"Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly. — Stephen R. Covey"
If anything has changed my life in recent years, I would have to say it was my time spent in the gym. For many people, the gym seems to be a sort of torture chamber, a punishment for eating too much cake the day before, or watching too much TV. They go in, do their time, and get out, thankful that its over. For me, that was never the case. I am not sure why exactly, but I became addicted shortly after my first visit. I always liked the idea of being strong, not being a wimp, showing up the boys, and getting a reaction out of people. And because I'm not like most girls in the gym, I do get some interesting reactions. I suppose that desire to impress myself and others is what keeps me so motivated. There's no end to what you can do, how your actions can help shape your body, which in turn shapes your mind. If you put tons of drive, discipline, effort, and research into making a physical change in your body, and you watch it happen from the inside out, and you tweak it and you build it how you want, its just a very inspiring thing. If you could do that, if you could devote yourself to something with so much passion that you could make a change that you can see and feel, what ELSE can you do? With just as much passion, you could do literally ANYTHING. Start a business, build a car from the ground up, travel the world, whatever it is that you consider just a dream today. For a lot of people, its just too hard. People like easy. People like fast. It's taken me three years to get where I am in my gym training and my running. I was a wimp the day I started. I had no idea what I was doing, I couldn't even run a mile. Success took hundreds of hours, tons of research, and just a small step was climbed each day. That experience however, has taught me so much. Its taught me that all things worthwhile take time. They also take research. Lots of research. Perhaps most importantly, they take confidence. Confidence grows every time you hit even a small goal. It inspires you to keep going, and go even harder the next time around. No one else is doing what you are? Who cares, be the one person who dares to try whats not normal. Go harder because you can. Who the hell said you can't? Just that little voice in your head, because if any other person is telling you you can't it doesn't matter. Don't accept anything less then 100%, in anything you do. Don't feel like it today? Too bad. Lots of people don't feel like doing what it takes to be successful today. Those who get somewhere, will do it anyways. Those who get nowhere, will think up an excuse and do the minimum, again. It is this realization and mentality, that has even lead me to start my own design business. I wouldn't have the confidence or faith to do this, if I didn't have proof that if you work harder, than anyone else, than your average person, you can really reach your goals. It's much the same as the gym mentality. Don't get discouraged by minor setback. Accept it and move on. Accepting that each day will not be perfect is part of being sucessful in the end, because if you don't those hangups will strangle you. Try harder than anyone else. Research, and do lots of it. And don't quit. Never, ever stop trying to find that magic formula for success, even when you don't feel like it.
In honor of my love for fitness, I have created a couple of gym centered designs. The one featured here, "Beast Mode Engaged", is just meant to represent the excitement and drive that often comes with a great workout, the drive to kick your own ass, and excel beyond what you have achieved before. In other words, to become a "beast" and take no excuses, no mercy, no whining, and to go all out because you can and you have nothing to lose.
The gym may not be your thing. But whatever you do, have SOME thing, where you can engage your inner "beast". I don't care if its building model airplanes, acting out World War II battles, raising children, or selling stamps. Pick something you are passionate about, and give it 110% until you excel. Because passionless people are in no short supply. And as Dave Matthews says in his song "Lie in Our Graves", "I can't believe that we would lie in our graves wondering if we had spent our living days well." Don't wonder, be positive. Unlike the "Beast Mode Engaged button, life has no repeat button.
Grab this shirt for only $21.95 TODAY @ www.youreaditcustomshirts.com/Store.html, or suggest another gym themed shirt you'd like to see using the Suggestion Box!
No comments:
Post a Comment