What’s Your Achilles Heel?

I haven’t always been a runner. In fact, I don’t really consider myself one now. To be honest, I don’t know when someone like me actually kneels and is dubbed Sir Runner. I suppose that paying to run in the form of what most normal people would refer to as “crazy races” has something to do with it. Or perhaps it’s my new Android app with the British accent lady that so eloquently reminds me of how many miles I am from home – on one of the only days it chooses to rain in the good Ol’ Pueblo. I guess I am a runner because I didn't turn around.

I still can recall my freshman year of high school. I had played football in the eighth grade and the team was, in fact, horrible. I do recall that I had fun though. I had enough fun to go ahead and enlist myself into freshman football. It turned out to be not only a horrible team but also a horrible experience. You see, I wasn't an athlete – I wasn't expected to perform. In fact, I’m willing to bet that all bets were against me as to whether I’d show up for the next practice session. I did.

About two weeks into the season, I developed what the doc termed “Achilles Tendonitis” – in both legs. Sure, not a terrible condition, one might say. For me, it hurt like a son of a b**ch and most days I had a difficult time walking let alone performing athletically. I also had a knee issue that caused a good amount of pain there too. To make matters worse, I didn't have the experience of a good coach who was able to see something inside that I couldn't. I limped through the entire season. Suffice it to say that freshman football scared the bejesus out of me! After that, I wanted nothing to do with running or any exercise at all. In fact, I thought those types of people who enjoy this stuff were just plain crazy. I met my Achilles heel, literally.

As you could imagine, I didn't become an all-star quarterback or lead my team to victory. I did learn something though. It wasn't until eight years or so later that I mustered enough courage to put freshman year of high school to rest and enlist in the military. Sure, the Air Force has been known for being at least a bit lighter in the physical training demands, compared to other services – this was still a big step for me! I made it through and later deployed to Iraq and became the most physically fit I had ever experienced. I don’t think this was mere coincidence. I think the atmosphere, camaraderie and all the other stars simply aligned to help coach me to better physical shape. I set goals and met them, regardless of the past and what I thought was impossible.

As humans, I think we often find ourselves crippled by our very own perceptions of our circumstances. That is, an Achilles heel takes over and robs us of the power and ability we truly have within. We become injured, whether it is physically, emotionally or otherwise, and then often throw in the towel. This response never results in success.

As we press on into a new year, think about what’s holding you back from achieving the things most important to you. Is your Achilles heel really all that debilitating? It may just be that all you need is a slightly different approach, a different perspective or newfound motivation flowing from a different source. After all, you might just accomplish more than you ever imagined was possible.

I've come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy. - Tony Robbins