Ego drive vs Passion driven
'The only way to pull out of the negative influneces of the rat race is to make a devoted commitment to a completely pure apporach to your athletics....when you notice impure influences float into your airspace, stop yourself and make a conscious effort to stay on the pure path." - Brad Kearns (Breakthrough Triathlon Training, pg. 65)
When I started training for Ironman....I have three priorities. Lately, I am reminded what they are.
1) Overall Health - not just physical but spiritual, mental and emotional
2) No injury
3) Fitness
I also notice as my fitness improves, my ego goes up as well. When that happens, the tendency to get injured increases and overall health decreases.
How is ego driven different than passion driven?
Biggest difference I do notice ego driven is that it is related to myself and others.
I have to train harder than the other guy.
That guy is climbing that hill or going that far...I have to do it and do more.
That guy has a six pack? Oh, I need to get one as well.
Passion, I notice, comes from within.
Boy, it was a hell ride but I love every minute of it.
I love that trail run.
Nice to ride the hills again.
One time at Church, a brother was discussing all the responsiblities and duties he had to do. A bit frustrated, he told me maybe he should man up and just take it.
Was that ego-driven or passion-driven?
In a recent magazine, Melanie McQuaid discussed how she used to compare with others and focused on results. Once she threw that away and just focused on having a good race, she got better.
Was that ego or passion?
In Kona last year, we saw the battle between Norman Stalder and Chris McCormick.
Was that ego or passion?
That I will leave it up to you.
Roger Bannister, the first man who run a mile in under four minutes said purusing athletics 'should become a striving to achieve more and more, not for purely selfish motives, but because of the recognition of some higher purpose. The aim is to move with the greatest possible freedom towards the realization fo the best within us.'
By the way, I got the job from WSI Consulting. Praise the Lord....Tomorrow will be my first day.
19 comments:
Glad to hear you are keeping things in perspective...and congrats on landing a job. I am sure that is a relief
Congratulations on WSI!
Good identifier on ego vs. passion.
Congrats on the job! I just hope it won't get in the way of what's really important - training.
....oops...did I say that out loud again? :)
Congratulations on the job - I am sure you will do very well.
I agree with you on your great thoughts of ego vs passion. Whether we are talking about sport or life we need to do and be the best we can be for ourselves, not as a measurement against another.
Continuously comparing ourselves to others only leads to frustration because there will always be someone out there better and with more.
Congrats on the new job! That's terrific. Hope they're cool with you taking a few days off in late July to go long in LP!
Hey Cliff,
came across your blog looking for training tips (always looking for new ideas). I am a marathon runner. You might like to know about a triathlon training DVD called The Tri-Athlete. This thing will kick your butt! It shows you how to incoporate sophisticated Yogic breathing techniques into your workout so you can maximize your endurance as well as recovery after training. It is like training on a mountain, without the soreness the following day!
Congrats on the new job!!
Congrats on the job!
Massage Chairs
WAY TO GO, CLIFF!!!! Congrats on the new gig!!
as for ego and passion... I remember learning that lesson in my second yoga class. mind you i am as flexible as steel, so yoga is amusing, to say the least (COUGHdownwardtrapezoidCOUGH). Anyhoo, 2nd class, the entire beginners class goes into headstands. I try and try and force myself up only to really hurt my neck and come crashing down. talk about humbling. But in that moment I learned that it was never going to be ego that got me up that wall. it was going to be passion. dedication. and being ready because of me, not because of all the other people in the class.
so for me, ego is about focusing on other peoples limitations and passion is about focusing on my own.
as always, Cliff... you make me think. great post. :)
WoooHooo - a job!!
Nice thoughts about ego vs. passion. Sometimes we get confused and think ego *is* passion...but it isn't.
"by the way" -- gotta love u, cliff! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
And i love this post -- very insightful: ego vs passion.
Congrats on your job! And I'm impressed you gave up chocolate.
Congratulations on the job, well done!
Congrats to you...and praise the lord for sure!!
Glad to hear about the new job!
And another interesting post. Since I've gotten into tris, I've definitely switched from being more ego-driven to more passion-driven ... no choice since I'm such a newbie and still struggling with swimming and putting all 3 sports together. But you know what?
I'm having a blast :-)
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for this post. I am struggling with some of these issues and considering a career shift of my own. My training has downscaled so far this season due to time concerns but I'll finally be able to ramp back up in June. I really enjoy reading the blogs of people training for events far longer and more complicated than mine-it keeps my achievements in healthy perspective.
I am excited for you and your new job, and hope you find the work satisfying and challenging.
Passion driven! That's what it's all about.
Yeah on the new job!
TURN YOUR COMMENTS ON for the next post, Cliff!! I have something profound and meaningful to say ;)
Just kidding. I really just wanted to say something silly about lobsters and Ironmans. :) hee
My goodness I love this ego/passion discussion. Its something that we discuss almost daily in my company. To sell with integrity and with a Christian path you must be passionate about what you do and not allow your ego to create sin.
Everyone has a six pac...for some it's just hidden under more fat than others.
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