Have you ever decided to re-immerse yourself in something you used to enjoy and even excel at, but haven’t done in a long time?
Maybe it was returning to a sport you once dominated, or picking up that musical instrument again to regain your rhythm. Perhaps a new role has put you back in the spotlight, requiring those savvy presentation skills. Or maybe you’ve felt the artistic urge to pull out a blank canvas and start creating again.
The Moment We Wonder If We Still Have It In Us
Whatever that pursuit looks like, there’s something inside of us that wants to feel confident that we “still got it.” Recently, I found myself wondering the same thing.
With spring around the corner, I chose to return to something I used to enjoy after a long hiatus—skipping rope. I’ve always taken pride in my physical endurance. Whether it was running, swimming, or hitting the stairmaster, I enjoyed finding different ways to challenge my stamina. And without exception, skipping was one of those exercises.
I felt confident picking up the rope again. In years prior, I had developed the coordination, agility, and endurance to skip for up to an hour straight. So in my self-assured state, setting a 30-minute goal felt completely doable. Right? That’s what I told myself.
The Humbling Reality
About 10–15 minutes into the workout, I started to feel discomfort in my right lower calf. I’m no stranger to muscle soreness, so I initially ignored it and kept pushing through (no pain, no gain… right?). But as I approached the 20-minute mark, the tension only got worse—and I knew something wasn’t right.
I really wanted to hit my time goal, but I had to stop. I had no choice.
That day, I left the gym with a bruised ego—and a limp that lasted for days. That week humbled me in more ways than one. The answer to whether I “still had it” was becoming clear… and I wasn’t ready to accept it.
Confronting Limitations
It’s not easy to face unexpected limitations in areas of our lives that matter. Especially the ones that once came naturally—the ones that light us up and help us thrive
Cutting that workout short didn’t just bruise my ego—it felt like I fractured a part of my identity.
Fitness has been transformational for me since an early age. It’s shaped who I’ve become. It’s been a way of life, and I’ve always taken pride in moving my body at a high level. So when that got disrupted, it forced me not only to slow down physically, but to shift my perspective on my limitations.
I came to understand that our hearts and minds can be more than willing, but sooner or later, the body has its say. At the heart of it, I was holding on tight to a belief of who I was—but for the first time in a while, I couldn’t live it out.
Listening To The Deeper Message
Let’s be real—in that moment when I put the rope down, there was frustration and disappointment. But beneath those emotions, there was a deeper message waiting to be received.
The capacity to carry out what we love reaches its limit when it’s not maintained—and to get back there, it must be rebuilt, not just remembered.
So instead of giving in to the lie that my glory days were behind me, I took a different approach. I booked a physio appointment, modified my workouts, and maybe most importantly, shifted my mindset—from self-denial to self-rehabilitation.
And that’s when it hit me—this wasn’t just about skipping rope.
Beyond Then Rope
We can experience bruised egos and fractured identities in other areas of our lives too.
In our work, when we step back into a leadership role after time away and realize our influence isn’t what it once was.
When we decide to start writing again but can’t get past the first paragraph.
When we put ourselves out there in the dating world, trying to be vulnerable again—but find ourselves guarded, overthinking, and pulling back when it matters most.
Or when we commit to a diet that once worked for us—but can’t seem to make it past the first week.
But just like me, you have a choice in how you respond.
Will you stay down in defeat?
Or will you rise up and rebuild?
The choice is yours.
Getting Back on the Path
You don’t need to become who you once were overnight. You just need to start rebuilding—intentionally, patiently, and honestly.
To get back on your path this week let’s do the following:
1. Meet yourself where you are—not where you were.
Be honest about where you’re at right now, even if it’s frustrating. Let go of trying to perform the way you used to, and give yourself permission to start at a level you can actually sustain.
2. Rebuild through consistency, not intensity.
Don’t try to prove anything in one moment. Focus on small, repeatable actions that restore rhythm and confidence over time.
3. Shift your mindset from proving to improving.
You’re not here to validate who you were—you’re here to develop who you’re becoming. Growth comes when you stop chasing the past and start investing in the present.
Take your time—done right, you won’t just get it back… you’ll build something even stronger.
English