Okay people… I have a confession to make… I am an expert at putting things off, sometimes for days, others for weeks, other times it’s been years. Hence my weight gain was so bad, because I put exercise and nutrition off for too long in an attempt to work as hard as I could at a job I hated, which by the way, I put off looking for another job for a good two years for the same reason. Call it whatever you want, procrastination, laziness, fear, all of it, who knows. The truth is that I do that and I’m sure that many of you do as well.
What I realized these past few months is that what makes a difference for me when I stop putting things off is to put my butt under fire (so to speak). In other words, i set a goal and announce it on my blog. I have over 200 people read this blog every month and knowing that my stats keep increasing is terrifying to me and challenging, why? Because I think to myself: CRAP! I better do what I said I would do because I have all of YOU wonderful readers check my blog and see if I fail or if I succeeded at my goal.
When I started writing this blog, I wrote that it was my attempt to stay accountable for getting back in shape because “I knew what I needed to do.” That was my first blog entry on March 14 of 2010. Then I stopped blogging (and working out) for two whole months until I got P90X in May of 2010. On day 3 of the workout which I wrote on May 16 of last year, I wrote: “If someone were to ask me what it is that I would like to get for myself at the end of these 90 days, I have to say that it is to become a master at ignoring that little voice that tells me that I am too tired or that I cannot do it, because the more I ignore that voice, the more I win and when I win, everyone who is counting on me also wins.” Fast forward to today, I see that I have accomplished ignoring the voice that tells me that I can’t do it… well most times I do, but becoming a master at something doesn’t mean that I won’t struggle with it (whatever that “it” is for you) it just means that I get to practice at it on a monthly, weekly and sometimes on a daily basis and just realizing that it’s just my own fear speaking to me and that whatever I’m afraid of (failing) isn’t even true, because I have already succeeded at getting fit… I’m just taking it up a notch (or two).
The funny thing is that I have a whole lot of people who believe in me sometimes even more than I believe in myself and that amazes me. So whenever I don’t believe in myself, and I can’t seem to find my own positive pep talks within me, I just go to one of these people and say “I’m afraid that…” and it works, it gets me back on track and out of my fears and then I can focus again. The truth is that we all experience fear of failing at one point or another, it’s normal. As a matter of fact, I would dare to say that fear is the fuel that feeds procrastination. Take a look at whatever it is that you have been procrastinating about in your life (and by procrastinating I mean looking at the BIG dreams that you have that you keep putting off). Say applying to a job or promotion that you want, asking that girl out, or even getting fit. What stops you? FEAR. Yes, I said it.
The thing is that you have a choice: 1- You procrastinate and continue to complain about your circumstances not changing, or 2- You start to take baby steps to get to where you want to be. It’s YOUR choice. Complaining and procrastinating will get you nowhere (trust me, I’ve done it enough already to know that). So, do something different, be courageous! Courageous people feel fear, the difference is that they take action regardless of their fear.
If you want support in fitness, tell your friends, family and those who love you the most and who will get behind you on whatever dreams and goals you have set for yourself. If you don’t get that, or if you can’t find anyone to support you in those goals then drop me a note and I will coach you (for free). I’ve been there, I know what it takes and I can help you. Don’t let your circumstances dictate whether or not you’ll succeed. Yes, you CAN do it, it all begins with believing in yourself… one step at a time.