What makes an olympic athlete special?
The bottom line is simply sticking with it.
My daughter used to do Junior Olympic gymnastics. She did it for ten years, and like all gymnasts, her dream was to become an Olympic gymnast or a college gymnast. After the very first month of training, I asked her coach, “What is the most crucial element to becoming a gymnast at the highest level?” His answer surprised me, because I thought he would reply with something like strength, flexibility, or explosive power. Instead, he told me, “Only the girls who stick with gymnastics and never quit will reach the top level.”
When my daughter first started gymnastics at five years old, there were 20 girls in her group. There was only one girl out of that entire group who got into college gymnastics. After ten great years, my daughter had to quit when she was 16 because of an injury and a surgery. Half of the other teammates didn’t want to work so hard anymore when the teen hormones hit, so they changed sports or just quit, and the rest had to leave because of injuries.
Only one girl out of 20 stuck with it all the way and made it to college gymnastics. Out of those 20, she wasn’t the most talented; there were other gymnasts with more medals, but she was the only one who never quit. She never gave up.
The same goes for all talented artists. You can be the most talented musician or painter, but unless you “stick with it” and continue to create and practice the art, your talent and your Masterpiece will never be seen.
So why am I writing this story? What do gymnastics and art have to do with losing weight and getting in shape? Well, it is actually “sticking with it” that I want to emphasize. And why?
Because if you think about it, the only reason — the bottom line — as to why so many people struggle to keep their bodies fit and healthy is that they keep quitting. They never “stick with it,” and instead, they repeatedly go all the way back to the starting point.
We are all intelligent people, and we know very well which foods are good for our bodies and which are actually hurtful. Honestly, it is not rocket science. Also, we know that in order to have fit and healthy bodies, we must keep our muscles and bones strong, our hearts and lungs fit, so we need to work out…yet we just keep quitting.
You can have the most promising diet, exercise program, or even a celebrity coach, but none of them will make you “stick with it.” Why?
Because we create external goals for ourselves, like fitting into our dream dress, looking stunning at a wedding or reunion, or getting revenge on an ex. These goals are unsustainable and very fragile; with one storm or one bad day, the goal is gone. The second reason is pressure. Committing to these goals feels like a mental pressure. Have you ever tried to create something under pressure? It’s as if a musician or a poet were locked in a room and forced to create music or write a poem instead of writing simply for the love of writing. Nothing will stop an artist or gymnast (except for injury, I know — not the best example) from creating or performing when she loves doing it. (Please read my story The Reunion, The Wedding, The Revenge to learn the difference between the power of passion vs. motivation.)
So, what will make you stick with it?
ONLY a love for your body and a passion for your own health will enable you to stick with it…and NOTHING ELSE!!
ONLY a love and respect for your body will allow you to ceaselessly take care of your body, treating it as your most valuable, important investment and the vehicle for connecting to your Highest Self/Greatest Potential.
When you allow that pure love to flow through you, you feel vital and alive in your body. This love is your “personal coach” who will never let you quit, who will always guide you to healthy food, and who will never treat your body with hatred and disrespect.
I promise you that once you sign up with this “magic coach,” a.k.a. the never-ending desire to be close to your HOME when you feel joyful and happy, there is no pizza or favorite ice cream that will overpower your goal. When others see you, they will wonder what your magic is. But you see, it isn’t magic, because it is available to everyone. But you must stop searching for those “magic workouts” or “miracle diets.” The miracle is within you, and when you find it, I know your love for your body will change your life forever — and the shape of your body will change as well.
Can you think of any sweeter feeling than waking up in the morning and being happy with your body? Well, that’s your soul rejoicing within your body: it’s the most powerful reunion.
Therefore, my main goal when I teach and coach clients is to help them to “stick with it.” You will never quit working out, eating healthy, and taking care of your body when you learn everything you need to know (including finding that love and connecting to your Higher Self) to treat your body with respect and love. You will become the artist, creating your Masterpiece with a love that will never stop.
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If you are ready to never give up, ready to enjoy your life with a healthy and fit body, email me: heavenlybodyafter40@gmail.com
