Has this ever happened to you?

Good morning, {first_name}! 

The other night I just did NOT want to take any time to clean the kitchen, but I have this personal rule that before I go to bed, the kitchen has to be squared away.

Now, when I say I did NOT want to do it, I mean I really, really, really did NOT want to step even one foot into the kitchen.

I was tired and was counting down the minutes until I could get into bed. I’m sure you’ve been there.

But I knew the kitchen wasn’t going to magically clean itself. And I also knew something else, from past experience – and it’s actually why I’m writing you this message today.

I knew that if I didn’t keep my commitment to myself, it’d be easier to break that commitment again – and again, and again.

I also knew that it would have a ripple effect, making it easier to break other commitments to myself, too.

So I grumbled a little bit, picked myself off the couch, and I actually cleaned the kitchen… even though I wasn’t in the mood for it and was the last thing I wanted to do.

I’m not going to say I did a stellar job (it was passable) or that I had some kind of mystical epiphany while I was cleaning. I listened to some music and basically hustled my way through it.

I can tell you that it wasn’t NEARLY as bad as I made it out to be in my head.

When I finally DID go to bed, I felt pretty good about myself for powering through.

The truth is, you have to show up, even if it’s just for yourself. ESPECIALLY if it’s for yourself, because that helps you show up even better for others.

It’s not any different than workouts you want to skip, or the little treats you are tempted to sneak in when no one is looking.

The more you let things slide, the easier it is to keep doing so. They don’t call it a “slippery slope” for nothing.

I think we’ve all said these things to ourselves before:

“Skipping my workout today won’t make a real difference, anyway.”

“I’ll get back at it tomorrow.”

“I’m really tired/hungry/stressed because work was crazy today, I just want to go home and relax … preferably with a glass or two of wine.”

Just one more cookie won’t matter.

“It’s so dark out this morning, I don’t want to get out of bed.”

And obviously, sometimes you HAVE to miss a workout or change up your nutrition – maybe you’re sick or it’s super busy at work, or you have an important family commitment. Life happens.

But here’s the question: Are you showing up for yourself the way you promised?

No one says every workout has to be a record setter – but I’d argue that the workouts you don’t want to do (or those diet temptations you find hard to overcome) are the MOST important.
 

They help strengthen another set of “muscles” … your motivation, your confidence in yourself, and your inner knowing that when the chips are down, you CAN count on YOURSELF to get the job done!

And that’s pretty amazing... even if it’s something small like cleaning the kitchen. (which as you can see isn’t really that small, after all.)

David James

(909) 235-3800

P.S. Do you want a little help following through with that promise to yourself to reach your fitness goals? That’s exactly what I’m here for,  {first_name}.

If you haven't done so already, give me a call, I'm here for you!

Have a great day!

David James

(909) 235-3800