Mind Blown...

Subtext.....daily mental narrator....your personal script...

What is your subconscious mind thinking?

Thoughts control your mind....your mind controls your actions, your body, and ultimately your outcome.

• "No matter how hard I workout I will never lose this weight, this is how I am....."
• "I should be happy with my gains in the gym, I'll never be able to run a marathon anyway....."
• "I have never stuck to anything before, this will be the same, I should just be happy and embrace my belly the way it is....."
• "None of my friends are active so it's not that important to me...."

Everything above focuses is on what you do NOT want as opposed to what you DO want. You are doing your best to not do your best. 

If you see your goal, whatever it may be, as impossible you will never make a true effort. If you do not believe you deserve the body of your dreams you will allow your surroundings to influence your decisions. 

Do you think you only have the control to effect 60% of your results because the other 40% you have zero control over due to genetics, age, history, etc? THEN YOU WILL ONLY EVER GIVE 60%. Tell me how close this gets you to your goal? Just over half way......is this where you have failed in the past? What is the percent effort you put into your goals? At what point do you consistently fail?

Everything you do is a result of your thought process and beliefs. 

I have heard a million times that it takes 21 days to change a habit, if you believe this, then it will probably take 21 days. If you believe you are destined to only be moderately fit, then you will only put in average effort in the gym. If you believe you will always carry a few extra pounds after pregnancy then you might as well settle into your new pant size. If you believe genetics dictates who gets to be 'ripped' or 'lean' then you will never be serious about food binges, missed workouts, or kicking your smoking habit.

On the other hand... if you believe you are the strongest person in the gym, you will always bang out the last few reps. If you can see yourself with a fitness models body you will have no problem skipping the muffins and scheduling your workouts as a priority. If you see yourself as healthy and a health role model to your family and friends you will not order fast food on the weekends and invite them to try new workouts with you.

The battle begins in your mind. Your thoughts....what you truly believe in your mind is a direct product of what you are getting out of life. Right now.

The mental switch is a process....

• Take it one day at a time. Just because you believe does not mean you will magically become thin and fit. There is allot of effort and action to be put into place. You just need to do it. One day at a time.
• Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Tell yourself everyday exactly who you are. Write it down. Read it over and over. Record it. Each day you will have to make new choices as you change. Each day you will hear the lies: 'it's all genetics' 'you are not motivated' 'food is making you fat'. If you believe the lies you give them power. Again, repeat to yourself exactly who you are. 
• Use emotional cues... change your screen saver to a quote that means something to you or to a picture of a fit physique that you desire. My close friends and I all message quotes that we like to connect with each other and keep motivated. You could attend a local fitness competition. Make new friends with those with similar interests, start with your trainer. Watch a movie or sport which reflects your desired physique. Hang out with guys/girls that are fitter, stronger, and better looking....how will it feel when you fit right in? The key here is to make sure these thoughts pull on your own emotional triggers.
• Support. Close friends, a team, your trainer, a social media community. If you don't have a support group, create one. Take responsibility. "Poor me & this is my situation" gets a slap to the face because you are not getting what I am laying down so far..... Find yourself allot of support. It will help you through tough days. Remember, one day at a time. These sources of support should represent what you want and help keep you committed to your goals.

This last mental change point I believe is the most important, it is what changed everything for me.....

Toss all of your 'trying' and 'wanting'. Until you actually believe that you have the power to change, you will not be in control of your life. Doubt is for sissys. I have told myself that "I am going to try to train for a fitness competition" and I have told myself "I want an all season lean physique because it is sexy and marketable". But trying and wanting are not powerful enough. I doubted myself and didn't truly think it was possible, so small decisions along the way effected the outcome. In the gym I could decide that I was tired and skip the last circuit or go out for the night and take in a few too many drinks and late night pizza... I just decided I would 'make it up', and it wouldn't hurt my progress. I was only trying to succeed. I only wanted to succeed. It was definitely not enough.

YOU MUST DECIDE THAT YOU WILL DO IT. Stop wanting and start creating. Barriers down. You will not skip the last circuit because it is not an option, you will not party all night because it is not an option. You have decided to earn your goal, regardless of the pain and temptation. Yes, it is worth it, and yes, everytime you resist something it will become easier. It is your resistance muscle, each time you use it it's get stronger. 

Change your inner dialogue, your daily narrator, to focus your perspective on what is positive and important to only you. This will allow you to experience the feeling of success in your goals. You will no longer train because you know you are supposed to, you will train because you know your effort is paying off. You will not hope to build your peak physique, you will create it. You will look in the mirror and focus on what you are creating, not on what you could become. You will visualize what you are creating, not what you wish for. You will eat healthy not because you should but because it is fueling your improvements. 

Do not try, Decide. That will be your difference between a good effort and personal bests. The difference between no pack and a six pack.

You can. Think positive. You new dialogue is self directed. Do not give lies power by even thinking them. 

Now, take action.  

"like attracts like"                 "energy attracts energy"

Do you have a 5 year plan....

Do you have things in the back of your mind that you want to do.....at some point... It's that 'at some point' that gets us and leaves it in the back of your mind. Some big things 'have kids', 'get married', 'new career', or life experiences like travel.....Thiland, I hear it's beautiful!...?

I have a sense of calm about the future and confidence in things happening for a reason, the plan that is set out for me. That in part comes from my faith and the belief that we have a purpose in each day.

On the flip side I am very driven and a planner. A compulsive planner! For this reason it helps to have a sense of the direction that I am traveling. I recently made a 5 year plan (my friends and I joke about asking men their '5 year plan' and meeting their Mother prior to any date.... ;). The plan was a short list of important things I want to accomplish. It helped me to relax with the anxiety of wanting to do everything immediately and getting frustrated that I cannot.

There are things on the list that I want to do in my life. It was interesting to me that things like marriage and kids didn't come up first (theses are 'happens when it is meant to' items). Although they are important life goals, things like 'buy property', 'launch my own business', 'adopt a dog' (this clearly comes after property and having extra time at home to train a little monster), 'travel overseas to see a professional soccer game', all came up first.

It is important to take stock of what you want out of life. Then plan it. Even if you are nervous about what it may be, begin the steps towards making it happen. If you want to take a trip, set up a savings account and put a set amount in it every pay-cheque, research locations where you want to go, tell friends and family about your plan. Once the ball is rolling it is harder to stop it and it makes it easier to hold yourself accountable and attain your goal. Often you may hold anxiety or guilt about doing something, then when it happens.........now that wasn't that hard at all. You welcome the feeling of being thankful you had the courage to make it happen and experience it.

This makes it sound heavier then maybe it should be.... You would think that you would drive head first into the things you most want out of life. But, we both know that doesn't happen. The things you really want are usually the things you do not have or have yet to experience. Now. Why do you not have them already.....?

Action......create a list: 2012-2013-2014-2015-2016. List the things you want to do as well as the things you already have in your plan to happen (attend a wedding, move, etc). Realistically place items.....relax and make your plan to execute!

Don't be afraid to dream. You deserve all that you want. But remember, you are the only one who is going to make it happen.....

It's not your Business...quick thoughts....

Business. What is the business of you?

Over the years I have been involved in enough business decisions that I understand if there is a decision made that you do not agree with, everything will work out. Trust. It may not work as you had once invisioned but you have to be able to change along with change. Adapt. Learn.

Business is hard. You must trust in your abilities and refocus on where you are going into the future. Do not get wrapped up in the small fails along the way, no matter how difficult.

That being said, be cautious about who you decide to go into business with. Be realistic about the difficulties surrounding doing business with friends or family. You must be able to be completely honest and separate the personal with the professional. I do not need to tell anyone this is far more challenging to do no matter what your intensions are.

What are you passionate about? What is stopping you? Do you want to look back in 5 years and be in exactly the same spot pondering the exact same question....."should I"......

The one constant in life is change. You are so strong. Own it.


Risk it.....I dare you....

EMPOWER