Hello to whoever is currently reading this!!
Let’s get to it! I sat down to write a few encouraging words because I had a young guy approach me in the gym today. He has been coming to the gym for a little over a year and we are often in there at the same time. Today he walked up to me and was like man, how do you do it? I asked what he meant. He explained that he has been watching me come to the gym for over a year and I kill it every single day. He admitted that he remembered seeing me a year ago in the gym and didn’t have bad wishes for me but at the same time really didn’t expect to see me in the gym a year later. He added it was not like I wasn’t killing it back then, but he felt like I was just getting started and it would some how slow down or come to a complete stop. He asked again, how do you do it?
I said three words. PERSEVERE * PERSIST * PROCEED
I added that every now and then I need a little more help and I would add in a little quote from Young Jeezy, “Trust Ya Process”.
NOTE: Definitions of these words. (Courtesy of https://www.merriam-webster.com)
- PERSEVERE “To persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter-influences, opposition, or discouragement.”
- PERSIST “To remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position.”
- PROCEED “To continue after a pause or interruption.”
He looked a little surprised but didn’t ask what PERSEVERE * PERSIST * PROCEED meant but I shared more details anyway. I explained that from the beginning of this journey I understood it was just that, a journey. Mindset is everything!
If I had of started this journey this trying to get fit over night the discouragement of not reacting my goals would have eventually taken its toll on me and I would have likely quit. From the beginning, my game plan was to simply proceed. No matter the obstacles and setbacks persist and persevere. Believe me, there were so many obstacles and setbacks.
Those obstacles and setbacks included a lower back injury, shoulder injuries, multiple knee issues/injuries, sleeping less than 3 hours a night, work/life not permitting me to hit the gym the way I planned it, and many more. I just kept going, understanding that results won’t come over night and they won’t come if I stop. In that same sense, I understood results would not show over night, but they would show if I proceeded.
I’m really doing nothing special. These health improvements you’ re seeing are the results of nearly two years of Preserving, being Persistence, and Proceeding. I am no where near my goal, but I find joy in seeing how far I have come.
If I can add one thing that may help someone else, it would be to understand that the goal you are working towards is a journey. Success takes time. Don’t set your happiness only in the end result. That can make for a lot of misery as there will be times when the path will get tough and seem unbearable. Find ways to enjoy the journey (the process itself) and you are more likely to make it to the final destination.
As often as necessary whisper three words to yourself. PERSEVERE * PERSIST * PROCEED Better yet, scream them to the roof tops! Next; Do Just That!
Hawkeye Publications 