Monday, April 27, 2009

What's Stopping You?

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Hah! "Involuntary bowel movements." Reminds me of myself on my race recently
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I am trying to apply my shut up and run philosophy to other aspects of my life.

Shut up and work!
Shut up and clean up the dog poop!
Shut up and pay the bills!
Shut up and tell them how you really feel!
Shut up and....

I think it is interesting how often we all search for the key to motivation, the clue to stop our procrastination. We look for it in self help guides, by watching other people. We drink energy drinks, pop energy pills, do energy work. Just hoping for that bit of inspiration.

Take the weight loss shows. I'm a huge fan of the "Biggest Loser." A lot of the contestant's success is based on learning how to eat right and how to exercise. But the real secret?? Making the decision to do it and doing it everyday. First you need the tools to make the changes. That part is actually pretty easy. You can find info on that stuff all over the place - just look on every news stand and in every book store. There are hundreds of millions of dollars in the health industry. The real challenge is putting it into action. It is HARD to get up at 6am and to exercise. It is HARD to substitute fries with carrot sticks. It is hard to take the risk of changing yourself, inside and out.


Yet what it boils down to is a pretty simple solution. Stop looking outside of yourself. Have some discipline. See what happens when you stop focusing and relying on the external and use your own power and energy to get it done.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Easier said than done. I know that.

It is a decision.
It is a way of life.
It is your choice and only yours.

Phew. Glad I got that off of my chest.

My biggest challenge this week is that I am self employed and I have deadlines on reports I have to write. It takes a lot of self discipline. I spend so much time thinking of reasons to not do it and feeling bad about not doing it, that when I finally do it, I wonder why I made such a big deal out of it? Ever had that sensation?

What's your "shut up and..." thing? Work, exercise, dieting, getting out of a relationship, going to church, calling your mother...what is it and what's stopping you?




8 comments:

  1. For me, it's shut up and go to bed. Seriously, I'm like a little kid as much as I fight going to bed.

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  2. I am so onboard with the "shut up and..." premise. There is far too much whining going on these days. Plus, when did everyone get so damn lazy.

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  3. Mine is shut up and put the laundry away. I always dread it and then it takes 2 minutes. So stupid. :)

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  4. Thanks for stopping by. I read your blog too, but I wouldn't have guessed you were a beginner runner. With a pace of, what was it, 8:32 recently. You're definitely a fast beginner! Thanks for saying hi.

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  5. Ah yes. My dear friend, procrastination. I could get so much done if I weren't on Google Reader or playing Bejeweled so dang much!

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  6. Great post! I would be like you if I worked at home... dreading something but feeling great when I finally got if done!

    What I am putting off? Hmm, some communication, methinks. With the husband ;)

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  7. I learned my shut up and work here...it's doing my ab work every single day!!

    Ok that and PT, shut up and do my PT!

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  8. I love this post! It's so true. If you put your mind to something, nothing will stop you. It's something that I constantly work on myself to focus on the goal. Positive thinking helps a lot too.

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