MindBodySpirit
A Willing Spirit
| I'll venture you've spent a great many woeful waking hours chiding yourself in
dissatisfaction over your current state of fitness. Your psyche has played backseat driver mile after mile, |
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nagging you with guilt, mapping out unrealistic goals, making unreasonable commitments,
and envisioning the ever–elusive Body by God. Moreover, you ask yourself—how does anyone ever get there? |
As a fitness trainer, I don't believe that conventional methods toward success
are always reliable or effective—rather, it is sometimes more powerful to take
a radical approach in training. I'll spare you the familiar virtues of the platitudinous
Eat Right/Exercise / Look Great platitude (I'll save that for later), and evoke the power of a more useful conceptual
tool—your mindset. You have to get the cart behind the horse—stop obsessing over
physical perfection and get your head in the game first. Hey, if the spirit isn't
willing, the body never will be. Your mindset plays a pivotal role in failure
and success.
Free Will
Dr. Phil McGraw often says, 'Stop being a passenger in your life.' Wow, I really
like that. In other words, quit making excuses and take control of the road your
life is on. We've all been blessed with a free will, but unfortunately, many are
so lazy, we leave it on cruise control through most of our lives.
So, let's hit the brakes and get properly oriented here: whatever you're doing
right this moment, stop. Stop. Sit back, close your eyes, and clear your mind.
Examine the state of your life thoughtfully and with raw honesty. Now bring to
the forefront of your mind everything about your life, yourself, your situation,
that you are unhappy or dissatisfied with. Don't evaluate those things that you
are content or satisfied with—rather, come face to face with ALL the negatives
in your life.
Your List
Now write them down, and review your list. Do your negatives include: An issue
of self–image? A strained relationship? An unfulfilled dream you haven't pursued?
A lack of motivation? A fear of failure? Self–loathing for past failures? A job
you hate getting up for in the morning? A career you've lost yourself in? A bad
habit or an addiction? A lack of control or direction? Insecurities? Obesity?
Financial debt? Loneliness? Spiritual void?
Guess what? For all those problems, there is a solution. Quite often, such negatives
have stead in your life because you've been coasting along as a passenger in your
life. If you want to turn dissatisfaction into satisfaction, you need to unbuckle
your seat belt and slide over to the driver's seat. Put yourself behind the wheel,
grip it firmly with both hands, gear up, and press the accelerator. You'll have
to make decisions and determine your perspective: spiritually, intellectually,
emotionally, socially and physically. Look at the road ahead of you knowing you
are bound for success. The destinations you seek may be resolution, peace, happiness,
fulfillment, and restoration. You can get there, and will get there, but first,
you have to take control.
Decisions
You'll have to make decisions and determine your perspective: spiritually, intellectually,
emotionally, socially and physically. Look at the road ahead of you knowing you
are bound for success. The destinations you seek may be resolution, peace, happiness,
fulfillment, and restoration. You can get there, and will get there, but first,
you have to take control.
Clarity
If someone else has been driving you around, maybe it's time you introduce them
to the curb? This means severing toxic relationships; surround yourself with winners.
Along your way, you will experience bumps, potholes, detours, red lights, green
lights, caution lights, yields, crossings, and maybe some hitchhikers.
And for heaven's sake—ask for directions when you feel lost. A helping hand is
always nearby, willing to offer assistance, guidance, direction, and encouragement.
When you don't have a road map or can't find your way; the fresh perspective of
another can often offer clarity. So consult sources rich in wisdom and experience,
someone who's been down that road before.
Stop making excuses: don't procrastinate one more day—stop being content with
discontent. Be someone who not only wants more out of your life, but demands more
out of it. Don't coast—drive. Success is just around the bend.
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