How To Get Out Of Your Own Way So You Can Finally Achieve Your Fitness (and life) Goals!

“Successful people know how to get out of their own way.” Vickie Milazzo

“I just try to get out of my own way because if anyone is their own worst enemy, it’s usually you.” Taylor Dayne

Hello fellow human, I promise to make this the most powerfully inspiring yet simple thing that you read today!

This is a message you may have heard before in one way or another.

My goal is to simplify it so that you can apply it to your own life, and when you do, you’ll be amazed at how your life changes.

Without further ado, let’s get into it. To say one’s mindset is a powerful thing would be a massive understatement.

Mindset determines attitude, and attitude is everything as they say.

It doesn’t stop there either, your mindset also determines not only what actions you will take, but how you will take them.

Okay I know I’ve made my point, but just to hammer it home, your mindset will literally make or break you!

I remember when I was around 12 years old, I saw the movie Mortal Kombat and was blown away by the martial arts and special effects.

In the movie, one of the characters did a backflip off a wall. I was in  utter disbelief!

I had never seen anything like that before. I was so inspired I decided to learn a back flip that night.

I had my brother spot me a few times, but within a short time, I did a backflip myself.

Self-taught, in one night! Years later and as an adult, not having done a flip in years, I decided I wanted to learn them again.

I remembered it hadn’t been hard the first time, but now, for some reason, it seemed impossible.

I just couldn’t bring myself to flip upside down. It really can be a scary thing to do.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t physically capable, I’ve always been super athletic with a great vertical jump. It was all in my mind.

My mind literally made it impossible to flip! This was due to the fear that I would get hurt, a fear that I didn’t have as a child.

Ok ok, maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal, after all it’s just a flip right?

Well, I started thinking about how my mind was literally the only thing holding me back from what I wanted to do, and suddenly it became so clear to me how the mind holds us back.

A fearful mind is hesitant, closed off, and unable to learn new skills. I mean just think about it.

Remember that incredible girl you didn’t talk to? Or that guy that you never revealed your true feelings to?

The golden opportunity that presented itself, that you didn’t take? The vacation you’ve been talking about taking for 5 years?

Though you told yourself the most perfect reasons why you didn’t do the thing, deep down you know the truth, and the truth is that nothing external can hold you back from achieving that which you’re hell bent on seeing through.

You’re probably thinking one of two things. Either you’re thinking wow, that’s so true! Or something along the lines of fuck this guy!

Who does he think he is? Either way I understand, but let’s just pretend for a bit that what I’m saying is valid.

Take a minute and think about your ideal life and where you are in regards to it. Your ideal career, salary, home, car, clothes, friends, partner, fitness level, etc.

Maybe you’re moving toward these things and have a plan. If so, that’s great, but most of us aren’t.

Or maybe we are at times, but we’re inconsistent, so we end up staying stuck where we are in life.

The truth is that there are other people moving consistently toward creating their ideal life.

We often see these people, and make excuses for why they’re living their best lives, while we sit idle on the sidelines.

Or worse, we turn into haters! It’s a vicious cycle that keeps us from ever achieving our goals.

The good news though, is that even if you’ve fallen into any of these negative traps, it’s NEVER too late to change.

It’s not just a cliché. When you change your mind, you really do change your life.

So how do we do that? How do we go from wishing we could to doing? It’s not easy, but the good news is it’s very simple.

In a word, discipline. We have to discipline our thoughts. That’s a huge statement I know, so what does it mean for you?

It means getting clear about who you want to be and what you want to accomplish in your life, and putting it on paper.

Then writing out small daily action steps that will take you towards those goals. It means holding yourself accountable when no one is watching.

It means letting go of all those things and people that are holding you back in life.

That friend, that negative stuff you watch on TV, that violent or depressing music.

It means never, under any circumstances, allowing yourself to be apathetic.

It also means replacing those things in your life, which have been weighing you down, with things which will lift you up.

That could look differently for each individual, it could be church, meditation, lectures, self-improvement books, getting a mentor, going to new places, taking up constructive hobbies, going back to school, et cetera.

Whatever it means for you, do it, relentlessly. Day after day, these small actions that you take may seem insignificant at times.

Remember though, that they are tearing down the walls that have kept you from spreading your wings and soaring.

Living freely, consciously creating, and living to the fullest. It will be possibly the most challenging, and probably the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done.

The chains of self-doubt hold you back only through ignorance. Once you know the truth, you have a choice to face and overcome what’s been holding you back.

How does this apply to fitness? It’s simple! Many people don’t achieve or maintain their fitness goals because they’re too comfortable with their current lifestyle and to permanently change that requires letting go of the current self-image you have of yourself and embracing a new one.

Again, it’s not easy, but it is so worth it. I believe we’re here to overcome our fears, and I hope this inspires you to take that crucial first step in whatever area you are needing to.

Much love.

Adonis