Starting again along a familiar path

Have you ever found yourself missing something you once loved, but unsure of how to reconnect with it? Perhaps it has been months or even years since you last engaged with it, and now it seems almost impossible to start again. A strange mix of longing and hesitation can often arise when we think about old passions, whether it is a creative pursuit, a playful hobby, or a physical activity we once enjoyed. This has been on my mind since I started running regularly again.

When I was at my personal peak, I ran two half marathons in consecutive weeks. Not because I planned to. My Fitbit died at the end of the first one. It didn’t register, so obviously, it didn’t count. I did another one, to make sure.

But a few months later, I injured my knee, and since recovering from that, I’ve struggled to run consistently. Not just because of the physical challenge, but because of the mental battle between where I was and where I am now. I can’t go anywhere near as far or fast as I could then.

However, I’ve just completed a Couch to 5K program for the first time.

I decided to try it as a kind of rocket booster. Something to help me reconnect with running, which I do love (when I’m fit enough to enjoy it). And it’s really worked.

Something is refreshing about taking speed and distance off the table, and simply building up to running for 30 minutes. I’ve kept Strava switched off. No comparing my current self to that more “impressive” past self. Just a steady, gentle process of getting moving again.

And this week, for the first time in ages, I found myself enjoying it.

Swallowing Pride and Starting Again

One of the most helpful parts of the process was simply this: acknowledging my current capacity, swallowing my pride, and letting myself start from scratch.

I don’t know about you, but for me, the hardest part isn’t necessarily the physical act itself; it’s allowing myself to begin again. To go back to the start.

We might not need to stay there for long. I completed Couch to 5K in about two-thirds of the suggested time (including a week where I didn’t run at all). Sometimes it’s about giving ourselves the green light to reset and recalibrate, rather than demanding we instantly perform at the level we once reached (and then feeling bad when we can’t). And then to go at our own pace.

This applies to many things, especially when it comes to rekindling old passions.

Perhaps for you, it’s not running at all. That’s a simple example…

Drifting From Past Passions

It might be something you loved in a different season of life. Drawing, playing games, painting, writing stories, building things, dancing, singing, acting, telling jokes.

Perhaps you drifted from it because life got busy. Or maybe you were knocked back with a “proverbial injury” from a bad experience, harsh words, or, I don’t know…a global pandemic?

It’s easy to let pride, perfectionism, or fear keep us from returning to old passions, especially when it feels like we’d have to take a “backwards” step to get there.

Is there something you used to love that you’ve been avoiding, simply because you don’t feel “good enough” at it anymore?

What old passions or practices might be quietly calling you back?

How would it feel to begin, not to “get back” to where you were, but to see where it leads now?

What might you need to release or let go of to take that first step?

Starting On A Familiar Path

One of the things I’ve loved about the Couch to 5K app is its clear, simple purpose. It tells you from the start: the goal is to run for 30 minutes without stopping. That’s it. By the time you finish, you’ve built a habit and are ready to continue in whatever direction you choose.

It’s a stark contrast to what I discussed in a recent video, where I examined the impact of the Hook Model in much of modern life. Instead of acting like a rocket booster, helping us lift off, then jettisoning once we’ve reached escape velocity, those apps hook us into endless systems. There’s always more to do, never a finish line. No graduation. No moving on. You can watch that video here.

It’s always nice to feel like you’re in the hands of something you can trust to release you when the work is done.

If you’d like help exploring your way back to something meaningful, book a Pick The Lock call. I’d be very happy to chat!