As a runner and someone who has what some may consider a severe Type-A personality, I find the task of trying to silence my mind and the voices in my head to be a challenge. Whether I’m in bed trying to fall asleep, out on a run or just trying to do something mindless, my brain is thinking, thinking, thinking. Creating mental to-do lists. Drafting emails. Writing blog posts. Planning. Thinking, thinking, thinking.

Since the beginning of 2015, I’ve been doing a lot of restorative yoga as a regular part of my training. While it started as a way to help prevent injury, do more deep stretching and take care of my body so I can run stronger, it has actually done just as much for calming my mind. Meditation isn’t something that I would consider to be “my thing.” I’m not really comfortable ohming it up or talking about finding inner peace and a third eye and all those other things that make me a tad uncomfortable for some unknown reason. But, I’ve come to learn that being quiet and silent, focusing on my breathing and just trying to let go is freeing. Some days despite focused breathing and a quiet space, my mind is still racing. But every once in a while, I can get my mind to drift off into complete calmness. And I keep going back every time hoping I’ll be able to conquer that each class.

During many of my restorative classes, the instructors often ask us to set an intention for the class. It’s typically a word that we are encouraged to come back to when our mind begins to wander. A single word or phrase that we can repeat and focus on. Some days I choose courage. Other days I choose strength. This week, I chose will power.

Lately, my will power has been waning like a flickering candle that’s about to burn out. With having to take a week off of running and exercise last week, you would have thought I was simultaneously taking a week off of eating right as well. My early morning wake up calls to seize the day have also been getting later and later. Snooze. Sugar. Snooze. Sugar. Repeat.

So this week, I’m focusing on will power. Being stronger in the moment and holding on to what I want most over what I want now. That doesn’t mean setting stringent rules or restrictions, it just means making better choices more often. It felt good to start running again this week, even if my first run back was in the pouring rain and slow as molasses. It doesn’t matter how fast or far we go sometimes, all that matters is that we give it our best and we get it done. Will power.

What is your intention for this week?