“Just do it” is probably the most well-known advertising slogan of all time. Why do you think that is? It’s because we can all relate to it. We all want to be able to say that we just did it; we stepped out of our comfort zone and did what was necessary to accomplish our dreams, goals, or intentions.
Whether it’s a business or relationship decision, or a health or athletic endeavor, we’ve all been in that place where we needed to act to make something happen, but for whatever reason, we just couldn’t get ourselves to do it. We knew what to do, but we didn’t do it. That’s why we love to watch athletes “just do it.” They inspire us to believe that deep down inside, we too have what it takes to overcome all obstacles and accomplish great things. Then we get back to reality, and we’re stuck, not doing anything.
We all have certain places where we are simply stuck. We know we need to act, and many times we even know what action we need to take, but we’re not taking it. Heck, many of my personal training clients fall into this very category. I wouldn’t have a job if everyone could just make themselves exercise! Hmmmm, maybe I should rethink writing this article – just kidding! Just because something is simple, doesn’t mean it’s easy. That’s why so many New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by mid-January, and most people I talk to don’t even bother making resolutions anymore.
The reason people don’t make resolutions anymore is because they’re tired of falling off the wagon one more time. It’s easier and less embarrassing to just forget about it. Let’s face it, it can be discouraging trying to develop a new habit or get rid of an old one. However, as discouraging as it may be to backslide and admit you blew it again, you must keep trying. You must be willing to start over as many times as it takes to get it right. If it’s a goal, dream, or intention that is going to make you happier, healthier, or wealthier, you must resolve to try again and JUST DO IT!
I can’t tell you how to “just do it.” I’m no expert at developing new habits or ditching destructive ones, but I am an eternal optimist and believe any of us can do anything we put our minds to……eventually. I believe in never giving up. I’m constantly reevaluating my life, setting new goals for myself, and dusting my backside from my most recent fall from the wagon. Many of you who know me, know I’m constantly talking about learning and growing because I know the way to happiness is through constant progression. We can’t be happy sitting still. We must be ever learning, growing, and giving.
It’s in the spirit of giving that I want to share with you a couple of things that have helped me tremendously in moving forward in my life. These tools have helped me to get “unstuck” and “just do it.” As part of my ongoing learning as a personal trainer, I recently enrolled in a course to help me understand what it takes to help myself and others with behavior change. I want to share with you a website that teaches a method of developing habits you want to develop. The website is www.tinyhabits.com. The course is free, and you can get much direction and encouragement there about making small changes that will turn into long-lasting healthy habits.
The second website is http://melrobbins.com/the-5-second-rule/ I came across a talk by Mel Robbins not too long ago. I was about to say I came across it by accident, but I don’t believe it was an accident at all. I believe as we seek, we are guided to the things that will help us along our path. This information was put in my path and has been of great value to me. You can find many of her talks on YouTube and you can buy her book, The 5 Second Rule, on Amazon by clicking HERE. There is much scientific research proving why this method works, even though at first when you practice it, you may feel ridiculous.
You needn’t ever feel ridiculous for trying again, for tackling a problem from a new angle, or admitting you’re not quite sure what to do. What is sure is that action trumps inaction every day of the week! Even if you’re not quite sure, do something. When he was trying to invent the electric light bulb, Edison said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
It takes courage and determination to keep trying. James Dyson worked for five years and went through 5,127 prototypes before he finally came up with the first bagless vacuum cleaner! There are countless stories of men and women throughout history who kept on trying far beyond what many others would have. They just did it! Deep down they knew that if they were given a dream, they would eventually figure out how to make it come true as long as they kept trying. They were not afraid to admit they had failed and then try, try again.
We all learned that saying as children: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Somewhere along the way, many of us let discouragement get the better of us, and we began making a habit of walking away and abandoning our dreams instead of dusting them off and trying again. We learned to settle for good enough instead of great. We convinced ourselves it was easier and less embarrassing, but in the end, settling for less than your dreams is never easier.
If this is you, and you haven’t allowed yourself to dream big or even set any type of goal for a long time, I want to encourage you to remember back to when you were a kid and you still believed the sky’s the limit, because you know what? It still is! Back when you got disappointed by a setback, but you kept trying. Back before somebody or something convinced you that only some people’s dreams come true, only certain people get what they want, they were born into or married into the right family, they hit the genetic lottery, etc.
I want to let you in on a little secret: WE ALL HIT THE GENETIC LOTTERY! We are all children of a Divine Creator, and we all have greatness within us, so stop making excuses and just do it. Still need to lose the baby weight and your baby is twenty? Just do it! Want to go back to school, but it’s been twenty-five years? Just do it! Need to turn off the television and strengthen your marriage? Just do it! This list could go on and on, but the bottom line is this: the only thing holding you back is YOU!
Let 2018 be a year in which you achieve greater things than ever before. Search your soul, set an intention, get to work, and JUST DO IT!
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