The strength we seek is all around us, by Mirna Valerio
Nov 7, 2023
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Mirna Valerio, author, advocate, and runner, shares her journey of finding inner strength and taking action. She contemplates a career leap, overcomes fear during a thunderstorm, and experiences the freedom of running with support. The podcast explores embracing all emotions and reflects on the power of awareness.
Strength is always present, even in the face of fear.
Embracing vulnerability and finding support in community are key to personal growth and success.
Deep dives
Embracing Fear and Taking Action
In this podcast episode, ultra runner and author Murna Valeria shares a personal story about confronting fear head-on and realizing that strength is always present, even in the face of fear. As she contemplates whether to leave her stable teaching job to pursue her passion for running, a student's unexpected encouragement pushes her to follow her dreams. Through her running retreats and workshops, she creates safe spaces for diverse women to come together, be vulnerable, and find strength. The episode highlights the importance of facing fear, finding support in community, and embracing vulnerability to achieve personal growth and success.
Creating Inclusive Spaces and Embracing Body Positivity
The podcast episode explores Murna's mission to advocate for inclusivity in the running world, where she leads workshops, writes articles, and starts a Facebook group for plus-size women runners. She shares how these initiatives provide a sense of belonging and empower women to break free from societal expectations. During her running retreat, Murna creates a safe space for women of all body types to run, even in the rain, and sheds shame by running shirtless with her participants. The story highlights the power of embracing body positivity, challenging stereotypes, and finding strength through community.
Overcoming Doubt and Finding Strength Within
In the final part of the podcast, Murna embarks on a challenging trail run and faces self-doubt about her strength and capabilities. However, through the support and encouragement of fellow runners, she rediscovers her inner strength and realizes that she has the ability to overcome obstacles. The story emphasizes the notion that fear and doubt are part of the process but can be navigated by finding strength within oneself and by forming authentic connections with others.
As a runner of marathons and ultramarathons, author and advocate Mirna Valerio knows a thing or two about finding reserves of power within herself. When she makes the decision to leave her job as an educator and build a new career around inclusivity in the running world, she must find a different kind of strength to take action and learns that it’s always there for her, even when her fear doesn’t go away.
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Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.com