I found this section to be useful today:

Concentrate every minute like a Roman - like a man - on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions. Yes, you can - if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, irritable. You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? If you can manage this, that’s all even the gods can ask of you.

Taken on the small (and ignoring the sexism), this is how learning to row has been. You need to focus. Avoid fear and distraction when the boat starts rocking. Really power through with a smooth stroke. It’s a little hard to be hypocritical in that context, but the rest is on point. Stay focused and true.