Acouple months have passed since you embarked on your 2012 health regime. You’ve seen athletes excel at the Arctic Winter Games. And you’ve either succeeded or seen others around you succeed at New Year’s resolutions.
And yet, you’ve seen countless of others fail. Yes, fail. Is that a harsh word, or simply an honest word?
Since when did our society start being gentle with the terms of winning and losing? Is it a Canadian trait or simply a human trait?
I’ve been thinking about the London Olympics coming up, and with it, how I hope we aren’t going to bring an attitude of living for the experience.
Sure, it’s nice to go through life “experiencing”, but what if you were to win at life? What if you woke up each day thinking, “Today I am going to succeed”?
Instead, you may wake up thinking, “Man, I suck. I wish I didn’t eat that cake last night.” Or, “Ugh, I hope I don’t mess up at work today.” Or, “I really hope she doesn’t give me burpees today, I am so bad at those.”
I don’t mean to push others around and scream, “I rock this world!”, at the top of your lungs. Rather, be strong in your own life.
Recognize yourself as a unique individual and maintain high standards. (I do, because I am. I train like an athlete, because I am. I come across as a great mother, because I am. I succeed as a professional, because I am.)
Instead of downgrading what you are, learn to thank someone who compliments you. Accept your imperfections—we all have them. Reflect on and take responsibility for what has happened to you, positive and negative.
It’s not, “I can’t believe that happened to me.” It’s, “This has happened to me—what did I do about it?” We are behind the wheel as to which road we turn down in our lives.
Currently, I am a prime example of this. I am sitting on a plane, en route to The Arnold Sports Festival, a sports-fitness competition in Columbus, Ohio, for the fourth time.
My road has been long, hard, and rewarding. There have been pros and cons to my choices, and I know there will be triumphs. I had to fight to get here when I could have quit. I took help when it was offered, and replied with a glowing, “Thank you!”
The last night before I got on the plane, I had another chance to quit. My truck window was smashed in my driveway, my purse stolen with US cash, credit cards, ID, etc.
I was so angry. Not just at the thieves, but at myself. That moment, I found a million reasons to quit—I was stressed, I wanted to go eat, I didn’t want to work out, I wanted to sit with my misery and be a victim.
Five hours before my flight, at the point of cancelling the trip, I sat in tears and thought about the battles I had won, internally and externally. I apologized to those I let down, I asked for help, and I got on the plane.
There will be repercussions. I will have to work harder when I get home to make up for money lost. I will not have the spending money I thought I had at the show. I will have to deal with cleaning up my truck and getting a new window. If it rains or snows when I’m gone and it gets into my truck, I’ll have to deal with that too.
But, I also know I will reap benefits. Hell, I plan on this being my best show! I will come back invigorated, with new ideas and plans for my clients, ready to pay it forward!
Fear normally comes between what we want—fear of the unknown and failure. What we create in our mind is worse than reality. If you have kids, a spouse or loved one who’s been late, the outcome of what has happened to them in your mind is likely the worst.
Are you afraid to succeed at your fitness lifestyle or at your job because you’re afraid of how others will view you? Have you or a colleague been jealous of co-worker because they succeeded? Have you made up negative things about them to make yourself feel better?
This happens to me every day. And guess what, I’ve come to the place of not caring what “they” think. I am happy, healthy, outgoing, a great mother, a great friend, a great manager, an awesome wife, a good coach, a thoughtful soul, and a giving person. I have faults, but I am working on them too.
I would never have been able to say these about myself a year ago.
Live your life the way you want to. Don’t live to keep up with others’ expectations.
If you want to buy a mansion on a hill, then do so, but be happy living in it and working for it. If you want to tour India, then go, but be satisfied with travelling and with what you give up to do so. If you want to give up sugar, then for goodness sake, do it!
It’s a conscious choice. Saying you don’t have the willpower is a poor excuse. Take ownership over your choices.
Regardless of the pros, cons and fears in our daily choices, big and small, if you can reflect and be honest with yourself and see the role you played in creating your life, then you are a winner.
This column is provided by Peak Fitness. You can reach Mrs. Lee Randell, an ACE certified advanced health and fitness specialist and personal trainer, at www.peakfitnessyukon.com.
This column is provided by Mrs. Lee Randell, independent fitness consultant, who is an ACE certified advanced health and fitness specialist and personal trainer. You can reach her at www.mrsleerandell.com.
