seeing. Sometimes, in order to believe in ourselves, we need someone else to believe in us first. One of my biggest believers my whole life is my grandma. She believes in me so wholeheartedly I can’t help but believe, too. She took me shopping for my first business suit. I was still in college and I was getting ready for an interview with Gannett in what I perceived to be their very fancy tower in McLean, Virginia. Gannett publishes USA TODAY along with hundreds of local media outlets and I remember thinking to myself that day, there is no way I am getting this job right out of college. In her kind, caring, comforting, quite persuasive personality my grandmother very calmly and subtly shopped with me that day but we did more than just buy a business suit. In this incredibly bold but balanced way she helped me to see beyond the interview, she showed me what it was going to look like when I got the job, which I did!
She has been helping me see success my whole life. Oh my gosh I am grateful. In running, like all things, she is super supportive. It makes me laugh because after every race one of the questions she always ask me is: “Did you win?” I literally laugh out loud. I’m like: “No, grandma, I did not win the New York City Marathon.” She doesn’t ask because she thinks winning is the most important thing. Hardly. She asks because in her head and heart she truly and sincerely believes I can win. Last year, I won the Old Bust Head Benefit 5K. Hundreds of people run this race. And I was the first place female finisher. I don’t say this to be boastful. I share this because I completely credit this win to visualization and I want to emphasize how helpful a tool this can be in running and in life.
On the day of this particular race, I was having dinner with my grandmother that evening. As I walked to the event, this thought pops into my head: “What if, when my grandma asks me if I won, I can say yes.” This tiny thought grew and grew and grew. I pictured the win. I could see it and hear it and feel it. In my mind, I already won the race. It was as powerful and fruitful a visualization exercise as I have ever experienced. And it wasn’t about winning. It was about believing I could. I was so excited I couldn’t even wait until dinner that evening, I called my grandmother almost immediately after crossing the finish line to thank her. I told her I won and she said: “Of course you did.”
Surround yourself with people who believe in you. And be among the people who believe in you! The mind is a powerful thing and when we believe in ourselves, we can accomplish amazing things. If you need someone to help you believe in you, we are here and happy to help!