I have written about “change” so many times in the past…but who can blame me! “Change” is what women crave when they join our classes. It’s the main goal of our jobs as fitness instructors to change people’s lives – helping our clients change the physical aspects of their bodies, encouraging them to transform their thinking about health and fitness, and especially changing the way they feel about themselves.
Changing things up with our classes and our events is the key to success – because a bored member soon becomes a discouraged member and before you know it, you have an absent member…
“Nothing will change unless YOU change…” I read these words by the legendary American motivational speaker and content creator, Eddie Pinero, a few days ago, and couldn’t help thinking how true this is, especially with our Summer Challenge starting on Monday.
I can almost not believe it’s the 25th Fitness Challenge we are hosting in our studio, and I am sure, as always, there will be wonderful success stories.
…But today’s Blog is dedicated to those who have been wanting to accomplish a goal for a long time, and yet, here they are. Many years hence and they are still no closer to that great achievement. Why are they stuck? Or should I ask – ARE they stuck?
They ARE NOT stuck – No believe me, the past few months I have come to view the term “stuck” for what it really is. My dad is stuck – stuck in a paralyzed mind and body, and while his organs are functioning well, there’s no easy way out for him…
You are not STUCK when you don’t make progress, you simply don’t take action…Period. You CHOOSE to keep doing the same thing. You want a different story, but you keep acting the same part. To get different results, you have to BE different. Cruel words? Not really.
You want to win the lotto, but you don’t even buy a ticket. You want to get in shape, but you don’t workout. You want a new job, but you don’t even apply. Why? Because taking dramatic action in your life requires change – change to your routine. Change to your habits. Change to your thinking. Change to yourself. And change isn’t easy.
In fact, the majority of people, don’t change. Not because they cannot, but because it’s so much easier not to do so. They stay the same, day after day and year after year. They are “comfortably uncomfortable”, in their current circumstances.
Most people let change around them sweep them along, but they do not make a decision to change themselves, to make the difference within that will bring about the lives they want.
Sure, people try…half-heartedly, like walking the dog slowly, and having a shake once or twice, or coming to class three or four times, and then the urge goes away. Last week one brave lady on Facebook admitted that she really thought that 2023 was “going to be her year to finally get fit”, and there she was, facing the brutal truth that actually she had done zilch to make that happen. She was still exactly the same…carrying extra weight and still unfit.
(It had me thinking, when does your weight stop becoming extra weight and just become part of who you are???)
But I was still so proud of that woman, for her honesty, for her willingness to own the truth, and then to share it so openly. In fact, this past week when we started doing the first InBody assessments for this Summer, I was just as proud of my girls. There were a few who have improved since our Winter Challenge, but there were also those who have fallen off the wagon, and those who have stayed exactly the same…
They knew that their assessments wouldn’t be mind-blowing, and they still came, taking full responsibility for their actions. I have so much appreciation for that, and I believe this season is going to be rewarding for them, because they are still committed to take action.
In his book “How to get there and how to stay there”, John Kanary writes: “The only things that can flow to you, are based on what’s flowing from you.”
I firmly believe that one of the troubles in life is that we cannot always rely on our motivation, or our feelings in general, to give us the prompt we may need to make positive changes in our lives. Sometimes we have to commit to make them anyway.
81 members so far have entered our Summer Challenge – I am convinced that not nearly all of them have the conviction that this summer will be their best ever, but they have committed anyway! And that’s brave!
Maybe it’s time you ask yourself this question – What is really standing in your way? If you really want to lose weight, why haven’t you done so? Lack of time, struggling to say no to sugar, having a spouse who is not encouraging?
“I’ll do it when I have…I’ll do it if I get…I’ll do it when I have more money…I’ll do it when it feels right…I’ll do it when I have more time…I’ll do it when my kids are grown…I’ll do it when I’m happier with my appearance.” Blah. Blah. Blah. No, accept the fact that the right, ideal moment will never come.
All of these “I’ll do it when’s” will continue to keep you trapped. They will always hold you back… Being WILLING is the only thing you need to make a change. No matter how many strategies, tips, and real-life stories I provide, you won’t be able to start fresh and make progress on the life you want until you are willing.
Author Dale Turner recently said: “Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.”
The thing is – in any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth, or step back into safety. Are you willing to show up for yourself every day? Are you willing to do the best you can? Are you willing to go on an intense but worthwhile journey to find a new start? Then start. When?
I don’t know. How about right bloody now?! No better time! Why? Because you’re not really stuck. Because nothing changes unless YOU change. And: “When you are finished changing, you are finished.”
Yours in fitness
Mirna
082 779 0507