No Challenge? No Change.

It is so easy to slip into complacency and float along doing the same things over and over again. We stay in the same dead-end jobs, go to the same restaurants, and do same workout routine every time we hit the gym.

I have done this so many times in my life that I have lost count. When I notice this is happening, I try to challenge myself to try something new, or at least to follow a plan to accomplish something I know I can do.

A recent example of this is registering to run the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon on December 4 with my friend Lindsay, who conveniently lives near San Antonio in Austin.

Even though I routinely run four mornings a week, I knew I needed a training plan for the race, so I created a 14-week running plan that will up my mileage, especially on weekends, and make me do some speedwork every week.

My plan starts the last week in August, and I am looking forward to the challenge—I am ready to be woken up out of my running rut and change the way I have been running.

What about you? What challenge can you think of that will wake you up and change the way you do things?

It is only by challenging ourselves on a regular basis that we change and grow. Sometimes we just need a friendly reminder to get us going.