"What we are today is the result of our own past actions;
Whatever we wish to be in the future depends on our present actions;
Decide how you have to act now.
We are responsible for what we are, whatever we wish ourselves to be.
We have the power to make ourselves."
When I think back to where I started from 2 years and 2 months ago (gosh, seems like longer than that!), I have forgotten one very important piece of the puzzle. Action. In many instances when people have asked for my advice, needed my support or I was telling someone about my story, I usually say what gave me success was having patience, commitment, dedication, persistence and drive. But then I read this quote my mom gave me today and I thought how I forgot to even consider that word, Action. That adjective is really monumental in progressing and moving forward, as a person and in anything you do.
You can say you want something, sure, we all know what we truly want and desire out of life. Most of us might say we would want to pursue our passions and quit our day jobs, that's what the question of, "what would you do if you had all the money to do whatever you wanted to do?" is there for. When I became unemployed, I decided, as I did with my body and my life previous to this, that I was going to live that question. Sure, it's probably easier for some people over others. I don't have kids, I don't have a downtown loft anymore or an Audi, but I still am the same as anyone else in regards to choosing what I want to pursue; in fact, I gave the latter two up to be in a better financial position and to move forward in other ways.
Still, you could argue that anyone has it better than another one in a number of different circumstances. I try to live each day and be grateful for what I DO have, not what I DON'T have. This is a challenge some days because I'm still human and no one is perfect to not think negatively sometimes.
So back to my original thought on Action...If you are trying to set a goal and have decided what you want, well, you have committed that you will do everything you can to make this happen; however, until you take "ACTION" to that promise, you will be at a standstill.
Looking back on my road with all these different paths going left, right, backwards, forward, I continued, time after time to choose the harder way to go, forwards. It is uncharted territory, it is uphill, not downhill, it is unfamiliar, but I did it. I did it because I knew that for so long I was just standing still letting other elements control me, not me controlling them.
Some might consider what I am about to share with you pretty private, but I figure I have already chosen to be somewhat of an open book about my story and my thoughts/decisions, because that is how I can help others.
This was from a while back, I read it and thought, I don't even know that person anymore and I'm so glad I decided to leave that girl behind.
"I'm out in the ocean now. It's a big ocean where the boat I swam from has sunk in the horizon. The boat I knew so well. There are lots of boats out here, but they're all speedboats not looking for extra passengers. The waves are wild and its up to me to swim with them and surrender to their force, otherwise I'll drown trying to resist them. I'm trying to look inward to find the strength to hold on and keep kicking."
I think we all go through a stage where we are in our darkest moments. This one lasted me a while and it wasn't pretty thought.
I just found this other one too from when I was going through my weight loss, pretty big difference, but then again, I was doing different things.
"This has been a process of learning to love myself, the hard work I have put in thus far, the accomplishment of losing 25 lbs and being PROUD of myself. Realizing I was given a body and to embrace, love and make this one the best I can!"
With exclamation marks and caps too. What a huge difference.
All I can say is this is proof of how much you can change when you DECIDE< COMMIT< and ACT to change.
My brother found this in the book, Law of Attraction. "When you are taking action in your now, and it is not action in joy, it is our absolute promise to you that it will not lead to a happy ending. It cannot; it defies the Law. Rather than being so ready to jump into action to get the things that you want, we say THINK them into being; SEE them, VISUALIZE them, and EXPECT them--and they will be. And you will be guided, inspired, or led to the perfect action that will bring about the process that will lead you to that which you seek."
I believe in this way of thought, because it really all begins in deciding and visualizing what you want. You have to decide to put forth effort and actually put it forth, but it has to also be something you already see as happening. You have to visualize what you want, so you know what it looks like.
One more thing,
"I WISH I'D KNOWN THAT I'D BEEN BORN TO TAKE ON THE WORLD; I WOULDN'T HAVE RUN FROM IT FOR SO LONG, BUT RUN TO IT WITH OPEN ARMS." -Something More
If you can relate that to a time when you are afraid of something, usually the reactions we have to fear are, withdrawal and not wanting to do it, but dreading it. Usually we worry and worry until it is over then realize, it wasn't as bad as we "THOUGHT" it was going to be. This is the same for above. If you try to just realize that there is nothing to be afraid of, well, then, you will be alot less afraid just by having those thoughts.
Being scared is totally natural but i think if you can challenge yourself to "be comfortable being uncomfortable" you will see a big difference in the outcome of the situation.
When I gave my first speech a month ago to a group of 25 employees, I was nervous. But then after I did it, I realized, there was nothing to be nervous about. But then they asked me to come back and talk to the other 2 groups of employees they had and I got nervous again thinking about it then I stopped myself and said, just be you and you're there to help others. We're all the same really, we're all just here to live and work on ourselves and to love.
So overall, I went off in a couple of different directions and made this more than I thought it was going to be, but ACTION is huge in attaining your goals. Don't forget that part. and when you are too tired to go to the gym, GO ANYWAYS. you'll feel so much better afterwards, I promise. You can tell someone you love them, but until you actually SHOW It, those words don't mean anything.
Whatever we wish to be in the future depends on our present actions;
Decide how you have to act now.
We are responsible for what we are, whatever we wish ourselves to be.
We have the power to make ourselves."
When I think back to where I started from 2 years and 2 months ago (gosh, seems like longer than that!), I have forgotten one very important piece of the puzzle. Action. In many instances when people have asked for my advice, needed my support or I was telling someone about my story, I usually say what gave me success was having patience, commitment, dedication, persistence and drive. But then I read this quote my mom gave me today and I thought how I forgot to even consider that word, Action. That adjective is really monumental in progressing and moving forward, as a person and in anything you do.
You can say you want something, sure, we all know what we truly want and desire out of life. Most of us might say we would want to pursue our passions and quit our day jobs, that's what the question of, "what would you do if you had all the money to do whatever you wanted to do?" is there for. When I became unemployed, I decided, as I did with my body and my life previous to this, that I was going to live that question. Sure, it's probably easier for some people over others. I don't have kids, I don't have a downtown loft anymore or an Audi, but I still am the same as anyone else in regards to choosing what I want to pursue; in fact, I gave the latter two up to be in a better financial position and to move forward in other ways.
Still, you could argue that anyone has it better than another one in a number of different circumstances. I try to live each day and be grateful for what I DO have, not what I DON'T have. This is a challenge some days because I'm still human and no one is perfect to not think negatively sometimes.
So back to my original thought on Action...If you are trying to set a goal and have decided what you want, well, you have committed that you will do everything you can to make this happen; however, until you take "ACTION" to that promise, you will be at a standstill.
Looking back on my road with all these different paths going left, right, backwards, forward, I continued, time after time to choose the harder way to go, forwards. It is uncharted territory, it is uphill, not downhill, it is unfamiliar, but I did it. I did it because I knew that for so long I was just standing still letting other elements control me, not me controlling them.
Some might consider what I am about to share with you pretty private, but I figure I have already chosen to be somewhat of an open book about my story and my thoughts/decisions, because that is how I can help others.
This was from a while back, I read it and thought, I don't even know that person anymore and I'm so glad I decided to leave that girl behind.
"I'm out in the ocean now. It's a big ocean where the boat I swam from has sunk in the horizon. The boat I knew so well. There are lots of boats out here, but they're all speedboats not looking for extra passengers. The waves are wild and its up to me to swim with them and surrender to their force, otherwise I'll drown trying to resist them. I'm trying to look inward to find the strength to hold on and keep kicking."
I think we all go through a stage where we are in our darkest moments. This one lasted me a while and it wasn't pretty thought.
I just found this other one too from when I was going through my weight loss, pretty big difference, but then again, I was doing different things.
"This has been a process of learning to love myself, the hard work I have put in thus far, the accomplishment of losing 25 lbs and being PROUD of myself. Realizing I was given a body and to embrace, love and make this one the best I can!"
With exclamation marks and caps too. What a huge difference.
All I can say is this is proof of how much you can change when you DECIDE< COMMIT< and ACT to change.
My brother found this in the book, Law of Attraction. "When you are taking action in your now, and it is not action in joy, it is our absolute promise to you that it will not lead to a happy ending. It cannot; it defies the Law. Rather than being so ready to jump into action to get the things that you want, we say THINK them into being; SEE them, VISUALIZE them, and EXPECT them--and they will be. And you will be guided, inspired, or led to the perfect action that will bring about the process that will lead you to that which you seek."
I believe in this way of thought, because it really all begins in deciding and visualizing what you want. You have to decide to put forth effort and actually put it forth, but it has to also be something you already see as happening. You have to visualize what you want, so you know what it looks like.
One more thing,
"I WISH I'D KNOWN THAT I'D BEEN BORN TO TAKE ON THE WORLD; I WOULDN'T HAVE RUN FROM IT FOR SO LONG, BUT RUN TO IT WITH OPEN ARMS." -Something More
If you can relate that to a time when you are afraid of something, usually the reactions we have to fear are, withdrawal and not wanting to do it, but dreading it. Usually we worry and worry until it is over then realize, it wasn't as bad as we "THOUGHT" it was going to be. This is the same for above. If you try to just realize that there is nothing to be afraid of, well, then, you will be alot less afraid just by having those thoughts.
Being scared is totally natural but i think if you can challenge yourself to "be comfortable being uncomfortable" you will see a big difference in the outcome of the situation.
When I gave my first speech a month ago to a group of 25 employees, I was nervous. But then after I did it, I realized, there was nothing to be nervous about. But then they asked me to come back and talk to the other 2 groups of employees they had and I got nervous again thinking about it then I stopped myself and said, just be you and you're there to help others. We're all the same really, we're all just here to live and work on ourselves and to love.
So overall, I went off in a couple of different directions and made this more than I thought it was going to be, but ACTION is huge in attaining your goals. Don't forget that part. and when you are too tired to go to the gym, GO ANYWAYS. you'll feel so much better afterwards, I promise. You can tell someone you love them, but until you actually SHOW It, those words don't mean anything.
Hi Ashley,
It's great to read you. Please keep writing.
I have a question for you. What kept you moving on when you started? I mean the first 3 weeks. I started my training in 2004. It was great, I was very motivated and only one thing was missing in my transformation the proper eating plan. That's why I didn't get better results. But after 2008 when I lost my job and got very depressed about it I could not get my motivation back. It's hard to start over again.