The process of nurturing an idea, until it can stand on its own, requires plenty of time and dedication.
Thinking about different things you want to do is always so easy, because it all happens inside your head, and at the speed of thought. You imagine exercising your body and in a matter of seconds, you can picture yourself displaying an impressive six-pack, instead of a protruding beer belly. Yeah, that’s the power of your mind at work. But seeing those images inside your brain and turning them into a reality, are two completely different stories. Take it from me, former president and chairperson of the “I’ll Do X Thing One of These Days”, club. If I may, please allow me to share a simple system that has allowed me, more often than not, to go from spectator to doer.
Put it on your calendar now
There’s a big difference between thinking “One of these days I’ll start exercising” and writing on your calendar “Put together exercise routine March 4 @ 3:00 pm.” The former is more about fantasy or illusion, while the latter shows a certain level of commitment and it’s the first step towards seeing that your idea takes shape in the real world. Please notice that in this example I didn’t jump into exercising right away, but more into planning the workout routine: weight loss or muscle building exercises, clothing, and meal plan.
Start with 15-30 minute sessions
I cannot stress this enough: start small. There’s no need to set a couple of hours aside. Let’s be honest, if you haven’t exercised in quite a while, by the time you hit the 15-minute mark you won’t even have the strength to carry your water bottle. Besides, working with short sessions makes it easier for you to deal with the push back from your brain. Change is always traumatic and adding a new task to your daily/weekly routine is no exception.
Get ready to be disappointed
Deep-sea fishes are well-equipped to live under high pressures. When one of these creatures makes it to the surface for whatever reason, their inner organs will pop out of their mouth and their bodies will be deformed beyond recognition. The same thing happens to your ideas or wishes when they leave the cozy environment of your mind’s eye and travel to the harsh conditions of the physical world. Sticking with the “exercising your body routine” example, it is very possible that your first workout rounds will yield less than pathetic results. Do not be discouraged. Keep going. Sooner or later you’ll start seeing results, 15-30 minutes at a time.
When you least expect it, Bad Energy will pounce on you
One day, out of the blue, you’ll feel like giving up. It doesn’t matter if, at the time the attack occurs, you’ve already lost plenty of weight or have gained strength. It doesn’t matter if you’ve gone from walking 0.5 to 5 miles. I have this crazy theory about Bad Energy always showing up when you’re making the most progress, in order to keep you from reaching your goals. Whenever Bad Energy has reared its ugly head into my life, I’ve stood in front of the mirror and said out loud: “Not today, Bad Energy. Maybe you’ll win tomorrow, but definitely not today.”
Last, but not least, avoid perfection like the plague. I wish you the best in the process of turning your wishes into reality. ☼
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Alex Guerrero is a content creator who lives in Lawrence, KS. He’s very vocal in his displeasure over pineapple pizza. Chocolate, on the other hand, makes everything better!
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