Rules For Success

I had a little rant to go with this post but decided to save that for another day.  Basically, a lot of articles I’ve been reading online have gotten on my nerves and I decided I would just make up my list of beliefs that I follow that I feel are necessary, no matter your size, shape, or status in life.  Everyone can be successful and these are the rules I follow in order to do what the things I want to achieve in life.

Success

1.  Be Confident

Not matter your size, shape, age – be confident in who you are.  Love yourself.  You don’t have to like the size on your jeans but don’t let it define you or affect your self esteem either.  You are not your size.  You are your personality, your brilliance, your passion.  Be the person you want to be at any size, no matter what.

BeAwesome

2.  Live In the Future

Don’t dwell on the past.  Not even what you did this morning.  Move on and do what you can right now to make a better life.  Ate a crappy breakfast?  Don’t let it ruin the rest of your day.  Just make smarter choices at the rest of your meals and move on.  Slept through your morning workout?  Go for a walk later or set your alarm for the next morning and make it happen.

ThinkPastFuture

3.  Yes, You Can

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something, not even yourself.  You have to be realistic about your goals of course but you can still shoot for the stars.  Want to run a marathon?  Slowly build yourself up into a runner and keep striving until your reach your goal.  Can’t run?  Then maybe a century ride is a better idea.  Either way, short of a physical disability, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.

Determination

4.  Put in the Work

Ok, so you’ve made a crazy goal but now you actually have to do the work to get there.  People talk about their dreams and goals but never seem to make them happen.  I wanted to go back to grad school so guess what?  I did and I’m graduating in December with a Master’s degree.  There was no reason I couldn’t do it, I just had to take the leap and do the work.  Same thing goes with fitness and weight loss.  You want to run that marathon?  Then you’ve got to get in shape, you have to start running at some point, and then you have to train for months to make it to that finish line.

Success_Collier

5.  Be Realistic

This might seem like a step back from the other points I made but its true.  You have to be realistic and by that, I mean “SMART” goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound.  Pick your goal, make sure it is something specific and something you can see “Yes, I completed it” (no gray area).  Make sure it is attainable – not too high nor too low.  Relevant (I think this is obvious?).  And give yourself a timeline to complete this goal.  Maybe that marathon is too far off so a smart goal would be a 5K instead.  It is specific, measurable, attainable (even if it just means walking one), relevant (since you want to run), and finally, to make it time bound, you register for a specific race.  Done.  Now, go do the work.

smart goal setting concept

6.  Don’t Give Up

Finally, it is going to be hard and the sooner you accept this, the better off you will be.  You have to expect the struggles in order to make it through them.  When the time comes, you will be ready to push through and reach your goals.

WillPower

So those are the basic rules that I follow in my life.  I am confident in myself, even if I don’t exactly like the way I feel right now in my heavier body.  That doesn’t change the fact that I think I rock.  I don’t dwell on the fact that I gained weight (I did while I was gaining but that is living in the present, right?).  Now, it’s there and it’s time to get it off.  I know I can do it and I’m putting in the work 6 days a week at the gym to do this.  I know I can do 5-6 hours a week of exercise without burning out.

And guess what?  I have some really big long term goals.

I want to run an ultramarathon.  I just think this would be so cool.  Yes, I know that sounds crazy but I do!  Of course, I might change my mind one day but right now, it is something I want to work toward in the future.

I want to have a rockin’ fit body.  This will take a lot of work and commit both in the gym and in the kitchen but its something I know I could do if I put in the work.  One day, I might decide that enjoying a bowl of ice cream once a week is more important to me than have six pack abs but that will be my choice.  Not because I can’t do it.

These are rules I live by in all aspects of life, not just fitness.  I think they are pretty good guidelines that anyone could use to be successful!

What are some rules you live by to strive for success in life?

Success_Mandela

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