Swimming Blogs - Chris Brunson

It always amazes me the lengths and lows people will go to when they perceive you are trying to better yourself. In my mind, there are only two types of distractions—positive and negative. Positive distractions make you a more well rounded person. For example, a friend calling up and asking you to catch a new movie. Seeing a movie is a healthy way to spend time with a friend and chances are it won’t negatively impact your training (as long as it is not too late or during a scheduled practice).

Negative distractions tear you down. For example, you decide you need to lose weight or alter your diet to meet a certain goal, be it weight loss or athletic performance. Inevitably, co-workers, friends or whomever begin to pressure you to do what they are doing. "Come on you can go out and eat burgers, fries and drink! What do you think you are better then us?" Man, those comments piss me off--ya, I do think I am better than you, what now? It seems these people act like if I cannot do it, then nobody should do it.

The bottom-line is that most athletes with goals even half way worthwhile do not have the luxury of these type of negative distractions. I think the people who push against you, even knowing what goals you have, are small minded people. Furthermore, you should not give these small minded people the luxury of your time. I was once told by a wise coach--"there are only three types of people in this world: First, the kind of people who you like and want to be around; Second, the kind of people who you have to deal with; Third, the kind of people who if you can help it you never want to interact with."

This advice may seem harsh, but think about it--your time is valuable, as are your goals in life. Do not let others waste your time or tread upon your goals. There is a good chance they are jealous of you and worried that you might just accomplish what you set out too (and they will not). So, in short, be careful of negativity and DREAM BIG!

Marinate on that!

B