I was truly inspired by a coworker this morning. She said to me “everything you are doing now makes you one step closer to 100%.”
I needed that attitude check. Singlehandedly, she put my mind right back to where it needed to be.
Over the past few days, I had been struggling with symptoms of “holy hell this is going to suck.” But after she gave me that inspiration, I remembered one of my favorite quotes. It goes something like “You can’t move forward if you are looking backward.” So, keeping that in mind, my whole body woke up and I got to work. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be okay. What I have decided to do is bring a list to my doctor of everything that I want to be able to do. I don’t care if it is going to be more painful, or take longer, but I want to be able to do this stuff. As I am looking outside, I realize that I am going to be crutching in the rain to class. Who cares. My joints will be cold as the winter begins to move into California. So what. This time, I am not going to get athletes depression because I am going to be doing ab work every single day. Bingo. I am going to be much smarter about this. There is this great speech where this guy talks about the bad breaks in life. And he says that in a sense, there are some instances where there are things such as bad breaks…but there is also a spirit and a energy inside of each of us that can decide what to do with these breaks and even determine these breaks. In short, we have the ability to change our world.
This is exactly where my head is at right now. In order to change the world, we must change ourselves. I am going through an unbelievable process right now, and I have a great appreciation for the moment. In fact, I think that is one of the biggest turnarounds I have had in life. Appreciating the moment for what it is. I am sitting with this bum knee and saying…”One day, you will do great things. But right now, train your mind.”
Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project
That is a great Comfort Zone illustration. 6 months ago I weighed 85kg (187lb) & for my height of only 165cm (5’4″) it put me on the verge of crossing from overweight to obese o the BMI scale. At age 51 & with a family history of heart attack my Doctor kept telling me that I had to do something about losing weight but for a long time I kept making excuses to myself.
Then finally I decided it was time to stop making excuses & do something about it.
That 1st visit to the gym was very unnerving for me as I had never ever walked into a gym before & wasn’t sure what exercises to do or what to expect.
6 months later I have completely changed my eating habits & lifestyle. I’ve lost 15kg (33lb) & now I feel so much fitter & healthier. Having to buy smaller jeans was a real thrill. So true that it is outside your comfort zone that the magic happens.
That comfort zone picture sums things up perfectly.
Fantastic post! Athlete’s depression sucks so much, I suffered badly from shin splints, but there is always another way around something! So inspirational, keep it up!
great post. keep yup the good work
You are already doing things great. Keep your eye on your vision, but also stop in the present and acknowledge this Truth. The “I Am” of your life isn’t someday, it is right now. With this blog, with your daily interactions, with your unending drive to understand yourself and life deeper and be in it more and more and more. What you are striving for you already are. You are already the inspiration you are striving to be. You are already the Better Man. Thank you for the ongoing inspiration.
The mind is WAY more powerful than the knee – even a healthy knee!
So glad you’ve been able to see more than just the light at the end of the tunnel, but a bigger and brighter outcome than you might have initially expected.
Keep on inspiring.
Training the mind is probably the hardest part. Sorry you are finding yourself physically not able to be where you’d like to be — thanks, as always, for your inspirational words. They always hit home!
Fabulous! Thanks for visiting me–I’m glad to return the visit. More young men, and the parents that raise them need to look deep and make better choices. Sorry about your knee. My PA attacked my knee joints recently. I never thought about taking in a list of “what I want to be able to do” as we try and find a drug protocol that works. I think I need better goals than just “I don’t want to be in pain” and I believe it will be possible.
I really like the picture too. That pretty much sums it up!
I love power in your last sentences, “One day you will do great things. But right now, train your mind.” We can change our behavior in the moment, and have to make the same change over and over again. We can change our mind and achieve life long results.
Wonderful!!!! Keep the posts coming!;)
This moment, the one I am in right now, is the one I can control. I can choose the mood to reflect this moment, I can choose what direction I want to go in the next moment, I can choose what I want to do with this moment.
Moments are so fleeting, that before I am aware, a whole week of moments has gone by. It is in thinking of that week full of moments, I realize I did not live in that moment, so I relearn to live in each one, once again.
It’s cool to hear someone is going through their own journey of self-actualization – it’s also cool to see that I’m not alone in my own journey. Cheers my friend.
So inspirational
Powerful! Thanks for sharing your inspiring words.
Keep going. You are already making the world a better place by sharing your journey. I will think of you as I do my own ab work tonight.