Bringing thought into action. I can't tell you how many times I hear, “I could be as big as him if…” or “I had that idea years ago!” And, if we’re being honest, I’m definitely guilty of the latter of the two. However, none of this matters. Simply thinking about something gets you nowhere. Knowing something does not do you any good if you don't use it. For that reason, learning to put words into action is a major 🔑.
Putting those words into action is not necessarily an easy task. There are often many barriers that stop someone from doing so; they could be scared, they may have a lack of knowledge, or they can’t find the drive. It could also be a combination of the three. All of these are negative forces holding people from their full potential. These forces can be overcome if you have the strength to do so.
If being scared or worried is often the reason that holds you back from doing, this might be the hardest one to fix. Trust me, I know. I will be the first to tell you that being scared is a hard one to conquer. For one, I'm terrified of scary movies. But also, I understand fear being the reason that holds us back from doing. For so many years, I worried about what people thought. I worried how people would view me if I failed. I allowed that fear to stop me from writing, from joining UCONNs football team sooner, and a whole host of other things (such as creating a Roth IRA and so on). Our fears, however, are usually unjustified. Fears tend to come from having a lack of knowledge about whatever the subject matter is. So, if you are letting being scared stop you from working out because you're worried about how you may look at the beginning, or how far you have to go, try to focus on one step at a time. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” Conquer fear and you will truly feel like a champion.
As I mentioned before, fear stems from a lack of knowledge. So, It’s time to get edumacated! Gaining a base of knowledge on whatever it is you want to do will often help bring those thoughts into action. You may want to lose a couple pounds, or maybe gain some lean mass, or eat better. But, you find yourself asking the question, “How should I even begin?” Finding a good fitness professional would be a good place to start when looking for the how. To find a good trainer in your area, you can use the StrongFirst directory @ strongfirst.com/instructors/. The same way you would seek out a dentist for info on teeth, you should seek a trainer to find information about the “how to” for achieving your fitness and health goals. Figuring out how to do something usually makes the process a lot easier. Inevitably, it is up to you to follow through. You still need to execute!
Finding the drive is the final piece that people are often missing. 2Chainz once said, “They ask me what I do and who I do it for.” The drive to start comes from finding out what motivates you. So, who do you do it for? It may be internal or external motivators such as health, money, women, men, aesthetics, etc. Think about it, if you can't bring yourself to want to workout, or finish writing that paper that's due, or whatever it may be, is the drive that you need. Find someone who will hold you accountable, whether it be a trainer, friend, spouse, sibling. Reminders on the phone are also a good choice at the beginning, when the drive may not be there to act on your own. Another tactic that is useful for finding the drive is to plan ahead. Mark on your calendar the date and time that you are going to do whatever thought you have in mind. After you have done this multiple times for weeks on end, it should turn into a habit. That habit will then be the driving force to action.
Once you are able to turn thoughts into action, you are well on your way to having a strong resilient mind. Making the unfamiliar the familiar and creating habits are two paths to success that usually lead to progress and results. Two things we all should want and love.