Just the other morning a client said to me, "You know, I don't mind exercise, if it wasn't so uncomfortable to get started", then of course he laughed realizing his statement.
It's kind of like saying, "I like taking showers, I just don't like getting wet".
Or perhaps, "I love food, I just can't stand chewing".
And lastly, "I want to retire financially independent, but I don't want to budget my money".
I think you're starting to get the point.
Anything in life that you really want to achieve. Anything in life that you really value and want to make part of your life, will initially be uncomfortable to do when you first get started.
Why?
Because changing any pattern, takes effort. It means you have to stop running on auto-pilot and actually manage your energy and behavior. When you want to achieve something of value to you, you have to get past the initial discomfort and inconvenience of breaking old patterns (think habits) in order to start a new pattern/habit that will help you achieve that goal (think a happier you).
I'll be the first one to tell you it is not easy. I truly believe we are, among other things, a species of habits. Many of us take the same way to work each morning. Some of you match the same shirt and tie each week. Others continue to wait to eat until they are starving; eating whatever, regardless if it's on their nutrition plan or not. And while we all know we should put away a few extra dollars each week for that get-away we so desperately need, we don't do it.
I could spend the day telling you to change your habits. I could spend weeks, encouraging you to make your food the night before so when you're hungry you'll have the "right" food in front of you -- to keep you on track with your nutrition. I could spend years sharing with you the importance of setting a goal, and making a plan to achieve to it.
But ultimately it comes down to one thing and one thing only.
You have to make the decision that you want your goal more than you want to be comfortable. That's not an easy thing to do. Which is why so many people continue to stay stuck in the same rut month after month, year after year. It takes a bit of fire on the inside to challenge yourself to break the old unproductive patterns/habits.
But successful people are willing to do just that. What's the old saying, "Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people are not willing to do". And by the way, success just means you set a goal and stuck to your plan long enough to achieve it.
There's one thing I do know for sure. When the fire behind you gets hotter than the one in front of you, you will make a change that better suits you and gets you closer to your goal.
I believe in you. I believe in your goals and dreams. And even if I don't know you personally, I already know, if you're checking with me each week, you're serious about wanting a change in your life.
There's only one thing standing between you and your goal. Know what it is. . . . . . (wait for it). . . (wait for it). . .?
It's you being willing to pick just one thing, and take
the first step to achieving it -- write it down and hang it up so you can see it each day.
The second step, take some action, no matter how small, each day that will help you get closer to it.
Know the third step? Repeat step 2 over and over until you reach your goal.
Now Go Out and Get It Done!