From Performance to Presence: A Heart Shift in Training

For years, I trained to perform. To hit personal bests, reach milestones, and prove my strength. And while setting goals isn’t wrong, I found myself constantly striving—chasing outcomes instead of being present in the process.

Eventually, I realized my training had become more about proving something than experiencing something.

And in that striving, I lost the joy, the connection, and the gratitude that should come with movement.

The shift from performance to presence changed everything.

Presence in training means showing up for your workout as you are—not as you think you should be. It means listening to your body instead of punishing it.

It means moving in a way that builds you up, not breaks you down.

Most importantly, presence invites God into your movement. Instead of training from a place of pressure, you train from a place of peace.

Here’s how to start making the shift:

1. Set your intention before you start.

Before a run or workout, ask: “What do I need today?” Maybe it’s strength, clarity, release, or rest. Let your movement be a response to that need—not a reaction to guilt or comparison.

2. Pay attention, not just attention to results.

Be aware of your breath. Notice how your body feels. Thank God for what it can do—even if it’s slower or smaller than before.

3. Release the need to earn your worth.

You don’t need to burn calories or beat a PR to be valuable. Your identity is secure in Christ. Movement is a gift—not a test.

Training with presence is an act of worship. It’s choosing to move in gratitude and freedom rather than fear and pressure.

It’s here—right in the middle of the workout, the walk, or the stretch—that God meets us.

Because He’s not waiting at the finish line. He’s walking with you through the whole journey.