Sounds strange in an industry which seems focused on setting and reaching goals, right?
But let’s set the context that most of us immerse ourselves in today. We live in a fast-paced, high-octane, mind-stimulating, brain-twitching, screen-flooded world where everything is provided (almost) IMMEDIATELY. Knowledge, food, information, Amazon deliveries. Instant gratification everywhere! It’s addictive.
And with fitness, we need/want results NOW or ALL THE TIME!!!!
But I think we take our eye off the ball massively if we fall into this trap. And lead ourselves into a hugely less enjoyable arena.
Here’s a strange question: Have you ever reached a goal you never dreamed you could achieve, something you felt would be the real secret to long-term happiness — and been DEFLATED?
It seems impossible but – I have!
The goal will remain personal but when I got there, I thought: “Is this it?”. It just wasn’t the feeling I thought it would be. And it took me a little while to get my head around it and to recover mentally. But I think I understood it.
For joy doesn’t come with achieving a goal, the true joy comes from the person you become, every single day, in order to move towards that place. We’ll probably all identify with the excitement of going to bed as a child on Christmas Eve – – it was always better than the big day right? Same with our health and fitness I believe.
Yet, we can be obsessed with needing to be ‘something’ (a size, a weight usually) rather than taking joy from the small, daily successes that should have our hearts bursting with pride.
Simple example: I woke up this morning and gave thanks for my day ahead. I’m 52, pretty healthy, injury free, fairly fit and strong. I’m able to take one hour today to exercise, to make myself feel mentally and physically better. What a privilege!
It’s tough sometimes, in the world we live in, to remember this. When we’re told we need to be this and that on social media. It’s easy to forget, when fitness is a lifestyle, not a 6-week project before holiday. It can even be boring and monotonous at times.
But living in the moment with our health and fitness, every single day, not chasing a golden egg in the future, just MIGHT be a real tool in the battle to remain motivated and happy. 🙂