I'm in awe of everybody who ran the marathon yesterday.

London, Manchester, or wherever - you're all amazing (shout out to my sister who completed her first Marathon in Manchester yesterday).

The atmosphere was amazing, but the weather was brutal - I mean I love the sun for a number of reasons, but it's far from ideal for running!

Anyways....

I firmly believe that you can't just think yourself into a place of happiness (it's impossible to be happy all the time, and completely normal to not always feel happy).

You can't just think yourself into becoming more resilient.

And you can't just think yourself into high performance.

You have to do, as well as think.

And that's why I believe that you should all have a challenge that you are working towards.

It’s what humans were designed for.

Often called 'A MISOGI' (a traditional Shinto ritual of purification. It originates in ancient Japan and has been practiced for centuries. The core of Misogi involves purifying the body and spirit through interaction with water, often in the form of standing in waterfalls or rivers), it involves getting out into nature and doing something really tough, as it was essential that we had these skills many years ago for survival.

Now again I’m not suggesting you stand under waterfalls for days!

But get a challenge in your diary.

Because doing something that challenges you is good for you, physically mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

And will give you all the benefits mentioned earlier.

Now it's all relative of course to where you are currently at, and a bunch of other things.

Your challenge might indeed be a marathon or further, or it might be a 5k or less.

It doesn’t have to be a run, it can be anything.

But if you want to be the best version of you - then get signed up to a challenge.

Lock the date in.

Commit.

It's not about you vs anybody else.

It's 100% you vs you.

And your challenge will become your north star.

It will focus your mind.

It will get you moving.

And galvanise all areas of your life.

So, what challenge are you going to work towards?

Attack the week.

Ric

P.s - how about this for a challenge?