Keys to Achieving Your Goals
Persistence is huge!
In the words of Jimmy Cliff,
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
What is it that you want? How hard are you willing to work? How much time are you willing to spend?
I was telling a patient about some exercises I was doing. I said, “I don’t care if it takes the rest of my life. I’m going to do it.” After nearly three years, I’m finding my physique is the best it has ever been. I only exercise ten minutes per day. I may have made much faster progress if I had been willing to put in more time and effort.
My initial goal was to have my chest measurement be ten inches more than my waist. After two years, I was still far from that goal. I had improved to a seven-inch difference. I was trying to get my waist down to thirty-two. I could barely suck in my gut to a thirty-two. I needed to lose some fat.
I changed my diet. Progress was slow. Then one day I was pretty close to having my pants fit without sucking in my waist. I saw an article that said for a “hot” body, a man my height should have a thirty-inch waist. I had an idea. If I was wearing thirty-two-inch pants when my waist was two or three inches bigger than that, why not buy thirty-inch pants now? I found stretch denim that fit very well.
I have been wearing the smaller pants and constantly sucking in my waist. They are fitting better every day. I’m not saying this to brag, but to inspire. It has taken me nearly three years to see improvement. Imagine putting in ten minutes every day for three years to accomplish your goals. What would be different for you?
What are you willing to trade for what you want? I started out with a workout that was taking nearly thirty minutes. I was getting stronger, but I kept injuring myself. Then I would take time out to heal. I needed a way that I would not injure myself. I decided to use less effort and make my exercise routine part of my life. My goal was to do the exercise. The secondary goal was changing my physique.
Decide what you want and be flexible in how you achieve it. Do not be afraid to change your goal. Persist!