SHOWING UP
Have you every started down the path of a workout or project or good intention and the ‘work’ you are doing is tough so you do something to make it a little easier on yourself?
Maybe you are doing curls and you swing the bar a little instead of struggling through the rep.
Maybe you have food prepared at home but you pick up fast food instead.
Maybe you committed to reading a book a month and after two weeks of Netflixing each night you toss that goal aside.
Maybe you set your alarm for 6am so that you can take your dog for a long walk before work but sleeping until 7 and rushing your dog outside gives you relief instead of him.
I know I am guilty of these things. And then after some time I realize the ‘temporary relief’ I am experiencing while taking the easy way out is not helping me accomplish anything so I then begin to put in the real work.
I do the movement or task like it was intended, I get up earlier, I turn off the TV and pick up the book, I eat the food I’ve already prepared… all of the things I should have been doing the whole time.
Even then, when I’m done, instead of being proud of myself and feeling awesome and accomplished, I’m disappointed in myself and regretful of the time I wasted.
What I take away from times like these is that hard work is hard for a reason.
You get something out of it.
You gain strength and fitness if the hard work you are doing is in a workout. You gain knowledge if the hard work you are doing is studying. You gain discipline and health if the hard work you are doing is eating well. You gain confidence if the hard work you are doing is something out of your comfort zone.
Get uncomfortable. It’s where confidence happens.
Dig in to the hard stuff. It’s where discipline happens.
Force yourself to keep going. It’s where gains happen.
Do something different, do it well and do it with integrity.