The negative effects of stress and pressure are only a problem if we let the subconscious monkey brain be in charge. To reach our potential for running enjoyment while also maintaining motivation at a high level, we must have a cognitive strategy to deal with the situation. Each positive step you take will empower your conscious brain to take control away from the subconscious.
You don’t have to eliminate the stress to be motivated, but you must acknowledge it. Honesty is the best policy, and denial results in more stress later.
You must acknowledge that stress is causing the pain and loss of motivation or mental focus. Until you take conscious action to be aware of what is going on, the subconscious brain will control the situation, causing it to become more negative. Just a statement to yourself (“I am under stress and I’m going to deal with it”) is the first step that will engage the conscious frontal lobe to take control over subconscious reflex thoughts and actions.
Consciously acknowledging each source of stress will help you deal with it and stay on track. Remember that you don’t have to resolve the issue or eliminate it. Simply say to yourself that you know that these specific stresses are bothering you.
Positive Steps
Develop a coping strategy that allows the conscious left brain to override the subconscious reflex brain. Follow the plans in the chapter, Mental Training Strategies. Just telling yourself that you have a plan and believing in the plan can change the secretions of hormones and start the positive emotional messages which are communicated between your mind and body.
Pressure can be acknowledged and managed by communicating with the people who have expectations. It is appropriate to ask the question: “What are your expectations of me in this area?” A simple conversation with key people can set up positive plans for understanding, adjusting, and then managing the expectations. Taking action in each area will continue to give you more control over the situation and improve attitude.
Through mental training, the subconscious reflex brain can be reprogrammed. In the chapter, Mental Training Strategies, you will learn how to break up the stressful challenges into a series of steps. This makes the task doable, which continues to stimulate the positive secretions, and the peptides transmit positive messages through the mind–body network.
Gentle running with the right run walk run ratio will produce endorphins. These create a positive shift by themselves. Endorphins are powerful attitude adjusters.
A series of positive actions generate momentum. The mind and body sense that things are improving, which lowers stress. As we move our feet and legs, walking and running toward the workout goal for that day, we turn on brain circuits which secrete brain hormones. Combined with positive mantras and thoughts, you can move your mental attitude into the positive direction you need as you open up the blood flow to key areas.