No matter where you are in life, it’s fair to say that you can always improve and always strive to be better. I believe in the “Keep Moving Forward” movement. No matter how big or small, we need to always keep striving for progress. With this in mind, we have to remember the goal isn’t to finish, but to improve weekly, daily and even hourly. Here are reminders that I use to focus, invest and take action with my most important goal: Constant Improvement.
1. “The world is not against you.”
Doing it just because they said you can’t isn’t something you should use as motivation. You should innately do it for yourself first and foremost. If you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth, join the club… the majority of us weren’t. We go through hard times to get stronger… it’s the silver lining you’ve always heard about. Just keep moving forward with building your mind and body.
Create positive environments that keep building you up. The world is not against you. There is something special and different about each of us, so embrace your weakness and newfound strengths. This life should be your biggest fan, not your worst enemy.
2. “When you feel like quitting remember why you started.”
We preach positive visualization for a reason. Changing your thought patterns make all the difference with succeeding. When we should be our biggest cheerleaders, we usually are our worst critics. Being realistic is fine, but we also need positivity. It is in our nature as human beings to want positivity; in fact, dopamine and serotonin can be tapped into with positive thinking and reinforcement from others. Be honest with yourself and pin point why you put yourself down. Stop saying “I can’t” and start saying, “I can” or “I will.” Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right. “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m Possible’ ” – Audrey Hepburn
3. “I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday.”
Life is about learning new tools everyday and is not meant to be scripted. When your thirst for knowledge sags so will your body. Know that life is hard, but you are stronger. If our lives were meant to be sprints it would be over by now. Life is a journey and can be a fun one at that! Reward yourself with every obstacle that you face. After every workout look in the mirror and give yourself a deserved affirmation or put $1 in a fitness jar. In a few months you may just be able to afford that new pair of workout gear… most likely in a smaller size.
4. “Don’t be upset with the results you didn’t get with the work that you didn’t do.”
Be realistic with your goals: Being impatient is one of the worst traits we can have when trying to lose weight. With instant gratification being easier than ever it can be frustrating to not get the results you want with your body right away. Desire can be a motivating tool but always be realistic. Ask yourself how long it took to put on the weight and multiply that by 2. Give yourself that amount of time to be patient trying to lose weight.
5. What would you do if you had no fear?
Fear is one of the dirtiest four letter words! Instead of giving into fear, deal with it head on. We are human so feeling scared is normal. When you self sabotage what you want in life, it is caused mainly by the fear of not succeeding. Overcoming fear makes you stronger mentally, spiritually and even physically. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Every day is another chance to be better than the day before so live in the moment. No need to look back, you’re not going that way.
-xShanna
