Obsession vs. Determination

I was scrolling through my personal blog this morning and came across one that I had written four years ago around "Obsession vs. Determination." When I wrote it, I had a 13.1 and 26.2 (half and full marathon) under my belt and I was training for my first triathlon (swim, bike, run).

I found it rather amusing because all the sentiments still hold true. Beyond athletics. It was a great reminder to keep things in perspective when trying to learn and grow.

Check it out below.

How do you distinguish between obsession and determination?

Speaking from my (limited) experience, training for an athletic event requires a lot of patience, mental strength and determination.

• Patience is needed because results are not always instantaneous.
• Mental strength is required to get you past the temporary hurdles
• Determination is key because this is what keeps you working towards the final goal through the ups and downs.

Although patience and mental strength are important, determination is critical to sustain the interest and hard work needed to train honestly and to the best of your ability.

So when does determination cross over into the darker side i.e “Obsession”?

While determination has more of a positive undertone, obsession is quite the opposite.

Obsession makes the mind restless. It is almost equivalent to greed where you want something so badly that it consumes you. You stay in a constant state of discontent…desiring a particular end result. It prevents you from appreciating genuine progress because your mind is clouded with an unrealistic perception of perfection…which in most cases is nothing but a red herring!

So be patient, strong, determined and train on. Let not the small failures discourage you as those are the building blocks to ultimate success!