Clean Slate
Isn’t it amazing how the first few days of the year bring a refreshed clean slate for most? I personally do not set New Year resolutions, as I work pretty diligently throughout the year to accomplish milestones. However, one problem that I think we all run into with setting some of our goals, or making New Year resolutions is, the ones that are the most difficult, or the ones that require us to change we procrastinate to get them done. Sometimes so much so that it never gets done. Why is that? Well as humans we instinctively are attracted to what’s easy or pleasurable. That’s why some would rather watch TV than write the book they have always wanted to write, or play video games instead of practice skills to be a better basketball player, and yet being the greatest basketball player or writer is our goals and dreams. It doesn’t mean that those really aren’t our goals. It just means that we would rather feel pleasure right now, instead of putting in the long, tedious hours to perfect our craft.
As a personal trainer and group fitness instructor who pays close attention to clients emotions, and reactions to working out, I often see that people have a strong desire to get fit. However, it is not pleasurable for most. In fact sometimes it can be extremely painful. Especially for the person who hasn’t worked out ever, or the person who is coming back after a long time. The soreness can be agonizing, weights can feel extremely heavy, and it can feel like you are putting your body through hell. Some are intimidated just by walking in the gym doors to all of the equipment they have no idea how to use, or the people that look way more fit than them and seem to know what they are doing way more than they do. Joining a class can be intimidating because people might already know each other, or you might feel like you have to keep up with everyone else, making you feel discouraged.
So how do we fix this? How do we turn dreams and goals into reality? I’m an ex track runner so I will use this analogy. In track when you are at the starting line, the runners that are focused on winning don’t look left or right to see how fast or slow someone is going. They are focused on winning. We all have to run our own races. There will always be someone, faster, smarter, stronger than you, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t fast, smart, or strong. The beauty of it though is that you will always hold a gift that no one else has. You were put on this Earth to be and give the best version of yourself. Think about what it is that you want to accomplish this year. Trust me, I know it’s way easier to write it down or think it, rather than doing it. My motto is JUST START SOMEWHERE. “Start with where you are, with what you have, because what you have is plenty.” It all starts with a decision, and then action. Once the decision is made, don’t look back, just keep going forward no matter how fast or slow you feel like you are going. Once you have taken action, there are people, books, and the internet to help you pull it all together to make something beautiful. It all starts with you, and how much and how long you are willing to physically and mentally put yourself through the unpleasurable to get to the pleasurable. I constantly have to tell myself this on a daily basis. I have to reprogram myself daily to be in the right mindset to succeed. Some days I fail, which is to expected, but guess what? With those failures I still learn, and I still get back up to fail again until I succeed. We tend to think that everything is supposed to come easy, or we are supposed to luck our way into success, which is far from the truth. So if it’s a book you want to write, START. If you want to be the best basketball player alive, START. If you want to be more physically and mentally in shape, START. Know that it’s going to be difficult at times, yet also know I BELIEVE IN YOU. Let’s go!
