We work on skills. We have goals. We work toward results. But we don’t put our energy only in the planning and practice. We also have to deal with anxiety, doubt, guilt, and more—any emotion and coping strategy involved in the processes.

Athletes get this. Training a body is one thing, but success doesn’t happen without mental training as well. Even an amateur athlete knows there are daily mental struggles, and what we choose stops us in our tracks or propels us forward. It’s far beyond physical discipline.

How do you respond to changes at work? How do you approach the constant yet sometimes unexpected shifts in family? What do you do when friendships shift? What happens as you face medical issues—yourself or loved ones? How do you respond to crises? What do you feel and do when someone you don’t know is struggling?

Consider what’s beyond the action you take. There are emotions, too. We need to acknowledge how we feel. We also need to not get stuck in those feelings. We can give our emotional experiences too much or too little weight. The emotions are both the tip of the experience and the root of the experience, and we need to consider the full reach and their implications.

When we dig in and reflect, we can grow. It’s challenging. It’s humbling. If we want to move forward, we have to deal with the difficult. Think long-term, but also think of the daily. How does your attitude and commitment work together or conflict? Instead of a haphazard approach to moving forward, be intentional. Pay attention to the details and invite all the pieces to collaborate—physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, relational. It won’t be a perfect process, but the challenges can lead to the best kind of change.

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