Redefining Resilience

The first ride of the new year marks a fresh beginning as the odometer resets to zero. For me, it's a moment I eagerly anticipate, a time to embrace the joy of cycling and the promise of a new year filled with adventures. As a long-distance cyclist, being out on the open road doing what I love brings a profound sense of fulfillment. However, this wasn't always the case.

In the past, the beginning of the year used to evoke feelings of apprehension. The thought of the countless miles ahead and the daunting mountains waiting to be conquered would sometimes overwhelm me. Despite my unwavering confidence in achieving my cycling goals, I often placed too much pressure on myself. It wasn't uncommon for me to embark on a 100-mile ride, only to find myself locked in a mental battle by mile 50. One voice on my shoulder urged me to continue, saying, "You can do this," while the other whispered, "No, you can't." I mistakenly believed that resilience meant relentlessly battling negativity, celebrating hard-fought victories, and never failing in my goals. This approach, though effective, took a toll on me, both physically and emotionally. There were moments when I contemplated scaling back my cycling to alleviate the pressure, but I knew I'd miss the challenge.

Life eventually compelled me to reevaluate my perspective and redefine resilience. Did confronting significant challenges always have to entail intense battles, or was there a way to achieve my goals without the constant pressure? I chose to shift my mindset from viewing resilience as "the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties" to a more approachable and compassionate concept.

To test my hypothesis, I decided to take on a momentous challenge: a single-day ride from Seattle to Portland spanning 203 miles—a distance 70 miles longer I had ever tackled before. I believed it was within my reach, but I needed to change my approach to truly enjoy the journey. First, I shifted my mindset from "having to do" to "wanting to do." Second, I gave myself permission to fail, acknowledging that setbacks are a natural part of growth. Finally, I set a new goal for myself: to savor every moment of the ride, rather than fixating on the miles or my pace. Setting out at 4 a.m., I embarked on this adventure and, for the most part, enjoyed every mile. Through the challenging periods, the option to bail never entered my mind. I reached Portland at dusk, a mere 16 hours after setting out with plenty of energy left, realizing that my new definition of resilience was simple yet profound: "Do the best that you can do, enjoy the ride and let the outcome take care of itself."

I apply that same definition of resilience now in my career and have achieved phenomenal results consistently with a lot less stress and a lot more personal satisfaction. Happy New Year and enjoy the ride ahead!