Motivation
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I have two stories. One story sounds something like this. My parents died when I was young. I dropped out of high school. I was broke and in terrible debt in my twenties. My marriage failed in my thirties. I made bad decisions. I smoked for seventeen years. I went from job to job. I was diagnosed with a kidney disease. I was overweight and struggling. Why me?
My other story goes like this. I have always had amazing people around me. No matter what I went through, I had friends and family to support and encourage me. I was forgiven for things I didn't deserve to be forgiven for. When I got in trouble financially, someone was there to help me. I not only went to college, I earned a Master's degree. I quit smoking and got healthy. The long and winding road of various jobs led me to my dream career. I am loved beyond measure. I am very, very lucky.
I am aware that both these stories exist. At any given moment, I can be living in one or the other. For most of my life, I saw my life from within the first story. A few years ago, I experienced a major shift and began seeing my life from the second story. And with a wave of gratitude my life changed forever.
I had a meeting with a client this week. I began the session with congratualtions because she had just hit the forty pound weight loss mark. She made a face back at me and turned the corners of her mouth down with a groan. Too slow, she said. Not enough. Still so far to go.
I understand this. To me, this is seeing life from the first story. How could this be going so badly for her, right? Only forty pounds in one year. Nothing to celebrate. It's taking too long. Not good enough.
Here's the interpratation of the same facts from the second story. This wonderful woman found encouraging people to help her get on track. She worked incredibly hard and lost forty pounds!!! Her life is changing dramatically for the better. She feels stronger, healthier, younger, and more energetic. She is heading in the right direction and inspiring others while doing it. She will stick with it and reach her goals.
Maybe you interpret your life or your body or your fitness journey from the first story. I want to challenge you this week to be grateful. Find the gifts. Even if you feel like you have nothing to be grateful for, start looking. Be grateful for the taste of your breakfast. Be grateful for your pretty eyes. Be grateful for legs that work. Be grateful for the sunshine. Be grateful you went for a walk.
Once you do that, try to reinterpret whatever is going on from the second story. Can you see the gifts? Can you see how far you have come? Can you see that all the stops and starts were leading you towards your dreams? Can you see all the mistakes and failures were just part of the journey? Can you see your successes? Do you know how very, very lucky you are?
At any given moment, we can be in one story or the other. When you get stuck in the first one, it gets very difficult to move forward. The energy is negative and it is hard to receive the gifts of love, encouragement and support from the people around you. I believe you can create a new story any time, no matter what your circumstances.
Now get moving!
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