You ever wanted to reach a goal but somehow it never happens?
You were super pumped about it and wanted to get started right out the gate and then all of a sudden you lost steam. Or you got distracted by something else and completely forgot about your goal until weeks later when you realize “Oh yeah I wanted to do that…”. So then you start again, but then you stop. And this pattern just keeps going on and on.
If this sounds like you, trust me when I say you are not alone!
Human beings are in love with patterns and easy habits. When we try and plan for things as best as we can, life always has a funny way of bringing you back to old ways. When this happens, we can just get lost because any type of interruption can throw everything off. But this way of living often leaves people feeling lost and stuck.
Out of curiosity, I asked a few people why they never achieved their fitness goals being how this is the main one where people give up. And the majority of the excuses were about time: how either they didn’t have it or couldn’t make it. Suddenly it dawned on me the real reason why human beings are incapable of reaching their goals.
A goal is a change in lifestyle.
You’re stripping away all the old ways, the old habits, and even the old MENTAL STATE and making space for new ones. For example, instead of ordering take-out food which might make you feel lethargic and sad, you cook your own meals with healthy and delicious ingredients. Instead of going to the bar every night, go to the gym or a yoga class instead.
These are big lifestyle changes and believe it or not, some people are not ready to make the change.
Other times depending on how big our goals are, deciding to make this goal your priority takes commitment which can be hard at first. We can feel pressured to going back to our old ways by friends or family member who call you “obsessive” or “boring”. So we cave in go back to square one. This pattern continues and all of a sudden, our goals are nowhere in sight. So why are you nowhere near achieving your goals?
The problem is you.
“Whoa wait! Me!?” Yeah bro, it’s you.
This is a very tough pill to swallow. As human beings, it’s hard to take responsibility for our own actions. We always need a reason, or a person, to blame when things go wrong. But when you really break it down, you are responsible for your progress. So if you are nowhere near your desired goal, this means you’re afraid of changing your lifestyle. It might also mean that you’re not ready to make that commitment yet.
So now that we know the real reason, what do we do? How do we solve this?
We start by saying NO!
Say no to the things that don’t align with your goal. This is a very tough thing to do so it’s going to take some practice. When you encounter someone or something that takes you off course, just take a second to evaluate it. Just taking a moment to think gives you the awareness you need of what to do next. If you know that going out for a drink will hinder your growth, then don’t go. If you rather spend time at the gym than out partying, go to the gym.
Obviously, this is easier said than done but the more you practice saying no to things so that you can reach your goals – the easier it will be.
This will also upset a few people because, in actuality, they’re not ready for the changes you’re making. If that’s the case, don’t be afraid to sit down with them and have a talk. Tell them your goals! Tell them how important your goal is to you, and if they love you – they will support you 100%!
How do you deal with people who try to hold you back from success? Leave a comment below and let me know. Also if you like this post, make sure you share it with friends and family.
Til next time,
Photo by Meghan Holmes on Unsplash