“I’m all about breaking mental boundaries, and training for a marathon falls right into the Jedi mind-training I need.” — Alicia Keys
Doing hard things makes us better on multiple levels, and the first truly hard challenge you accept will alter you for the rest of your life.
To do a marathon you need the acceptance of a challenge. You need to develop the mindset of someone that is committed. You develop discipline to week over week improve as you stretch out your distances and overcome the elements. You need to control your desires, and repeatedly put yourself in and through things that you don’t want to do but make you better.
You must stretch your personal beliefs.
You must face the fears and doubts, overcoming them through self trickery and hacking your mind.
Doing big things requires little sacrifices adding up.
Achieving greatness is about consistent effort over extended periods, then rising to the challenge and not stopping until you cross the finish line, a changed person.