Run Washed

BRAIN WASH DEFINED: A form of indoctrination that forces people to abandon their beliefs in favor of another set of beliefs by conditioning through various forms of pressure or torture

Synonyms for Brainwash: Mind control,coercive persuasion, mind abuse, thought control

We have all heard of this term before- we all know the implications that being brainwashed has. If you notice the key words "torture" "pressure" "abandon beliefs" and "abuse" you can see how harmful being brainwashed can be on an individual.

The sad thing is- is that most people brainwash themselves. It does not necessarily come from others, rather it comes from within. Many athletes, especially female athletes, experience what I can Run Wash. This term basically has the same meaning as brain wash but it applies to how a female can create a place of torture in her own mind because of her desire to be the best in her sport.

There are times when we "abandon" or own standards and values as a person to become something we want or desire. For example, we may think that in order to be the best that we have to change our diet- While it is true that an athlete must strike a healthier diet than regular people, sometimes female athletes take it to the extreme and totally imprison themselves. They "Run Wash" themselves to the point where they may feel guilty for eating a cookie or guilty for eating more than their friends at dinner.

It does not just pertain to food- sometimes females run wash themselves into thinking that they HAVE to train for hours- and if they miss a workout or don't squeeze in a double- all of a sudden their whole day is ruined. Or one may feel guilty if they don't get exactly eight hours of sleep in or if they go out with their friends.

We have all been through this at one point- where we let something we love become an idol and something that we live for. You see, when we run wash ourselves, we end up spending so much guilty or corrosive time in our heads that we miss what is going on outside of ourselves. Run Washing is selfish and harmful to the self. Shoot for the stars, dream big, and work hard but make sure that you do not live for running or that it becomes an idol in which you chase and revolve your every activity around.

Run because it is a part of your life- not because it is your life.