Fitness has become my outlet. It’s gotten to the point where if I don’t go to the gym, I feel sluggish and cranky. Since having started a regular fitness routine other changes in my life have become apparent as well. I went from having a sporadic sleep schedule to regularly getting my eight hours in. My nutrition has improved immensely. I’m happier and slower to anger. My motivation to do well in all aspects of my life (school, fitness, relationships, work) has gone through the roof.

It wasn’t the additional fitness routine that has caused these improvements (at least in my opinion), but it was instead a changed mindset. I transitioned from having a fixed mindset, the “I can’t do this because it’s hard” mentality, the complainer personality to having faith in myself.

I began living life like I was on a treadmill.

It’s a fitness metaphor, but one that I believe many people can relate to. It’s one of the most basic cardio machines and one that many people gravitate towards at the gym. So if you’ve been to the gym ever, you’ve most likely used one. If you have never used a treadmill, it’s likely that you know what they are.

When you’re on a treadmill, you must move forward.

If you stop on a treadmill, you fall off. Regardless of the speed, if you suddenly stop moving on a treadmill, you will eventually fall off. In life, you must keep moving forward. As my favorite little fish says, “Just keep swimming.” If you halt your life, you aren’t making progress, you aren’t going anywhere. Even if you’re taking small baby steps on a treadmill, you’re making progress - you’re moving forward and you’re challenging yourself to go a little further. Similar to your everyday life, even if you’re taking tiny steps to get to your goal, you ARE making progress. If you stop, however, you’re not improving and you will find yourself in a rut before long.

On a treadmill, you can take “side steps.”

I’m sure there’s a more technical term for this, but I call them side steps. When someone has been sprinting at a high speed they often jump so their legs are on either side of the moving belt to give themselves a break and take the chance to lower their speed. What you’ll notice, however, is that most people keep one leg on the treadmill in that moving motion. This is keeping their joints active and is helping to keep their heart rate up. It is important to take a side step every once in awhile to allow yourself to slow down and regroup.

You can even pause the belt while you’re on a treadmill.

This is important to do every once in awhile to give yourself a break. We often go at such high intensities that we need a second to regroup. By pausing the belt after having gone for a long distance or at a high speed and giving yourself a rest you are effectively preparing yourself for getting back on the treadmill, to keep moving forward.

You control the speed of the treadmill.

This is important. You should be in charge of your life at all times. It’s important to know that you if, at times, you need to slow everything down, you can do that. If you want to pick up your speed, you can do that as well. You are in charge of your life.

You have control over the adversity in your life and you should embrace it.

I prefer the treadmills that have the option to run at an incline. It gives workouts that extra something. In life, you should embrace the adversity that life throws at you. Welcome the ability to struggle uphill. The longer you walk uphill, the more your body adjusts and the more you grow.

Live life like you're on a treadmill. Control your speed and embrace the adversity. Never be afraid to move to the side or even pause for a second if you need to, but alway keep moving forward.