Motivation: No Finish Lines

There is a saying that goes something like "getting toYou stop doing the things that got you where you
the top is easy, the hard thing is staying there onceare.
you get there."You do significantly less of the things that got you
There's a reason the above statement is so true. Itwhere you are.
has to do with this interesting little quirk we humansSlipping backwards, losing the ground you have
have: our belief in finish lines. Deep with in our brainsgained.
we have this belief that once we arrive, we canOther people noticing that you are slipping back but
relax.you deny it.
Now there are times in life when there are finish lines:How to Avoid Arrival Syndrome
10K races and marathons, dog and horse racingDiscard the belief in finish lines
tracks, and at Nascar races.Pause to njoy your successes, just don't stop there.
The problem is we apply this thinking to so manyLearn CPR. That stands for consistent, persistent and
areas where there really are no finish lines: getting inresistant. Consistant in the actions you take,
shape, dieting, growing in your profession andpersistent in your efforts to continue to grow, and
especially marriage and other relationships.resistant to the notion of resting on your laurels.
Now in no way am I saying that we can't enjoy ourNo matter how good things get, always remember
achievements and pause to smell the roses. It's justto ask the queston: "how can we make this even
that it's so tempting to stop and only smell the rosesbetter?"
and not much else. I once supervised an intern whoTake notice of the mile posts of success along the
then took a job in the program. The ffirst thing theyway. This builds momentum and keeps you going.
said after they got the job and then graduated withThis one is so simple and obvious, yet so many times
their degree was "I"ve been reading so much inwe don't do it: keep doing the things that got you
school that i'm not going to read anything for a year."where you are. ANd if you really want to be
Wrong answer.different, do even more of the things that got you
When we imagine finish lines where there are none,there.
we fall prey to something I call arrival syndrome.It's often difficult to balance the enjoyment of all we
Signs of Arrival Syndromehave achieved with the commitment to continuing to
The belief that you have "arrived" (withlearn and grow. Here's one tip that can be helpful:
accompanying trumpets).unless you see a white line painted on the ground in
Coastingfront of you, there are no finish lines.