Finish Strong!

Every task, goal, race, and year comes to an end. Therefore, make it a habit to always finish strong. – Gary Ryan Blair

Heartbreak Hill

The Boston Marathon features a 0.6-mile stretch approximately 20 miles from the start of the race known as Heartbreak Hill. While the incline is not very steep, many runners notice their pace slowing as they approach this challenging section, which can be discouraging. Similarly, in life, you may encounter inclines as you near the end of a goal or year, often leading to feelings of discouragement. At this point, the temptation to quit may grow while the desire to keep going diminishes. Finishing strong relies on mental conditioning. The mentally strong do not succumb to the thoughts suggesting they quit but instead dig deep to hear the whisper that says, “Keep going.” Tuning into this gentle whisper amid the noise of quitting fosters the mental resilience needed to finish strong.

The mentally strong do not succumb to the thoughts suggesting they quit but instead dig deep to hear the whisper that says, “Keep going.”

This Month 

How do you develop the mental fortitude needed to finish strong in everything you pursue despite the increasing urge to quit? How do you overcome the hurdles that arise and stay committed to your goals? These are the questions we will explore in this month’s blog series. Two essential habits must be cultivated to develop the mindset of finishing strong:

1. Reflection (coming 12/12/24): Leadership expert Dr. John C. Maxwell says, “Reflective thinking allows me to process the events in my life and improve myself afterward.” To make reflection a consistent habit and gain its benefits, we must actively practice it. In his book, *The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth*, Maxwell shares four key ingredients for creating a reflection routine: Investigate, Incubate, Illuminate, and Illustrate. I believe these components guide us to establish new patterns of thought and action that lead to a better future. Ignoring this practice can result in continuous cycles of repeating the same thought patterns, making the same decisions, and experiencing the same disappointing outcomes—or quitting when things become challenging. Reflection calls us to pause, process, and make necessary adjustments to persist, finish strong, and enter the new year passionately and purposefully.

2. Forecasting (coming 12/19/24): I check the weather forecast every morning, especially in fall and winter when conditions can be unpredictable. However, looking at the forecast is only useful if I adjust accordingly. Similarly, forecasting in life aims to provide the insights needed for progress. For example, forecasting can help visualize the desired future if one wishes to grow in self-development. This may translate into a goal of reading one book per month, further broken down into a daily routine of reading a chapter each day. Forecasting motivates us to set goals, imagine our future, and establish routines that support us when the urge to quit becomes strong.

Final Thought:  Despite life’s challenges, you can finish strong. Everyone encounters hills in life at times. The key is to view these hills as stepping stones toward your destiny. Through reflection and forecasting, you will overcome obstacles and find your way to a strong finish.

Keep on keeping on!