By Jamie Kirk
The definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get a different result.” Why would you continue to do something often and repetitively that is not giving you the results, you desire?
With the seasons changing and the holidays gone, it’s a great time to reflect on the past, take a look at the current and plan for the future. We can set back and literally CHOOSE what we want/need to do very carefully. Decide to cook soup or chili, decide to brave the cold and hit the bars, bundle up and go for a run outside or on the ‘dreadmill,’ read a book or binge watch a Netflix show. We need to back up and make decisions using care and control. Making small decisions now, helps us avoid making bad big decisions later on.
Making the decision to do something different is huge. Whatever the outcome of the decision, comes secondary to being able to have the balls to say: “I have decided.” Who cares WHAT you decide, the focus needs to be on THAT you decided. I admire folks that can step away from their day to day hectic life and consciously make a choice. Good or bad, popular or not, spontaneously or over a lengthy period.
Once you do the hard part (i.e., deciding), don’t be afraid to decide again. Once you have made the decision to go back to the gym, try the Ketogenic diet, sell your condo, leave your relationship or quit your job; just make sure it is working for you. Assign yourself milestone dates or “checkpoints” to assess how the choice is panning out.
I know people think “how could going to the gym not work out?” Simple. Maybe you are only going to the gym, without changing your diet. This would mean, all the pumping of iron (and gym selfies) are in vain. Just because the decision appears to be fruitful, it may not be in the end. Make sure you are doing your due diligence before & after the decision-making process. And alas, if it ain’t working, fix it, change it, modify it, re-work it or STOP IT. It doesn’t make you weak to back-pedal, it makes you smart. What idiot sees something not working and continues to pursue it time after time?
As the only idiot, I’m sure, that does this, take it from me: You can’t continue down a path expecting it to work when the path and the plan are unworkable. Do your best, try your hardest, surround yourself with “champions” and let destiny take its course. Your part is over once you decide, that is what is so great about free will. Deciding to decide again and again. How awesome is that?!
Jamie Kirk works for a software company and is a certified spinning instructor. He also enjoys yoga, swimming, bicycling and running. He aspires to start a blog about what we put in our bodies not only fuels our body but our mind and spirit as well. Follow Jamie on IG @tysonsdad.