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Defy expectations

As humans we expect a lot of ourselves. Regardless of what you do, striving to be the best you can be has its highs and lows.

As humans we expect a lot of ourselves.  Regardless of what you do, striving to be the best you can be has its highs and lows.

I find it humbling to be put in a position where I do not perform to the level I expect of myself. Regardless of the situation I have high expectations of my abilities and when I don’t meet those expectations I get discouraged.

A fun ride with friends can quickly turn into a competition of me against the world; it’s not that I am comparing myself to my friends so much as comparing myself to my unreasonable expectations. Quickly that little voice in my head starts to berate me on not being good enough, fit enough, fast enough, ballsy enough — whatever fits the particular situation.

Instead of giving up I have started to embrace these feelings of discomfort and use them to propel me to the next level. It is also great to know how it feels to be left behind. Without these experiences where is the motivation to keep getting better?

I don’t think it matters what level you are at. This happens to the best of us. And, as a beginner, don’t forget that everyone starts somewhere, and for most there is always someone better.

It is important not to hold yourself back by thinking you are not good enough; honestly how are you going to get better? If someone wants to get out and have fun with you that is what they want to do.

I have found time and time again that people will decline an invitation to get out stating that they are not good enough and they don’t want to hold me up.  That is not a good enough excuse.

So take on the challenge, embrace the discomfort and use it to your advantage. One of the things I love about the BettyGoHard participants is the way they feed off of each other; all of them turn up thinking they will be the weakest member of the group. Pushing those boundaries and challenging those assumptions is as easy as seeing another at the same level as you do something you never thought you would do.

That same competitive spark flares up and the rules of the game change. Suddenly, things not imagined become possible and new doors open.

I dare you to feel uncomfortable and love it!

 

Natasha Lockey runs Bettygohard Women’s Action Sports Community. Originally from New Zealand she has been living and playing in the Kootenays for the past seven years.