I bet with the new year here many of you are considering
working off the Christmas indulgence with a new gym
membership, a flashy piece of home gym equipment, or
purchasing some gadget of another.
Essentially the hunt will be on for that miracle cure
that will undo (possibly) months of excess in just a
few weeks. And you know what?
More power to you!
At least you are taking action. Many won’t even get that
far.
However what happens when external appeal wears off? Because,
more often than not, that is what drives the “new you”
approach. Once the novelty wears off the new membership,
bit of fitness kit, or whatever it may be, you are left
back at the starting point.
I see this SO often and have concluded that, very often, the
reason that underlies the failing of these short-lived sporadic
attempts at physical betterment is one of looking for
motivation in the wrong place.
To be more specific, placing external items on a pedestal
and then getting bored with their appeal and quitting
physical training.
A list of excuses often accompanies such decisions to
quit but the real reason is that their motivation did
not come from within, fortified with a cast-iron promise
to themselves to make it a lifestyle change.
No! Instead it came about due to them seeing expensive
gym kit, or them seeing a celebrity using the latest
‘wonder’ gadget, assuring them it will provide a six-
pack!
Be willing to train regardless of whether you have
equipment or not and definitely without thought for
what others will think of you.
If you have made a genuine decision to train then you
should not require external motivation of peers, equipment,
or anyone/thing else!
Your motivation should be derived from within and should
become a part of you. Each day take time to visualise
and see yourself as you want to become. See yourself
enjoying the physical challenge. Use your mind to guide
you towards your target then take physical action.
If you need a friend to train with you in order for
you even to turn up for a session, you need to reassess
your reasons.
If it is for something profound and life-changing
(like better health) then take a grip of your mental
tenacity and do it YOURSELF.
Ultimately people will come to admire and respect your
tenacity (stick-to-it-ness!) and, more than likely,
you will (unwittingly) be seen as a role model to
those around you!
Tim Webb is a fitness instructor, Ju Jutsu instructor and competitor. He specialises in easily accessible deep breathing exercises that combine breath and mind together. His site [http://www.breathforsuccess.com/] offers a product that provides deep breathing exercises for invigorating yourself, relaxing, and highlights how your breath can be tied in with your goals to move you towards them in record time!
