If success has eluded us, when we know we could be doing so much more, the time to reevaluate life is here. We must be honest with ourselves, the hard choices made, a plan with defined goals, yet with the flexibility needed in the real world should be thought out. Change begins when we recognize that must master ourselves, holding in check our desires, passion, and excesses.
Every action will have a reaction, we may not see it for years, but there will be one. That is why the choices we make every day are so important, even those we deem small. A prime example is food, many of us do not give a second thought to what we put into our body. It matters, we will see the obvious, which is weight gain, the part we do not see until we are in trouble is our health. Nothing will taste as good as healthy feels.
We close out another year and usher in a new decade. All of us tend to make resolutions on New Year’s day and yet how many of us follow through? We often give up within a month, why? Change is hard, leaving our comfort zone is not easy, does it mean we do not want to improve our lives? We all have dreams and aspirations, but are we willing to put in the work that it will take to reach them? If we want something bad enough, we will make the time, find the funds, be consistent and throw away the excuses.
We are all given gifts, they differ from person to person, it is what we do with them that counts. If we waste them or don’t use them for a good purpose, things never seem to fall into place. We all know what is good for us, we don’t need someone to take charge, nobody can do it better than we can for ourselves. Step up and take responsibility for our own lives.
There are few things in life we have control over, yet what we choose to consume is one that we alone determine. The things we put into our bodies and minds matter. If we fill our days with low-grade fuel and thoughts, how can we expect anything good to come out of it? It’s about time we step up, make the uncomfortable choices, take personal responsibility, this is when we stop letting others choose what is best for us.
I must have read and heard the following advice thousands of times throughout my life:
Always do your best. Make do with what you have. Life is a journey, not a destination. You get the idea. Instead, I always viewed everything I did in life as a means to an end.
Let me explain what I mean. I have always been goal-oriented. I would have a big long-term goal in mind and I would work towards it. The problem is that whatever I was currently engaged in did not matter to me. It was just a step toward reaching my bigger goal. I wasn’t worried about the quality of my work or life, as long as I was closer to the next big thing.
Here is an example of what I’m talking about.
In my former criminal life, bookmaking (sports bets) was my bread and butter. It was the fuel for everything else. It paid for my travel to chase after the big scores. It paid for every side project I launched. I did not care about it other than it kept putting enough cash into my pocket to do what I wanted. I also ran stores and other businesses but I would neglect them, to focus on a new venture or bigger money-making scheme.
The problem I encountered in my life, again and again, was this: I would make enough money doing something to get what I wanted in the short term, and then I would be off again on some crazy adventure.
I wasted years of my life not giving one endeavor my full, undivided attention.
I caution you to learn from my mistakes. No matter where you are at in life, no matter what you are doing – make the most of it! Give it all your attention, work hard, master it, make it work and you will have no regrets. Don’t spend your life looking for the next big thing, make the most of every day and be the best version of yourself today.
God has given each of us a specific set of skills that sets us apart from everyone else. Invest your time in growing those skills and working with what you already have right now. Stop viewing your time and your job as a means to an end. Each day is a gift and an opportunity to improve.
2018 is here! What changes will you make? The new year is a great time to commit yourself to better health. Sadly, New Year’s resolutions to get into better shape and go to the gym rarely last out the month of January. I encourage you to make a commitment to yourself to make fitness a regular part of your life and stick with it.
There is no use getting a gym membership where you either have no real idea where to start or you get into something that’s not a good fit for you.
Fitness is not a quick fix. Instead, it is all about the steady, long-term, day-to-day training. If we all take an honest look at our lives, we can all get an idea of how long we have been abusing our bodies. The changes for the negative did not happen overnight, and it is going to take some time to get it healthy again. There are no shortcuts. If something promises a quick fix, run away from it.
It will be hard to stay committed. You will be tired and sore and there are many days you will not feel like training. Excuses are a dime a dozen, but those of us that stick with it will find that reward worth it.
There will come a point where you will be amazed at how great you feel. You will eventually come to the realization that you accepted feeling bad as normal.
Life is short. We have no guarantee for tomorrow. Take care of your body while you are in it.
This could be the year that more of us come to the realization that food is fuel for our bodies. It’s purpose is not to make us happy or comfort us. Good food, unlike medications, has no negative side effects. Proper diet is important to our health and can keep us functioning at our best.
You have heard it before,“Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels.”
Eat smart, train smart, make it fun and stick with it. You will be amazed at the difference it will make in your life.
Motivation, Inspiration and Change 