If anyone had asked me if I ran prior to 2018, I would have responded, “I’m not a runner,” probably paired with an overdone joke about what would make me run—like a bear. Funny enough, I have run away from a bear, but that’s a story for another day. Back in 2018, I was going through a lot in my life, and I had just learned about a psychology theory whose main point was that we create narratives in our heads—and we maintain them to appear consistent.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (also known as ACT) is a type of therapy that focuses on changing the relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings. It teaches skills to end the fight with ruminating thought patterns, and instead guides the person to reflect on, choose, and live their values. The idea is that you don’t have to get rid of your anxiety, trauma, or depression to start living more fully and meaningfully.