If there's anything I learned over the past two years its that you can do anything you put your mind to. For those of us that still haven't merged into the Fastlane yet, all we have to do is get started and trust the words of those who have done it before.
Getting in shape, and I mean really good shape, better than most, has been an amazing journey for me. Its taken effort, determination, time, and going against the grain, but it was and still is worth it. Apart from achieving my fitness goals, its has taught me lessons regarding process that will serve me a lifetime.
I always wish I could...
I've always wanted to be able to hold a handstand. Of course I tried multiple times when I was younger but just fell over. I never committed to learning how. Today, not only can I hold a handstand (though I'm still improving it). I can hold the human flag. I can do one-arm pushups (feet together!). I can do pistol squats. I have a crazy 6-pack plus a mini 6-pack on my back. Its amazing how my body feels today but its something I can't explain.
What's more amazing is how the process philosophy to achieve this carries over to anything.
Start small and easy...very small and easy.
Start small and easy. No one just decides to get in shape and instantly starts doing one-arm pushups. I started this journey literally doing pushups against a wall. Tell any gym-going buff to start there and they'll laugh at you. But its very important to start small. It gets you good form. It gets you quick wins. It builds strength in more than just your muscles. It gets you motivation that you can do this.
It may seem stupid at first, but you will see progress. You won't understand until you're in it.
It may seem stupid to start so simple. You may think "How will I ever get there if I'm doing this?". One day while working on pull-ups, something changed. It was easy. My arms felt different as I pulled my chest up to the bar. They felt solid and strong. It was one little muscle (not so little anymore) by my elbow that made all the difference. It felt good.
That day I realized that there is something to this called process. You may have to blindly trust it. But if you do, you will see results. And you won't really know what the results are or feel like until you experience it for yourself.
You will fail and might not know why. Keep at it and you will get there.
Not all results are created equal. The feeling of strength in my arms was one quick win...but they're not all that way. Yesterday I was working on handstand pushups (against a wall). I started fully extended, bent my arms to touch my head to the ground, then pushed with my arms back up. After a few, I got stuck. I couldn't do any more. I tried to fuel more energy to my muscles but they just wouldn't move. It was weird...nothing hurt. Nothing was sore or aching. I was just frozen mid push-up.
This was failure. I couldn't move and I didn't know why. Which muscles were failing? I had no idea. Was I fatigued? No I felt fine. (And today I'm not sore at all.) I came off the wall and decided that was enough of those for the day. One thing is for sure though: I'm going to keep going. And I know I'll be able to do 15 in a row. Previous steps in my workout have taken me months to achieve, and all with the same feeling of failing, not really know why my body was failing, but knowing that persistence will win me achievement.
I used to look at where I wanted to be and think "it'd be nice if..." or "I wish I could...". Now, I look at where I want to be and think "it'll take time and effort but I know I can do it".
You're excited and want to get others to this way of living...but they're too stuck in their ways.
When passionate about something positive, you will naturally want to share it with others and convince them to join you. I've started training many friends along the way. Unfortunately, we never got much past the start. Truth is, they don't want it like I do. They don't care about it like I do. They don't see or feel the value of the end result (because they haven't done enough of the process yet). Sure I could have spent more time convincing and selling the idea, but sorry, it's not worth my time.
Do it for you. You'll probably be alone, and thats ok.
Eventually, I decided to heck with workout buddies, I'm doing this for me. My fitness level is in the 1% because my dedication to getting there is in the 1%. You won't find many peers among friends and that's ok. You will start out alone...but go at it enough and you will find others with the same mindset (hello TFF). They can motivate, inspire, and maybe even guide you...but its still up to you to do the work.
There is always the next level.
But here's the good news...the journey is limitless. Is one-arm pushups the end? No, what about three-finger pushups? Are free-standing handstands the end? No, what about one-arm handstands. Then one-arm handstand pushups? The list is virtually limitless. It will take years, but its achievable. Its just up to you high high you want to aim.
My workout journey started two years ago. When I first read TMF a couple months ago, it just made sense. The lessons I had learned in fitness were now applicable to finance and freedom. It opened my eyes, and with effort, will open my life.
Onwards and upwards.
Getting in shape, and I mean really good shape, better than most, has been an amazing journey for me. Its taken effort, determination, time, and going against the grain, but it was and still is worth it. Apart from achieving my fitness goals, its has taught me lessons regarding process that will serve me a lifetime.
I always wish I could...
I've always wanted to be able to hold a handstand. Of course I tried multiple times when I was younger but just fell over. I never committed to learning how. Today, not only can I hold a handstand (though I'm still improving it). I can hold the human flag. I can do one-arm pushups (feet together!). I can do pistol squats. I have a crazy 6-pack plus a mini 6-pack on my back. Its amazing how my body feels today but its something I can't explain.
What's more amazing is how the process philosophy to achieve this carries over to anything.
Start small and easy...very small and easy.
Start small and easy. No one just decides to get in shape and instantly starts doing one-arm pushups. I started this journey literally doing pushups against a wall. Tell any gym-going buff to start there and they'll laugh at you. But its very important to start small. It gets you good form. It gets you quick wins. It builds strength in more than just your muscles. It gets you motivation that you can do this.
It may seem stupid at first, but you will see progress. You won't understand until you're in it.
It may seem stupid to start so simple. You may think "How will I ever get there if I'm doing this?". One day while working on pull-ups, something changed. It was easy. My arms felt different as I pulled my chest up to the bar. They felt solid and strong. It was one little muscle (not so little anymore) by my elbow that made all the difference. It felt good.
That day I realized that there is something to this called process. You may have to blindly trust it. But if you do, you will see results. And you won't really know what the results are or feel like until you experience it for yourself.
You will fail and might not know why. Keep at it and you will get there.
Not all results are created equal. The feeling of strength in my arms was one quick win...but they're not all that way. Yesterday I was working on handstand pushups (against a wall). I started fully extended, bent my arms to touch my head to the ground, then pushed with my arms back up. After a few, I got stuck. I couldn't do any more. I tried to fuel more energy to my muscles but they just wouldn't move. It was weird...nothing hurt. Nothing was sore or aching. I was just frozen mid push-up.
This was failure. I couldn't move and I didn't know why. Which muscles were failing? I had no idea. Was I fatigued? No I felt fine. (And today I'm not sore at all.) I came off the wall and decided that was enough of those for the day. One thing is for sure though: I'm going to keep going. And I know I'll be able to do 15 in a row. Previous steps in my workout have taken me months to achieve, and all with the same feeling of failing, not really know why my body was failing, but knowing that persistence will win me achievement.
I used to look at where I wanted to be and think "it'd be nice if..." or "I wish I could...". Now, I look at where I want to be and think "it'll take time and effort but I know I can do it".
You're excited and want to get others to this way of living...but they're too stuck in their ways.
When passionate about something positive, you will naturally want to share it with others and convince them to join you. I've started training many friends along the way. Unfortunately, we never got much past the start. Truth is, they don't want it like I do. They don't care about it like I do. They don't see or feel the value of the end result (because they haven't done enough of the process yet). Sure I could have spent more time convincing and selling the idea, but sorry, it's not worth my time.
Do it for you. You'll probably be alone, and thats ok.
Eventually, I decided to heck with workout buddies, I'm doing this for me. My fitness level is in the 1% because my dedication to getting there is in the 1%. You won't find many peers among friends and that's ok. You will start out alone...but go at it enough and you will find others with the same mindset (hello TFF). They can motivate, inspire, and maybe even guide you...but its still up to you to do the work.
There is always the next level.
But here's the good news...the journey is limitless. Is one-arm pushups the end? No, what about three-finger pushups? Are free-standing handstands the end? No, what about one-arm handstands. Then one-arm handstand pushups? The list is virtually limitless. It will take years, but its achievable. Its just up to you high high you want to aim.
My workout journey started two years ago. When I first read TMF a couple months ago, it just made sense. The lessons I had learned in fitness were now applicable to finance and freedom. It opened my eyes, and with effort, will open my life.
Onwards and upwards.
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