Child's Creative Resilience:

During his childhood, Kay Bretz faced a tough battle with bedwetting, causing him great embarrassment. Despite reassurances from doctors, the issue persisted. However, Kay stumbled upon an inspiring story about a boy who battled cancer by imagining himself as a spaceship captain, destroying the cancer cells within his body. This tale sparked something within Kay. Instead of feeling defeated by his bedwetting problem, Kay decided to adopt a similar approach. He created his imaginative world where he was in command of a spaceship, fighting off the "evil" causing his bedwetting. With determination and a creative mindset, Kay persisted in his vision.

Bretz admired a courageous and creative boy who conquered challenges with his mind-over-matter approach. Inspired, Bretz decided to adopt a similar strategy, realizing he had to believe in himself for it to succeed. Though he knew setbacks were possible, he committed to persisting. With hopeful determination, he went to bed every night affirming that he would wake up dry “ and he did. Over time, Bretz noticed that he had overcome his issue. This experience instilled in him a strong belief in the effectiveness of positive thinking.

Realizing his ability to change, Bretz questioned what more he could achieve by controlling his thoughts and outlook. He pondered whether he could evolve into someone better, more skilled, and successful. Bretz considered if this enhanced version of himself might reflect his true potential or at least the person he was meant to be.

Success through Unlearning:

Bretz realized that to succeed, he didn't need to acquire new knowledge but instead had to unlearn old, restrictive beliefs. Many people limit themselves with arbitrary mental barriers, just as he had.

With hard work, focus, and discipline, Bretz achieved significant success. He earned a doctorate and became a well-paid consultant at McKinsey & Co. Despite this, he wanted more. He aimed to rediscover the transformative power of intuition he had felt in his youth. To do this, he decided to improve his long-distance running. Starting as a recreational marathoner, he eventually became one of the world's top ultramarathon athletes. Bretz credits his success in this journey to the power of his mind.

Tap into Your Inner Strength:

When facing tough challenges, it's not just about having skills and luck on your side. Bretz showed us that sometimes, you need to dig deep within yourself to overcome obstacles. This means stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring new parts of who you are.

By doing this, you gain fresh insights and a better understanding of yourself and your capabilities. Instead of letting life push you around, you take control of your destiny. It's not about becoming extraordinary; it's about tapping into your inner strength to make positive changes in your life.

The Winning Motivation

Bretz set out on a journey of mindset transformation from a young age. As he matured into adulthood and pursued marathon running casually, he continued to enhance his mental agility. His pivotal shift began when he crossed paths with Gavin Freeman, a renowned sports psychologist, at a company-sponsored event. Freeman's expertise had played a crucial role in propelling athletes like Simon Fairweather to Olympic glory, notably assisting Fairweather in securing a gold medal during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Freeman coached Bretz in distance running, sharing insights on two types of athletes. One type stays focused, works hard, and aims to succeed. The other worries too much about failure and often falls short. Freeman emphasized the importance of striving for success rather than fearing failure. He urged Bretz to always keep his eyes on the prize and maintain a winning mindset.

Utilize Intuition for Success:

As these two guys bonded, Freeman told Bretz straight up: he was too stuck in his ways, both as a runner and as a person. Freeman advised me to stop overthinking and start trusting my gut. He suggested something radical: mystery runs. Bretz's buddy picks the route, and Bretz knows zilch about it beforehand. No pace predictions, no duration estimates, nada.  Freeman pushed Bretz to let go of control. In these practice sessions, Bretz would follow his buddy's lead. That meant sticking to their pace, their plan, and their route. Bretz wouldn™t have a clue when the pace would pick up when it would slack off, how long they'd be out there, or where they were headed.

For a focused athlete like Bretz, who meticulously plans his races and paces himself based on set distances, this new approach would be challenging. He'd have to set aside his usual planning and logic, instead of relying on trust and adapting to whatever comes his way at the moment. Bretz must remain fully present throughout the entire run, regardless of its length.

In Bretz's journey of training for mystery runs, he enlisted the help of his fast-running friend Corey. Despite Bretz's habit of always turning left out of his yard when running in his suburban Melbourne neighborhood, something peculiar happened when Corey joined him. Instead of following Bretz's routine, Corey consistently turned right upon leaving Bretz's yard. Intrigued, Bretz followed suit, breaking his conditioning of turning left.

Peak Performance Through Intuitive Action:

Bretz faced a challenge when he couldn't stick to his usual running plans. Instead of giving up, he switched gears. He let his instincts guide him, focusing solely on the task at hand. This shift was key for Bretz, just as his mentor Freeman predicted. By surrendering to the moment, Bretz shed his mental barriers. He stopped worrying about failing and just ran. He stopped imposing strict structures on himself and listened to his body instead. This change allowed him to tap into his instincts and run freely.

Discover the transformative strategy that propelled Bretz from a casual marathoner to one of the world's top ultramarathon runners. By adopting Freeman's "turning-right" technique, Bretz revolutionized his approach to running, achieving unparalleled success in ultramarathons. Additionally, mastering meditation played a crucial role in Bretz's journey to becoming an elite athlete. These practical insights highlight the importance of strategic thinking and mental training in reaching advanced levels of performance in marathon running.

Bretz's Ultramarathon Success: Mind-Set Shift

Equipped with a fresh mindset and heightened awareness, Bretz emerged as a top-tier long-distance runner in some of the world's toughest ultramarathons. One such race was the Big Red Run, a grueling 250-kilometer challenge across Australia's Simpson Desert, roughly 155 miles. Initially daunting, Bretz tackled it head-on, comparing it to a "regional bus trip." Despite the immense difficulty, he not only finished but shattered the previous record by over five hours, clinching victory.

Bretz also took part in Delirious WEST, a grueling 350-kilometer (217-mile) ultramarathon along the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. He clinched second place, covering the demanding course in 68.52 hours.

In 2019, Bretz joined the Emus, Australia's national 24-hour running team. He took part in the 24-Hour World Championship Race held in Albi, France, where he finished 11th among male runners. Bretz covered a whopping 259.67 kilometers (161 miles) during his run. This achievement shows how dedication and training can lead to remarkable accomplishments in the world of endurance sports.

Beat Mental Barriers:

Are you tired of the same old patterns? It's time to step into something fresh and exciting. Don't shy away from the unknown “ dive into it headfirst! Why settle for small when you can aim for big? 

Have you ever stopped to tally up the hefty costs of underestimating yourself? What if you considered the potential rewards awaiting a more daring approach? Could such a shift in mindset pave the way for realizing your deepest aspirations?

Many people stick to what they know, even when they know there's more out there. But staying in your comfort zone means missing out on opportunities. Are you stuck in a rut? It's time to break free and step into something new. Don't let fear hold you back. Take a leap, try something different, and see where it takes you. It's time to live the life you've always wanted.

The Turning Right Approach to Self-Improvement:

Bretz's approach to self-improvement, known as "turning right," emphasizes mental training to achieve your goals. It involves self-reflection and boosting your intuition. Adopting this mindset means staying positive and avoiding negative self-talk. To succeed, you must engage in self-examination and discovery. This approach can help you move from a good place to a great one.

As part of your self-reflection, consider the following questions. Answer them honestly and objectively, and be open to the insights they provide:

• What are your dreams, and are you willing to step outside your comfort zone to achieve them?
• What values guide your life?
• What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now, and what steps are you taking to overcome it?
• Have you ever taken a risk, or "turned right," before? If so, what was the outcome?
• How do you handle fear? Are you able to confront your fears, or do you tend to avoid them?
• How would your life change if you had no fear or limitations?
• How have you dealt with setbacks and challenges in the past? What strategies have been successful for you?
• If you could be more successful, what changes would you make in your life?
• How do you react to failure, and how does it impact your future outlook?
• How do you cope with difficult situations and pain?
• Do you find solace and rejuvenation in nature? If not, what prevents you from doing so?
• What beliefs or attitudes hold you back, and which ones propel you forward?