When You’re Bound to What’s Holding You Back

Did you know that you’re not meant to be held captive? You’re meant to be free. Free to explore your passions, to serve others, and to live a full and happy life.

But how many of us are actually doing that? How many of us are bound to what holds us back – our anxiety, depression, fears, body image issues, empty bank accounts, jobs? Dare I keep going…

I have a message for you. One of hope and love and forgiveness. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I filmed (recorded?) this after a gym workout. It’s not edited. And it’s basically a stream of consciousness post.

[wpvideo DAS3CiWD]

Don’t want to listen? Read here:

Hi everybody.

 

There’s something I want to share.

As you probably know, I’ve been injured for the past three months and it’s not fun. I never realized how much of an outlet running was for me. Well I mean I did know. That’s why I write a blog about it, but I never truly had it taken away from me before. And now I have. I I never realized how much I depended on it. No longer do I have 9 miles to pound out the things inside of me.

It’s been a long, tumultuous, humbling experience and I’ve had to turn to other means of exercise besides running. Which is just weird and awkward for me.

The point is, I found that throughout this time, my emotions and mental stability have been all over the place. And, in a way, it’s brought me back to that place of “Oh my gosh, I used to feel this way all the time.” But now when I feel anxious, depressed, whatever it is at the moment, I know how to pull myself out of it. And that was always running. And now running has been taken away, but I’ve found that there are actually other outlets to help, too.

And for me, that’s other forms working out, giving back to the community, connecting with other people – that really helps me feel better.

I have found that when you’re in those dark places – low, anxious – you’re really bound to them. They seem to control your every action, I guess you could say.

It’s tough, it’s really tough.

Its not easy, but the good news is there’s hope. There’s running for those of you who can run and there are other outlets, as well.

And it takes time to find out what it is that works for you. Truly setting goals and finding out what it is that sets you free so that you’re not bound to what’s holding you back.

It’s also being grateful for what you have and not taking anything for granted

And realizing that just because somebody is way up here and it looks like they’re doing all of these awesome things, that doesn’t mean that you’re way down there and you’re so much less, right?

But we fall into that mindset, of course.

That’s not what it means, though.

And it takes reminding yourself and breaking free of that thought process to really be able to step back and say, “NO, just because I can’t do XYZ or just because I’m on a different path in life doesn’t mean that I’m any less.”

Just because I can’t go out and run doesn’t mean that I can’t go out and find a different way to work through my problems.

And that’s the message that I want to relay to you all.

You don’t have to be bound down to whats binding you down.

You don’t have to.

You are.

Yeah.

But if you truly set your mind to it – setting goals and using trial and error to figure out what works and what doesn’t work and always staying positive through it all and not comparing yourself to others. 

I write a running blog… and I’m not even running! There are so many other important and beautiful things in this life.

Do not let comparison be thief of joy. Do not stay bound. We are not creatures who are meant to be captured. We are meant to be set free so find your passion.

Figure it out! You have it inside of you. You know what it is! You’re just letting yourself live it. I wasn’t. Especially in the last few weeks I wasn’t. I was playing the “woe is me” card.

But you can’t do that you can’t. It’s not worth your mental sanity and wellbeing.