The title to this piece will sound somewhat confusing, I mean, you go to the gym to work you physical body.
Well, that’s true. You definitely have to use your physical body to move weight and by doing so you improve it. It stands very obvious that the gym improves your body.
But, what is it that makes you show up time and time again?
Your attitude, goals and overall love for the gym.
Some people can force themselves through gritted teeth to go, others wind up there in half dreams and some of us are peddle to the metal to get in. Meaning, some hate it, some find it a means to an end and some love it.
Where ever you are on the scale, the most important realisation is that your mind is what gets you to it.
The Mind first
In order to be successful in the gym, it’s important to find out your unique way of motivation.
Though, for most people I think it would be prudent to actually enjoy the time they spend there. The reason being, there are probably 100 other things that they hate doing but have to instead.
So why lug the gym, a place to become healthier, happier and fitter, in such a box of negative labels. You’ve shot yourself in the foot before starting out. Now try and run with the hole in your foot!
So for empathises, what do you want out of the gym? Why do you want to go? Are you happy in your current body? Yes? No?
This question is far more important than simply running into the gym, doing a bunch of stuff and then quitting 4 weeks later because it’s boring and you hate it.
Set goals
We’re heard it in business meetings, life coaching and general advice all over the internet.
Yet it’s vital in setting up a sustainable routine. The reason there are people who you see in there every day, is because these people are clear as to what they want.
For me, I’ve been going to the gym for over 7 years. This realisation clicked for me when I set two definite goals. One of which is to reduce my body fat percentage. Before setting goals, I wondered why I couldn’t lose the weight for summer. Each year, summer would come around and I still felt uncomfortable.
Yet as I set the goal, that is in relation to my over arching North Star or life goal, I’ve made more progress than ever before. In one month, I’ve gone down from 94kg to 90kg.
I saw some people I hadn’t seen since before setting this goal, and they all commented on how I looked like I’ve lost weight. This is a great confirmation at my progress and fuel for the fire.
Your goals need to be definite, with progress you can check and an end date. I’ll be where I want to be before the end of July (I have a specific date but won’t share it here).
How do i Plan goals?
To set goals, you need clarity on what it is you’ll be losing weight, gaining weight or training for.
Example, say you want to be better at yoga. Would you go into the gym and start training like a power lifter?
No.
By training out of alignment with the goal will serve to throw your progress off. And when you see no progress, guess what, you’ll feel like quitting. But remember this quote from Napoleon Hill.
Quitters never win, and Winners never quit.
Yet in order to be a winner, you must get clear. This is the secret sauce. Find out what it is you really want.
And please don’t open another tab to find some else’s opinion on it. That, believe it or not will confuse you further
Simply ask yourself what do I want? Leave it at that, walk away and your soul will work out an answer. Yet I’m sure you already have interests, so follow those.
Mental, Physical, Mind, Soul.
In the order above, a change will take place. You take place by sorting your mental attitude to the gym out, You bring it in alignment with where you’re going. You develop a love for the gym and what it can bring to you. No longer will you look at that Instagram model and feel how will I ever get there.
Because you’ll love the gym for what it is in the moment, and before long, you’ll be looking similar.
After the mental attitude has been changed, the physical will change.
You will grow muscles, you will be able to eat more, you will feel better, you’ll start losing Excess fat, your confidence will improve.
Then comes the great changes, you mind will start changing too. The mind is a mirror to the physical. If you body is unhealthy, the mind will be unhealthy too. If the body sick, the mind sick.
One day you’ll wake up feeling fresh, happier, clearer headed, your thoughts will be improved too. These parts are more intangible, yet once you feel the change, you’ll know it to be true.
And after long enough, your connection to Source will improve too.
On your journey, you may notice shower thoughts or important dreams. Something tells you to do something and it FEELS right to follow. If you follow it, you’ll be rewarded.
This post was a shower thought, I really felt the urge to express myself and once I post it, I’ll feel positive for the rest of the day. Because this is part of my North Star.
When you get here, you’ll notice other people have written it down. Things that you missed before, becomes obvious. Whether it’s the millionaire idea that arrives when you’re out for a walk. Or the urge to go for the walk in the first place. Or following a pet or animal that leads you out of an unforeseen danger. Or even a vision in a dream that helps us in our daily lives.
The gym helps with the above. Not because it’s a magical place, but because you’re moving you body as it’s been designed to do. You break down built up toxins, clear up energy channels clear and subtle both.
Conclusion
It may be that I lost you on the final part. If I were to give my old, sceptical self advice, it would be to trust me.
The gym, I’m sure is the reason I am where I am now, in terms of mental clarity and spiritual connection. I know what I want in life and now working to get there.
It’s not to say it will be easy, some days will feel awful. Yet remind yourself of how you felt after you did the workout regardless of feeling rubbish. Quite possibly you felt alive and ready to go again.
Don’t let that negative inner voice drag you down.
You’re meant for greater things. Every one has the same opportunity to feel happy, fulfilled and alive. That is how our creator designed us.
So get clear on what you want out of your training, and the rest will fall into place naturally.
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And if you want help, please reach out to me.
Good Weather,
SoulSurfer.