How Bad Do You Want It?

How bad do you want it?  

Most people say they want it, complain they don't have it and push away people who have already gotten it. But I'm not asking about most people, I'm asking you about you. It doesn't matter what your "it" is. The question stands ... how bad do you want it?  

I'm not a motivational speaker and I'm not a life coach, but I'm here to tell you that I see people every single day who show me how bad they want it. I see people every day who have made dietary changes that they did not want to make, people who have told their body to "shut up" when it told them to stop working. I see people every day who are making drastic -- not simple or small changes -- but drastic changes to their appearance, to their fitness, to their health and, most importantly, to their minds. The only reason that my experience should be important to you is because it can be your experience too.

"I can't squat because ..." <- insert your excuse here

"I can't deadlift because ..." <- insert your excuse here

"I can't run that far because ..." <- insert your excuse here

"I can't eat that way because ..." <- insert your excuse here

Do you think you are the only person who says these things? My patients and my clients have told me everything and anything about why they "can't." Bad knees, bad back, history of surgery, the list goes on. What they should be saying is "I can't squat, deadlift, run or eat well because I haven't practiced it because I've been afraid of what might happen to me." Really though what is that? What's the worst that could happen.

Imagine that the worst thing did happen, how far would you fall and how long would it take you to get back to right where you are right now. Is that chance not worth taking?  

You see the hardest part of making a change is recognizing that you and only you are the cause for your deficiencies. It doesn't matter what you have been through, who you used to be or even who you are today. You need to do something you are afraid of, and it starts with admitting to yourself that your life is your responsibility. Stop blaming your genetics, your herniated discs, the car accident you got in five years ago, the people who bullied you in high school, your job and your lack of time -- that is who you used to be. Who are you going to be tomorrow?  

I'm human just like you. I've gone through funks socially, physically, emotionally and mentally just like you have. How long are you going to stay in that funk before you decide to get up and make a change? It's the hardest thing you will ever do. I'm not going to lie to you and say do it a little at a time and it's easy. No, it's hard. It's extremely hard. 

Maybe you're comfortable being who you are, your relationships are comfortable, your life is comfortable, your couch is comfortable. Nothing exciting has happened on the couch since you were 15 years old. The only growth that happens on the couch is to your inseam. Comfortable is boring.

You only live once, and right now while you are sitting here reading this, someone else is out making a change. The time that you spend not working out because you are afraid it will make you uncomfortable is time you spend getting less fit. Time you spend not working towards a goal is time spent moving further away from your goal.

Make a priority list and attack it. Attack the crap out of it. Don't let anything stand in the way of your success. People are either with you, or they are in your way. Your time is your time and no one has the right to infringe upon you being the best you. Exceed your expectations for yourself and disregard expectations others have set forth for you. Or, don't.

So, I'll ask you again ... how bad do you want it?