Thursday, January 31, 2013

Epiphany: Okay, I'm Totally Lame

I got my workout in fairly early after work yesterday. I teach part-time, so I leave earlier than the school day is actually over.

I arrived home, settled in, got a few things done, then got my TurboFire on. Yesterday was Low HIIT 25 and Stretch 10. This workout was mostly all HIITs back to back, with short rest periods in between each.

Chalene's favorite motivational phrase to tell us is, "You're not tired!" She tells us we can keep going, we can do it, we're amazing. Somewhere in the middle of this workout, she said, "Tell yourself you can do anything!"

So, I did. I actually said aloud to myself, "I can do anything." Well, it was more like, "Ican (breath) doany (breath) thing."

Do you know what happened after I said that to myself? Well, I'll tell you. I was kind of holding back tears.

I know, I'm totally lame. But you know what? I had a minor epiphany at that moment. Not only that I'm totally lame, but I realized that I almost never talk to myself this way: positively. I almost never tell myself I can do it, or that I can push a little harder, or I can accomplish my goals. Instead, I'm used to listening to that little negative voice that tells me I'm too tired, or it hurts too much, or to take another break.

Chalene basically said that the way we talk to ourselves is the way we are going to perform. Why? Because that's what we'll believe. If I tell myself I'm too tired, then I will be, and I'll stop. If I tell myself I need another break, I'll take it, instead of motivating myself and giving it that little extra push to keep going. And it's absolutely true. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I never told myself, "I can do it; I can do anything." Just saying it once, out loud, ignited a little spark inside me. Repeating it again gave that little spark a flame.

The flame grew a little higher, and a little fiercer. I pushed myself a little harder. I jumped a little higher, I squatted a little lower, and I ran a little faster. And I brought it.

We need to stop putting ourselves down. We need to tell ourselves we are capable of anything. Whatever goal you are after, whatever dream you want to accomplish, you can succeed. You have to tell yourself you can, and you will. Even if you don't believe it yet, it's okay. Keep encouraging yourself. You can do it. And you will believe it. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you speak positively to yourself and believe you have what it takes.

What lies do you tell yourself that hold you back?
Get those negative thoughts out of your head. Turn them into positive ones instead. Then get out there and accomplish those goals and dreams.

I'm too tired. I have tons of energy, and working out gives me energy.
I'm too out of shape. I'm working toward my goals and getting better every day.
I'm stupid. I am intelligent.
I'm ugly. I am beautiful, inside and out.
I'm not talented enough. I am talented, and have so much to give to the world.
I can't do it. I can do anything.

18 comments:

  1. Great post. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  2. And you aren't totally lame. You rock. Declaration is an important step to doing. We aren't what we eat, we are what we say we are. So be good to yourself. The world is hard enough on us as it is. #TALU

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    1. Thank you, Jeannine! So very true. Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Awesome inspiration here and I actually just finished working out and read this one. I will have to try to use it now, too. Happy to stop by from TALU!! :)

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    1. Thanks, Janine! I hope you do use it and that it helps you! Thanks for reading!

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  4. My "I can do anything" phrase is, "Why not?" I finally wrote it down in quote form to put on Pinterest but it says, When your alternate egos (Me, Myself and I) try to challenge your confidence, ask them, "Why not?"

    Love that you "brought it"! TALU

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    1. That's a great quote, Kenya! And so true. So many people think they can never achieve what other people have. Well, why NOT you? Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I love this! So true. Whenever I work on affirmations, I see magical things happen in my life. I enjoyed reading.
    I'm going to follow your blog now. :-)
    TALU

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    1. Wow, thank you so much, Linda! It's so true; the way we talk to ourselves determines our success. Isn't it amazing how much we can accomplish by being positive and pushing ourselves forward? =) Thanks for reading!

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  6. I am so glad that you had this revelation! Good for you! I need to do this more often myself. I will try thanks to your encouragement.

    TALU

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    1. Thanks, Carol! I do hope it helps! Thanks for stopping in!

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  7. Great advice, Kerry. The power of positive thought is, indeed, powerful.
    Thanks for linking this up with the TALU!

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  8. Well, if that's lame, then I want a whole truck-full of lame!! LOL. You are SO right on. I have definitely found this to be true in my own life. I recently have jumped back on the fitness wagon and I will often be doing my Couch to 5 k running program and be saying out loud as I am running "GO GO GO!! You've got this!! You can keep going 10 more seconds!" And I don't care who hears me! We need to be our own cheerleaders! And I agree with you 100%--you must say it until you believe it. I call this "fake it till you make it". ;-) It works. Great post! TALU

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    1. Thanks, Joell! I'm running my first 5k in July. I can't do it if I am continuously negative with myself. You most certainly CAN do it, and you WILL! Congrats on getting fit! =)

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  9. I reaallly kind of needed this today. my lack of fitness motivation is off the charts. Yo've inspired me to kick it into gear. TALU for good measure :)

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    1. Aww, that's great, Shannon! That's what makes it all worth it. I'm glad this helped you! Go kick your workout's BUTT! =)

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  10. You rock! I love this post and your spot-on perspective! I do put myself down all the time and I'm sure the difference positive self-talk would be amazing. You told the story so well too--I feel like I knew exactly how you were feeling in that moment.

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