Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Positivity!

The wise words that my mother always spoke: “You’re about as happy as you make up your mind to be.” So TRUE! You can overcome and achieve so many things—it’s our minds we have to convince. So, what is it that you REALLY want?
Turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts will make life so much easier, because in the end, negative thoughts will only consume you. Here’s a perfect example of my day—I choose the second one J

4:45 am….uggg back to the gym for another hard workout---I CAN’T do this anymore! Really? Bagels, donuts and cake in the office…I’m never going to be able to eat GOOD food again…I swear I’m going freak out if I have to drink 1 more oz. of water….Well, another happy hour I have to miss with my girlfriends….I’m really craving some chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream for dessert…why can’t I have anything I want!! Time to hit the sack…it’s too bad I have to be up so darn early!

4:45 am…up and at ‘em! Time to hit the gym for a GREAT strength workout…WOW, I’m so strong—heck yes I CAN do another rep! Yum, oatmeal and egg whites make my body feel so good...YAY! Just discovered some MIO water flavoring to jazz it up a bit…I can’t go to happy hour tonight, but I’m free this weekend! Time to hit the sack...have to get an adequate amount of rest in order to perform my best tomorrow…can’t wait for a new day J

I can’t even begin to explain how much mentality and thoughts play into achieving any goal, whether it’s to compete in a fitness show, find a loving lifelong partner or finding a new career; you gotta get your mind right!

As a competitor, I understand that training and nutrition isn’t going to be easy—there will be days when giving up WILL cross my mind…do I? Of course not! There’s a lot of mental toughness and saying “no thank you.” Sure I’d like to stay up and dance all night, eat junk until 2 a.m. and wake up at noon. However, does this help me get to my goals? NO. Does this make me feel good on the inside and outside? Definitely NOT!

Priorities have shifted, relationships have changed, and I’ve overcome internal obstacles I never even knew existed. If something’s important to you, go for it! Start eliminating the negative relationships and internal obstacles that are holding you back. There WILL be people in your life that choose not to support you—do it anyway.

My favorite quote: “If people can’t listen and support you in your efforts, they have no place in your life.” If you’re trying to lose weight, and friends can’t accept that you ordered a bare chicken breast and water instead of pizza and beer for dinner, why are they your friends? Think hard about this. I may have lost some people in my life, but I just couldn’t understand why they couldn’t be happy for me when I was at my happiest. Or be accepting of my current goals.

So…GO AFTER LIFE WITH AN ENTHUSIASTIC DRIVE! Think of life has a huge adventure instead of a path of doubt and fear. Once you begin to unleash what’s really important to you, everything will fall into place. Most importantly, surround yourself with positive people. Whenever I’m feeling low or having doubts, my fiancĂ© is always there to snap me out of it!

Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
Norman Vincent Peale