Honoring Ourselves and Giving Our Best

by Christina Randle

Bonking is a term mostly used in endurance sports. It is the point when you hit a wall. There’s nothing left physically, emotionally or mentally. I became familiar with this term several years ago when I took up the sport of cycling. I’d go on a ride and get so excited and focused on keeping up with the more experienced riders that I wouldn’t stop to hydrate, rest or eat. Next thing I knew, I had bonked.

It’s hard to recover and manage through the pain or tired or feeling that you just can’t go on. The body, mind and emotions seem to conspire against every desire there is to finish, to succeed. In unison, all aspects of one’s being scream STOP!

Over time I got better at managing this bonking in cycling with training, stops for water, and snacks.

This past week it happened to me. But I wasn’t on my bike; I was working. I’m a big-picture, desired outcome, delegate the details and inspire others to complete them with great success gal/ manager/ leader/professional. So the pressure to complete four significant and mission critical projects by the end of the month, with all the endless details, left me dry and spent. I don’t do this much research and detail work naturally. These detailed projects weren’t my forte. All of this on top of the rest of my life, which is very full in itself.

It felt like a heavy weight was keeping me from breathing, keeping me from moving. All the details were screaming at me to handle them – and now. But there wasn’t the energy to do them.

When you bonk, it’s fruitless to keep going no matter how determined. It doesn’t produce any results. I needed some different perspective. So, I left my work and went for a bike ride.
During my ride, I heard myself replaying what we say to clients- we are holistic people, all the time; even at work. We are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual beings. But I’d pushed myself too far mentally and emotionally to drive these projects. I’d stopped taking care of the physical and spiritual. I’d stopped exercising and taking time out to find the beauty, listen inside, be quiet even if just for a few minutes.

It was a good reminder. With a fresh perspective, I returned home, stretched and sat quiet for a few minutes. When I returned to work, I felt balanced, focused and energized. I felt as if I’d re-learned one of life’s beautiful lessons. It’s only when we honor all of ourselves that we give our best.

Stated another way, thank goodness for bonking!