As of lately, I've been challenged with a lot of 'uphill battles.' Some, just simple misfortunes of everyday life, piled on to an already hectic life. While other challenges faced have been personal demons in my life's journey towards 'mastering my own mind.'
Whether we stop to realize it or not, life can be a really scary thing.
Mastering your own mind is one of the most instrumental
tools you can develop over the course of your life time.
Throughout my life I've always been extremely athletic. As a young girl, I was revered as the "little girl with a deceiving strength" and "ability well beyond my size." As the only girl, growing up in a house of three boys I saw nothing unusual about this. Growing up in a large, non-nuclear family, competition was a basic life skill; survival of the fittest. Maybe not always in the literal sense, but certainly in the sense that
if you wanted to accomplish anything, you have to do it yourself.
This belief is something I've carried with me throughout my life. It's 98% of the reason I'm as motivated and independent as I am today. I'm a do-er and a go-getter. But like any other person, I have my moments of self-doubt. Self-doubt is not something I routinely take the time to notice; so as of lately the overwhelming thoughts of second guessing myself on anything and everything I do has really forced me into a place I'd rather not be. It can be scary. It is much like a journey of mastering your own thoughts.
Throughout these past few weekends, I've made it a point to fill my days with entertainment and activities that are elementary: going to museums, playing on tire swings, driving places with absolutely no destination in mind. Throughout a number of my endeavors, I've been lucky to have a side kick with me. I enjoy the company of others, even if it's just in quiet. Living on your own forces you alone time that can be too much for anyone.
What occurred to me today, is that I have found myself back in my happy place. As a lifetime athlete, I've always held myself to the standard of having an 'annual' fitness goal. Something simple that I set out to achieve with two aims in mine:
1. A fitness goal that will provide me the necessary motivation needed to actually train in or out of the gym with a purpose.
2. To learn something new about myself in the process.
Today, I pushed through my less-than-fun workout, but in the end I felt incredible. This past summer was a huge milestone for me. My goal this year was to get myself in better shape than I've ever been in. For me, my "best shape ever" was when I was 22. I was a baby, fresh out of college, on the worst diet of Bojangles and Beer, but still in incredible shape.
I knew this goal would not be easy. For one, I'm not 22 anymore; my genetics are not as favorable as they were when carbohydrates and partially hydrogenated oils were an acceptable part of my diet. By March of this year, I met my goal. A long time fitness mentor of mine, Scott noted I was "competition ready." While I could talk forever about my love and life for fitness, the reason why I it's personally important to me is because fitness in general has been such an instrumental tool in understanding myself; not only physically--but mentally. Smile, today is as great a day is every other. Find your happiness.
I've yet to come up with my 2014 goal, but I still have a few weeks left, and I'll be excited to announce to you all when I have made my decision on a fitness goal for the year.
What occurred to me today, is that I have found myself back in my happy place. As a lifetime athlete, I've always held myself to the standard of having an 'annual' fitness goal. Something simple that I set out to achieve with two aims in mine:
2. To learn something new about myself in the process.
Today, I pushed through my less-than-fun workout, but in the end I felt incredible. This past summer was a huge milestone for me. My goal this year was to get myself in better shape than I've ever been in. For me, my "best shape ever" was when I was 22. I was a baby, fresh out of college, on the worst diet of Bojangles and Beer, but still in incredible shape.
I knew this goal would not be easy. For one, I'm not 22 anymore; my genetics are not as favorable as they were when carbohydrates and partially hydrogenated oils were an acceptable part of my diet. By March of this year, I met my goal. A long time fitness mentor of mine, Scott noted I was "competition ready." While I could talk forever about my love and life for fitness, the reason why I it's personally important to me is because fitness in general has been such an instrumental tool in understanding myself; not only physically--but mentally. Smile, today is as great a day is every other. Find your happiness.
I've yet to come up with my 2014 goal, but I still have a few weeks left, and I'll be excited to announce to you all when I have made my decision on a fitness goal for the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment