Is the exhortation Don’t Stop different than Keep Going?
I often hear people saying that the best way to reach a goal is to keep going. As I was out running the other day, I wanted to reach my goal, to run five miles, but the idea of keeping going seemed too hard. I didn’t have the energy to keep going. What I found I could do was to not stop.
I’m curious to know what difference you see between “keeping going” and “not stopping”. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Stay off concrete and you’ll feel better. Cheers! Hilari
Hilari – what type of surface do you recommend?
I generally run on a paved trail (asphalt) or sidewalks. I will admit that I’m kind of terrified to run on the trails through the woods around here.
I am so proud of you!!! Don’t stop! I am going to try that on my daily walk to see if i can increase my distance. I get pains in my legs….. will keep you posted!
That is a fascinating insight as the research would support the opposite. When we are talking about disciplining children, the strategy that the research supports is to phrase a directive in the positive (ex., use walking feet versus don’t run). The mind doesn’t operate in negative statements, but does what it sees. So I wonder if the “Don’t Stop” directive told your brain to continue on the path that you were on without pause. Maybe your brain sees an end point (ex. run to the next mail box, then the next mail box). Give that distinction some thought on your next run! All of that brain energy will surely, if nothing else, be a great distraction from the “everything hurts”!
Hey Amy – anything to distract me from “everything hurts” is a good thing.
I knew that the brain recognize the negatives (a good thing to remember in marketing copy by the way). It was so weird while I was running, to keep going meant doing & expending more energy whereas don’t stop somehow more constant and easier. I definitely do a lot of “get to the next marker” of some sort… no mailboxes on the trail I was running on last weekend- it was the next pile of goose poop!
Thanks for your insights.