Hitting The Wall
Marathon runners call it “The Wall,” the part of a marathon when they feel they can’t go on. Their bodies feel like an elephant has jumped onto their shoulders and they have to carry it to the finish line.
It usually occurs at about the 20th mile. Everything is in slow motion - the pace - the mental faculties - the body. Some runners describe it as being legless.
In endurance sports, particularly cycling and running, hitting the wall or the bonk describes the condition when an athlete suddenly loses energy and becomes fatigued, the result of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles becoming depleted.
The spiritual path is the same. When we hit a wall, we experience spiritual fatigue. We are often discouraged and depleted, but when we think of the outcome, we get a second wind, break through the barrier and run for freedom.
To all of you on the path to freedom, don’t give up. To those who are not, the race is invigorating and exhausting, but you can still win and it's never too late to join.
Slowing down is better than stopping completely. Keep going even if you feel you can’t go on, keep striving.
The rewards of spirituality are worth the blood, sweat and tears.
10 comments:
Oh, my God!
Carl Jung is watching us...
I just finished a blog post and the angel of synchronicity made me write:
"Can you remember a time in your life when you were overcome with intense suffering—suffering so strong you felt you might cave in and give up the game?
"Remember when the suffering was over and you found you had a new sense of internal strength? You may have also experienced the flow of renewed initiative leading to solid improvements in your life-situation.
"Hope hides in the clouds of suffering—illumination spawning the silver lining of the future."
~ Alex from Our Evolution
we all face that wall at different times in our lives and in all kinds of circumstances..but you always make it through one way or another
We can slow down and be compassionate towards ourselves and let it be ok that we have hit a wall; but there is no turning back, and no stopping.
To have taken human birth is to have committed oneself to the spiritual journey though some of us are not aware of it.
It's ok to be stuck but as you said, "We have to keep going even if you feel like you can't." Life becomes too painful to live any other way once you are aware that you are on the spiritual journey.
Thanks for these wise words my friend!
May you ever be the Peaceful Warrior!
Alex,
Synchonicity speaks volumes. :D
Robert,
Just as long as we don't let the wall fall on top of us, we can step through it with accomplishment.
Hi Miruh,
That's a very good point - to be compassionate towards ourselves and not beat ourselves up. I like the phrase, "to have taken human birth is to have committed oneself to the spiritual journey."
That is truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing this glorious passage.
Thanks for walking in peace and love with me.
I think spiritual and emotional health is just as important as physical health.
Hi Uber,
Yes, they are all important to get through the gauntlet of life.
Running a real physical marathon is one thing I will do someday. I have friends who have do that and share stories of their own experiences. I also have a friend who used to train for triathalons. Another friend of mine trains for triathalons with his teenage son as a way to bond and strengthen his father-son relationship.
Personal challenges take on different forms. We each run for freedom within our own minds. We can do this figuratively and mentally even if we do not do it in an organized race. We are only ever in competition with ourselves that is, until we realize competition is just a human invention. We give meaning to what we choose, when we are ready not before.
Hi Liara,
I am so glad you reconfirmed what I have always thought - we are in competition with ourselves and the phantoms of illusions.
Thanks for running with this one. ;D
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