What Is Your Limit

Limits are set due to a number of different factors, and unfortunately, the biggest limiting factor that hinders our ability to exceed our limits and grow our potential for success is often ourselves. We tend to be our own weakest link, the one variable that is changeable and never truly constant. It can be all too easy to get distracted by external influences and ultimately give up on our goals, which prevents us from reaching our full capabilities.

Everyone has a personal limit, and at what point do I make the decision to continue pushing forward, or do I decide to give up because it's just too difficult and too hard an effort? It is precisely at this crucial juncture that a critical decision has to be made: should I simply stop and accept failure, or should I choose to continue on and strive for success? But do we really know what the right choice is? It’s quite challenging to determine the correct decision, as sometimes the best option may be to pause, reassess and change direction. On the other hand, there are moments when the right answer is to persevere and push through the obstacles in order to achieve success. But when exactly do we know which path is truly the correct one?

Well, training and discomfort inevitably go hand in hand, and you simply won’t know the extent of your capabilities until you actively position yourself in situations of discomfort. This is essential for growth. Experiencing such discomfort will, in turn, present various decisions for you to make regarding your response. Once you have gone through this challenging process a few times, you will gradually learn whether to back off and take a break or to persevere and push through the discomfort with renewed determination.

The saying goes, “No Pain, No Gain.” While this phrase is often considered rather vague, it ultimately raises the question of whether it truly defines who you become in the end. I'm not entirely sure; a firm “yes” or “no” seems inadequate as a verdict. It really depends on the type of pain we are discussing. Take, for example, the kind where your muscles are screaming for relief, your body is filled with lactic acid, and your mind is insisting you stop. That is a bearable type of pain, and it is these very efforts that we need to endure and push through in order to expand your fitness and break through your limits.

However, let it be clear that these types of efforts are not something you should undertake every single day. It’s crucial to recover well from them in order to repeat and improve your performance consistently. This cycle allows you to push those limits higher and higher. Not fun, you say? Absolutely not fun! But in order to genuinely succeed in your fitness journey, these efforts are undeniably required.

But there is another type of pain that is not only deep and unbearable but also incredibly damaging, one that compels us to stop and take a moment to reassess our current situation. This kind of reflection is essential, as it allows us to make the correct decision to pause and not push ourselves to continue in that moment. By doing so, we position ourselves to progress later on, instead of regressing because of the often misleading "no pain, no gain" attitude.

All being said, limits are often established to contain us and keep us within certain boundaries. However, it ultimately comes down to whether you truly wish to explore these boundaries or not. As for me, I’m someone who loves to push these limits to discover what I am really capable of, especially after experiencing Sepsis. I want to prove to myself that my journey with Sepsis is not the end of the road; rather, it’s a chance to change and turn my life around. While, understandably, some aspects of life are unchangeable, but we are adaptable. The limits that Sepsis attempted to instill within me are the very ones I am determined to delete and reprogram. It is indeed hard work, and it’s certainly not easy. The process takes plenty of trial and error, and I have encountered my fair share of setbacks along the way, which have helped me to better understand where my limits lie and just how far I can truly push them.

Ultimately, it’s about being strategically smart in how you approach and tackle your personal limits while making steady progress. Remember, progression can take place in both large leaps and smaller steps; it’s essential to understand that, at the end of the day, progression is the one common factor that needs to unfold. Everything starts with a solid plan, a well-thought-out process, and the cultivation of good habits to ensure that you can progress effectively. This journey involves testing your capabilities, pressing against boundaries, and, ultimately, working to expand your range of limits. For me, my focus tends to be on fitness; however, it could be anything you desire to explore and test your limits with. As long as it embodies positive progression, you are indeed moving forward. There’s a saying that resonates with me:

“Don’t stop when you are tired, Stop when you are Done” David Goggins

PLAN -PROCESS -HABITS

Keep going don’t stop