Have you ever had a close friend in your life who brings out the crazy in you? Not the bad kind, like stalker-ex, end up on Jerry Springer, kind of crazy. Rather, that friend who knows you so well, that when you’re both together, you seem to always find a little mischief. The fun kind of crazy.

Triathlon brings out my crazy.

Why else would anyone squeeze into spandex and spend hours training at all costs, just for a few race freebies and shiny finishers’ medals? Crazy.

Why do people put themselves through the rigor, even suffering of it all for such an all-consuming hobby? When did I become one of the crazies?

The first time I crossed a finish line.

Racing is my reminder to dream big.

Every time I physically go a distance so much farther than I ever thought I could go, I feel like I can do anything. Maybe that’s not so crazy?

As a chunky kid with two left feet who was cut from every sport before the age of ten, who is now an endurance athlete racing ironman triathlons for fun, I can tell you, the self-limiting beliefs we impose on ourselves, that’s what is really crazy.

The self-limiting beliefs we impose on ourselves, that’s the real crazy.

Self-limiting beliefs are a dangerous trap that do nothing more than limit our own potential, while ripping us off of the magic that happens once we push past our own comfort zones. Self-limiting beliefs can sound an awful lot like reasons or pragmatic thinking, but let me tell you what dear friends, your self-limiting beliefs aren’t severing you.

Self-limiting beliefs like to hang out with the ‘ould’ words and they love qualifiers that start with “but”. You know these words all too well.

• “I should have gone back to college when I was younger.”
• “I could have been an artist, but I went into business because no one makes a living as an artist.”
• “I’ve always wanted to [x], but….”

Self-limiting beliefs are a one way ticket to playing small. Instead, ask yourself, what would I do if anything were possible?
Seriously. If anything were possible what would you do? (Hint: write it down.)

Seem too crazy? How could you get one step closer to what you wrote down? (Write that down too.)

Come on now.

Name one person (doesn’t have to be someone you know) who is already doing your crazy idea.

What one thing could you commit to learning that would help you with your crazy idea? One thing. Write that down too.

If you wrote down your answers to those four questions, you now have a to do list.

Time to get crazy!