On this first day of the new year, many spend time in reflection to gain lessons from the previous year. Hence, the saying “Hindsight is 20/20”. Indeed our life experiences aid in crafting our future endeavors. Therefore, I would propose that you begin THIS year with “Foresight is 20/20”, clearly envisioning what this year will be for you. Essentially start and continue with each day creating the year you will live. After all, we can all look back to New Year’s day last year and think, “What if I had started a year ago?” But let that thought be complete now. No regrets, because we go forth with a forward focus. We can affect our future. We can make choices that move us closer to our destination. We can propel forward motion. We can and we shall.
This article will focus on your health and fitness, but the steps can be applied to any area of your life.
So, where to start? First, make being healthier and fit a priority. How do you do that? You need to know why you should and be ready to go deep and possibly confront some pain and fear. What could you do in this next year that you haven’t been able to do as a result of your current condition? How would your life be better if that changed? How would you feel? How would the people around you feel? How would your life change? How about the lives of those you love? A year from now, what memories will you have because of the decision you made today? Is all that clear, so clear that you can see it?
Now, MOVE! Not just literally, but it is time to take action. Put together a plan and know if you are strong enough to attack and stick to that plan. Your success on this point depends on you being unapologetically honest with yourself. If you can do this step on your own, then power forward. If you are not sure, that does not mean that you are weak, it means you are strong enough to admit that you would benefit from having someone else make a plan with you and help you to execute it. So, go ahead and hire a health and fitness coach. It’s a good move. After all, it is their job and to their benefit to see you reach success in your health and fitness goals.
Warning! It may be hard and you may hit obstacles. If it were easy, this would be a nonissue. Finishing your education can be hard, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Giving birth and raising children can be hard, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Finishing a huge project can be hard, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Getting healthy and fit can be hard, BUT the rewards are well worth the effort! So remember this when you run into an obstacle or your journey seems hard. You knew it could happen, you knew it might be, but you are stronger than you feel right now and your success will be well worth pushing through this moment.
“Go YOU! You’ve got this!” Find your cheerleaders. If you’ve hired a health and fitness coach, I can almost guarantee that they will be your biggest cheerleader. As for others, be careful. Your cheerleaders are not always those that are close to you. I’m not saying those people don’t love you, but they could be speedbumps in your progress by enabling poor behaviors. They might bring foods into the house that you struggle to resist, tell you it’s ok to skip your workouts and watch tv, or simply not take your schedule into consideration when making plans. Your health and fitness support system should encourage you but also be willing to tell it like it is, no enabling.
So, where do you want to be a year from now? It begins with where you will be a month or even a week from now. That thought for me evokes another saying, “Think Big, Start Small, Begin NOW”. Open your mind’s eye and look. See it clearly and take a picture so you can see it even when your mind is tired. Focus, capture it… there you have your clear vision for your health and fitness for 2022. Go!