Perception = Reality

5 Minute Read

Suspension of Disbelief is the temporary avoidance of our own beliefs and perceived reality, in order to move forward or enjoy a current moment.

Originally (and still primarily) this concept has actually applied to books, movies, etc. to describe the willingness of the reader/viewer to ignore what is possible in reality, in order to enjoy the story. If you’ve ever seen Harry Potter, you’ve subconsciously said “you know, I don’t know if Hogwarts is a real place, but I can enjoy the story anyway.”

But the concept has been expanded in scope, and can be applied elsewhere in life - and yes, as always, can be applied to running as well. Broadly, it helps us understand that we can temporarily suspend the beliefs we have about our reality, and ourselves, in order to do something great.

The Principle in Action

For athletes, Suspension of Disbelief is about catching yourself every time the phrase “I could never…” pops into your head.

I could never break 5:00 in the mile.
I could never run an ultramarathon.
I could never find that much time to run.

These thoughts are based on perception and assumptions we hold about ourselves. We should try to identify these limiting beliefs, and promptly ignore them for the sake of progress and moving forward in our training.

An absolutely tell-tale sign that we are limiting ourselves (and should use the Suspension of Disbelief concept) is when someone else (or lots of people) has already completed the goal we believe to not be possible. For example, has anyone run 100 miles before? Yea, lots of people. People of all ages, sizes, starting fitness levels, etc. 

Our perceptions of what is possible often dictate reality. Simply put, if we believe something is achievable, we are more likely to reach it. Conversely, if we doubt our capabilities, we will unconsciously limit our progress with certainty.

Let's Change Reality

Changing your perception will change your reality. This is (and should be) a gradual process. Here’s how you can apply Suspension of Disbelief to your running:

This applies to running, career, business, relationships… literally anything at all.

Final Thoughts

Challenge and temporarily set aside beliefs and assumptions regarding what is or isn’t possible for you to achieve. When we do so, we create space for extraordinary achievements. If your goal does not literally defy physics, then it’s within reach.

With this mindset, we can build a routine we love and train consistently. And with consistency, we build passion.