What would you do?
Can I ask you a question?
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
Would you learn to speak Japanese? Take a salsa dance class or learn to play the fly a plane? Start your own business? Or would you commit to losing that spare tire around your belly and getting out for hikes with your partner?
You get what you work for, not what you wish for.
Would you finally make yourself a priority in your schedule instead of putting your desires at the bottom of an overflowing to-do list?
Would you stop saying, “I wish I could climb Mount Everest,” and get your butt to the nearest trail to start hiking?
All these things involve investing in yourself–investing time, money, or both. But unfortunately, many of us have been taught to put ourselves last. So, you might think it’s selfish to take some time for yourself.
If you want to go after your dream, you won’t get there by continuously putting yourself last.
And if you want to grow, you must do something different than what you’re doing today.
How many people do you know who say they should take better care of themselves but then tell you they are too busy with work or shuttling the kids to lacrosse practice to find the time? So instead, they wait until the doctor gives them a scary diagnosis to commit to a change.
1,440 minutes in a day
Time might be an issue if you’re working double shifts while going to law school and caring for young children and aging parents. But if you spend your time binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through social media, I’d guess that you have more time for self-care than you think.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day. So, why can some people pack it with so many productive and fulfilling moments while others seem to be consistently running late?
You can have excuses, or you can have results.
If something is meaningful to you, you’ll find a way to make it happen. If not, you’ll make an excuse. And it will even sound like a valid one. So you’ll feel justified in not taking a walk around the block with your dog or rolling out your yoga mat.
Pay attention to how you’re spending time. Where do you notice activities sucking up your time instead of adding to your quality of life?
Many people say that their health is their biggest priority. And for some of them, it’s the truth. But for many of them, when thinking about the first steps, they start singing another tune. Then, they start finding reasons why everything else is suddenly more critical; they list everything and everyone else in front of themselves.
Your brain fears change.
How can this be? Your brain wants to keep you safe and comfortable. It fears anything new because it’s unknown. And that feels scary to your brain. So, even if you say you want to lose 20 pounds, your brain will quickly formulate a reasonable-sounding excuse when you think about signing up for that new pilates class. Then, you’ll buy into your excuse and quit before starting.
Let’s face it; if being healthy and in shape were easy, there wouldn’t be an obesity epidemic. You wouldn’t see commercial after commercial for the new wonder drug.
Get out of your comfort zone.
But relaxing is more rewarding at the moment. Lifting weights, going for a run, or taking a bike ride takes effort. Eating a pizza is delicious right now, but eating fruits and vegetables has long-term benefits, such as lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol and helping control your weight. It’s not easy to get excited about results that you won’t see until a future day.
Your brain wants immediate gratification. After all, the future is in the future; it’s not here and now. So, why should you skip that chocolate cupcake for something that might happen in the future?
Because if fitting into your skinny jeans or not relying on multiple medications matters to you, you have to start getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
You must prioritize time in your day to take a walk, plan your meals, work with a coach, or find an accountability partner who can help you to be the best you.
Invest in the future version of you.
Then, invest in yourself; invest your time and money to take one step at a time to get closer to your goals.
Everything you do in your day is trading part of your life. So, be intentional with your time. For example, you might choose to exchange watching TV all weekend to take a yoga class, meditate, journal, or go for a run.
Finally, live in integrity with your values. If you say something is significant to you, make it a part of your life.
And if you do, you can’t fail. The only way to fail is not to give yourself the chance to go for what you want.
Your future self will thank you for it.
PS – Whenever you’re ready… Here are 4 ways I can help you shift from settling for the results you’re getting to feeling stronger and sexier than you did when you were younger!
- Get your free Food & Mood tracker. It’s excellent for noticing what you’re eating and why.
- Join other like-minded people taking control of their health in my Peace Run Yoga Facebook Group! It’s a place to share ideas, get advice, and meet others on a health journey.
- Join me for a live yoga class from the comfort of your own home. Check out the online class schedule and sign up!
- Get private coaching with me to step off the health rollercoaster. Send me an email with the words “I’m ready” in the subject line. Tell me a little about your current health and what you’d like to work on together, and I’ll get you all the details!