Today, for the first time in nearly 20 years, I wrote an exam. A year ago, I changed careers, and this course is what will give me the boost I need to get going. So, this exam is my first hurdle towards calling myself a Digital Marketer.
Unlike any other time that I took an exam, I tried something different, I allowed failure to be an option. Deep down, I let my ego go. So what if I fail? What is the worst thing that could happen? Will I die? No. So failure is an option today.
I slept like a baby last night. I got up, did my regular routine, then drove an hour-and-a-half to write my exam. My heart rate never went over 60 bpm, before and during the exam. I was cool as a cucumber. My brain was solely focused on figuring out the 184 questions that I had to plow through.
The Reason for This Blog
The most magnificent reflections in my life come to me when I work out. There are all kinds of science behind why your mind opens up when you’re in beast mode. It’s the reason why many people become addicted to body movement in the first place -myself included.
Before each workout, I set an intention to learn something about my life and world. And then, I record it on this blog to encapsulate my thoughts and then share them with you.
What Was My Intention?
The intention for this workout was to clear my mind post-exam, shake out my muscles after 3 hours of driving and 3 hours of sitting.
This was just a janitorial “clean up on isle 5” workout.
How Did I Feel Before?
I was a little seized up from the drive, and I didn’t have the normal energy level that I usually do before a workout.
What Did I Do?
- Treadmill: Ran a 5k at a 4:26 min/km pace with easy hills.
- StairMaster: Climbed 46 flights of stairs in 10 minutes.
How Do I Feel After?
I’ve gotta admit, I’m pretty physically tired. I’m wondering if I should take a break tomorrow. But my mind feels excellent after finally getting my course completed.
What Did I Learn?
I learned a precious lesson on just how much my brain consumes energy. After my 5k run, I felt pretty tired. It’s not normal for me to feel tired after a 5k; sometimes, I’m even more energized. After climbing the stairs, I was completely wiped.
It’s been said that our brains consume 20% of our energy, it is the biggest energy hog in our body. This morning, I used it to it’s fullest capacity, and it didn’t leave me much for my workout. I can only imagine if I hadn’t allowed failure to be an option and added that stress to my day. I would have likely skipped my workout, and then how bad would I feel?
Stress is entirely under our control, it is a reaction to stimuli. Practicing proper stress management will restore you and will give you the energy you need to live your life to the fullest.
Oh, and I have good news! I passed my exam! I guess you can teach a middle-aged dog new tricks after all. He or she just has to be open to unlearn the stupid idea that a failure is an option.