Happy Monday,
Getting good at anything difficult takes time.
You can try to speed up the process. You can learn from others’ mistakes. You can look for hacks that will get you where you want to go in less time. But in the end, there’s no substitute for learning from your own experience, and most shortcuts will make the process take even longer.
There’s also no escaping plateaus. No matter your goal, plateaus are a built-in part of the process. Progress happens in short spurts of growth followed by long periods of plateaus. Learn to expect these and don’t fight them.
Often, just when you think you’re finally making progress, you realize once again just how far you have to go.
This happened to me just the other day in my martial arts training. Just as I thought I was finally making some headway, I got humbled once again, realizing just how far I have to go before I can claim even a basic level of competency.
All of this is part of the process. Learn to trust it. Don’t rush things. The time will pass anyway.
Instead, try and settle into the journey. Know that you’re in this for the long haul. Trust that all your hard work will come together when the time is right.
And keep going.
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What I’m reading —
The Genius Zone: The Breakthrough Process to End Negative Thinking and Live in True Creativity by Gay Hendricks
I first read The Big Leap, Hendricks’ book on discovering and living in your “zone of genius” and working toward your true potential in life eight years ago and have read it over a dozen times since. The Genius Zone is best read as a follow up to that book. It’s short, to the point, and full of actionable advice on how to live creative and fulfilling lives.
What I’m watching —
Fantastic Fungi / Netflix
I don’t watch much TV, but this is an absolutely fascinating documentary on the world of fungi. It shows how much nature is connected and just how much there still is to learn about the earth. Highly recommended.
A quote that inspires me —
“What is defeat? Nothing but education. Nothing but the first step to something better.” — Bruce Lee
What I’m training —
Tuck jumps.
I’m not a naturally very coordinated person. Timing and coordination do not come easily to me. This week I’ve been working my timing on tuck jumps and high box jumps, really focusing on the timing and coordination so that eventually I’ll be able to build some more hops.
Three new workouts —
Medicine Ball Blaster HIIT Workout (12 minute, medicine ball)
264 Rep Bodyweight Challenge Workout (Time challenge, equipment-free)
100 Burpee Challenge (Time challenge, equipment-free)
And here’s a band and bodyweight workout I posted on Instagram.
Remember, you can get these and all future workouts right in the 12 Minute Athlete app when you subscribe as a Super Athlete (this is WAY cheaper than joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer! In addition, you’ll be helping to support the site and making future features to the app possible.).
As always, I value your feedback, so please feel free to reply directly to this email if you have any questions or comments (yes, I am a real human). I get a lot of emails and messages, so I can’t reply to all of them, but I do read everything you guys send me!
Here’s to trusting the process,
– Krista Stryker
PS. If you haven’t already, please check out my new Patreon community! We’re going to be having a live Q&A in the next few weeks and I’d love for you to join us.