Buts, we all have them. They are usually big, ugly, and hard to work around. I will go out on a limb and say that most of us probably have more than one.
No, I am not talking about that part of your anatomy that follows behind you everywhere you go. I am speaking of the excuses we make for not reaching our goals. I refer to those “reasons” we give ourselves for not seeing our visions fulfilled.
“But I am too tired right now.”
This is the battle cry of far too many people who have made it their goal to get in shape, lose a few pounds, or learn a new skill. It is a habit learned from our technology-driven lifestyles. We have become soft, accustomed to “work” being in front of a computer, behind a desk, or of another more sedentary type. This excuse is best defeated by not giving in to it in the first place. As any good martial artist will tell you, the most important step you can take in your journey is the first. Let your vision motivate you, give power to your goals and they will empower you. Even if it is only one step, take it, giving in to this “but” leads one to find it easier to quit the next time the path becomes challenging.
For those who have set their sights on better health and fitness in 2012, a piece of advice… Exercise is the best way to develop more energy. Regular workouts lead the body to produce more energy. The regularity, coupled with selection of appropriate types of exercise improve the systems of the body responsible for energy creation and regulation. Within a very short time you will find that you have the ability to go longer and accomplish more every day, without that exhausted feeling that has kept you down in the past.
“But I have no idea what I am doing, I would be embarrassed.”
Whether your goal is to start going to the gym or to learn a martial art there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone starts out knowing nothing about their new activity. The knowledge you need can only be gained by getting started. Find someone to guide and teach you. Each time you participate in the activity enter with an open mind and an eye to learn and improve your technique. Weightlifting, spinning, cross-fit training, martial arts, they all take practice to learn and do well. Don’t let your goals and visions be foiled by a feeling of “embarrassment”, get in there and give it your best effort.
“But first…”
This big, ugly ”but” is the most insidious of them all. This reason for missing the target creeps up on all of us. We all lead busy lives. To avoid this “but” we must plan. It is not enough, however, to simply have a plan. Success against this form of excuse requires that we execute that plan, staying focused on our larger goals and visions. The “busy-ness” of life works against us daily. We all find ourselves saying “I was planning on doing X, but first…” as little “distraction tasks” pop up. Just watch a martial artist practice their art. They become focused, blocking out the distractions of the day. The time they have given to their practice is devoted solely to that effort, nothing else. This act of focus is how they accomplish such wonderful feats of physical and mental prowess. The determination and focus they develop on the mat transfers into their everyday lives, arming them with the skill needed to succeed despite the “busy-ness” of life.
Don’t let your “big ugly but” keep you from reaching your goals this year. I have touched on just a few of the many big “buts” we carry around with us every day. They add up, each one is like carrying around another ten pounds on our shoulders, a “weight” that makes us wait to reach our dreams. Make 2012 the year you lose that extra “but weight” that is keeping you from realizing the vision you have for your life.
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