It is the first of the year. The time when we all decide that this year is going to be the year. The year we get in shape. The year of eating clean. The year of personal growth. The year of getting things done. But wasn’t last year that year? Or was it the year before?

As your friendly neighborhood transformation specialist this is a very frustrating time of the year for me. I know you have good intentions. I know you want to succeed. I know you know how to make it happen.

Just in case you don’t know how to make it happen here it is in 5 easy steps:
1. Decide what you want and when you want it.
2. Make a realistic plan and commit to it
3. Follow the plan
4. Fix the flaws in the plan and follow the plan
5. Be consistent and disciplined every day and follow the plan

There it is…simple. Not easy, just simple. Yet here is what happens: you decide what you want but it isn’t really what you want. Because when the work gets hard, you begin to let your commitment wane. You stop showing up quite as often. Your one cheat meal a week turns into a cheat day which then becomes a weekend and the next thing we know you are saying how hard it was and just didn’t work for you. I get it.

Change is hard, really hard. If it was easy we would all do exactly what we wanted all the time. The fact is your mind is an amazing machine. It will leap into action and begin manufacturing resistance and excuses and reasons why something can’t be done just as soon as there is an inkling that change is imminent. We all love things just the way they are. It’s easy.

I am lazy. So are you. We don’t want to gird our loins for the battle with our mind for change. It is so much easier to stay out of shape, eat whatever we want, vegetate in front of the TV, or ignore the need for self improvement. The battle against indolence requires vigilance and honest effort.

If you really want to change, if you really want to reach your new goals, and keep your resolutions I suggest you do the following:

Take something out of your day…in other words if you are going to start working out an hour a day you will need to free up an hour. Give something up to make room for your new regimen.

Adjust your environment. Find new friends and places to be that will support your journey, things and people who will ask more of you that you ask of yourself. Hire a coach if need be.

Work. Put your nose to the grindstone and work. Ask yourself if the activity you are doing is in service to where you want to be. Stay consistent, stay disciplined, stay the course…grind out the work.

If you need some support call me…775-338-2412

John Mariotti
www.crossfit-odyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.comjohn