For many years I didnt dare to dream big about anything.
I mean, who did I think I was?
The goals I did have always came with an air of indecisiveness and lack of commitment.
David Urbanke. Wardrobe Styling by Yuiko Ikebata. Makeup by Deanna Melluso. Hair by Jerome Cultrera.
I chalk this up to an intense fear that I would fail.
I thought that if I didnt really commit, I couldnt truly fail, so I was safe.
I remember one of my big dreams was tobecome a runner.
David Urbanke
This was before the age of the body positive movement or liberated Instagram accounts givingdiet culturethe middle finger.
This was before any size diversity was represented in fitness at all.
But I did become a runner.
David Urbanke
Bit by bit I started to live my wildest fitness dreams.
In fact, Ive since run over 100 races and I am now a running coach.
I learned that fear is normal, not something to run from.
David Urbanke
you could do this too.
The human body is amazing and can adapt to demand when trained incrementally and progressively.
Ive found that oftentimes, its our minds that struggle to perform, not our bodies.
David Urbanke
Changing your mindset wont happen overnight.
It sounds cliche, but in my experience positive thinking can really take you far.
I used to view failure as something to be ashamed of.
But over time, and through many failures, I have been able to reframe that old thinking.
Where I used to see failure, I now see opportunity.
Having to try over and over is normal and part of the athletic process.
The difference is, they kept at it and viewed failure as an opportunity to re-strategize and grow.
David Urbanke
Many people dont feel worthy of dreaming big because they dont see their worthiness.
One of the biggest things I teach in my coaching program is how tomake yourself a priority.
You have to turn that behavior and thinking around if you want to dream big.
This creates space and time to see if saying yes aligns with your big dreams and goals.
Also, remember that its OK to say no!
Dreaming big can change the message.
My friendLatoya Shauntay Snelljust completed a 100-kilometer (62-mile) race!
Yes, a big girl going the extreme distance.
In the ultra-running world, you dont often see larger women running that distance.
These women started from zero and just kept showing up and dreaming big.
Not only are they achieving their big dreams, but they are also showing other big girls whats possible.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
You, at any size, have the right to dream big and pursue those dreams!
Heres the deal: You cant wait for an invitation.
Take charge of your dreams and pursue them on your own terms.
You have the right.
I thought I might combust if I took another step.
I now know that with the right training, anything is possible.
Im not going to get there in one day.
It might take weeks or months, or in some cases, years.
The key is to start small and take one day at a time.
If this mind has dreamt it, this body has done it.
