Just one more rep! You can do one more push up, come on! I’ve seen this many times, I have even experienced it myself. When you’re working out, and you come to the point where your muscles getting tired. And I or we ask ourselves, can I do it? Is there one more repetition I can do? Or am I going to quit?

If we have been working out for say 4 sets, for a number of workouts on a specific muscle, resting is what we might need to do. We would not want to injure our muscles. But, if we are working out with a planned schedule, with certain exercises and how many sets and reps, we might be able to go on. But if you decide to go on is in your mind.

I’ve experienced this with leg presses, squats, bench presses, etc., but a great example is when I’m swimming or running. Each marathon I have run is a mental example. When I am passing that 19 to 21 mile marker, and my legs are burning, my core, and arms by my sides are beginning to ache, but I have to keep running and not slow down. That is the breaking point for others running. And you ask yourself, am I going to be one of them stopping to walk? I choose not to, so I push on. After the miles begin to pass, 24, 25, coming to 26 I plan to not stop. I know it is almost over, so I could relax and walk. I see so many others around me, starting to do the same. So why don’t I? But I still push on. I’m not going to be one of them. When I pass 26, all I have to do it 0.2 miles, that’s it. So go for it! I see the end, my legs, and abs are burning. Will I stop? No. I sprint more than ever, and don’t give a care about anyone around me or who’s in front of me. I pass the finish line at my top speed, and begin to slow to a walk. I just take a few more steps slowly. I catch my breathe, come to a stop and sit on the ground. My legs are aching more than ever. But did I slow down? No. I did my best, and hopefully I made my goal time.

Our mind is our one of our greatest gifts. Are we going to let it help us improve and complete our task or workout at hand? Or are we going to let it defeat us?

In my mind, I plan to let it help me do my next marathon at a faster time than this one I did. I ended up finishing this one at a time faster by 36 minutes!

But for you, while exercising are you going to do the next rep? Or in life have another achievement? Or complete a purpose or goal? Even if it is hard? It’s all in your mind.