Note 029
Here I go again…
Listening to YouTube.
I was watching a young woman asking for advice about getting back on track with her fitness and, more importantly, sticking to her goals.
The woman giving her advice asked her if she was in school.
She said yes.
She asked if she graduated.
She said yes—and that she had just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience.
First of all…
Congratulations!
That’s no small accomplishment.
The woman told her she was proud of her and then asked her something that made the young woman stop and think.
She basically said:
You were disciplined for four years to earn that degree.
You had a goal.
You had a plan.
You knew what courses you needed to take.
You had semesters mapped out.
You showed up.
You studied.
You took exams.
You kept going even when you probably didn’t feel like it.
You had a destination.
And then she asked:
If you can be disciplined for four years to earn a college degree, why can’t you be disciplined enough to reach your fitness goals?
The young woman smiled.
And said:
“You’re right.”
And there went my overthinking mind.
Because I immediately started thinking…
This isn’t just about fitness.
This applies to so many areas of our lives.
How many times have we convinced ourselves that we’re not disciplined?
“I can’t stick with anything.”
“I always quit.”
“I don’t have the motivation.”
“I’m just not consistent.”
But wait a minute.
Have you ever finished something difficult?
Did you graduate?
Did you raise children?
Did you complete a degree?
Did you survive a difficult season?
Did you save money for something you really wanted?
Did you build a career?
Did you stick with a relationship through difficult seasons?
Did you learn a skill?
Did you start a business?
Did you finally accomplish something you once thought was impossible?
Because if you’ve done something that required persistence, patience, discipline and commitment…
Guess what?
You already have those qualities inside of you.
Maybe you just aren’t using them in the area you’re struggling with right now.
And I think that’s the part that really got me.
We sometimes look at the thing we’re currently struggling with and decide:
“I don’t have discipline.”
But maybe the better question is:
“Where have I already proven that I do?”
Think about it.
Maybe you’ve been disciplined in your career but not your finances.
Maybe you’ve been disciplined with everyone else but yourself.
Maybe you’ve stuck with motherhood through some of the hardest days imaginable but can’t seem to stick with your personal goals.
Maybe you committed to getting your degree but can’t seem to commit to your health.
Maybe you’ve been persistent in relationships but gave up on a dream.
Maybe you’ve spent years taking care of everybody else but haven’t been able to make yourself a priority.
The ability is there.
You’ve just got to dig it back out.
And no, I’m not saying getting healthy is as simple as getting a degree.
It isn’t.
Life doesn’t work that neatly.
We have different circumstances, responsibilities, setbacks, emotions and seasons.
But the lesson is still worth remembering:
You’ve done hard things before.
So when you’re standing in front of another goal wondering if you can do it, don’t only think about how far you have to go.
Think about where you’ve already been.
Remember the version of you who didn’t quit.
Remember the time you kept going when you were tired.
Remember when you wanted to give up but didn’t.
Remember the thing you accomplished that once felt impossible.
That woman is still in there.
You don’t need to become disciplined.
You need to remember that you already know how to be disciplined.
Pull out the persistence.
Pull out the courage.
Pull out the patience.
Pull out the consistency.
Pull out that stubborn little voice that says:
“We’re finishing this.”
And then take the next step.
Not 20 steps.
Not the entire staircase.
Just the next one.
A Note for Today
Before you decide you can’t stick with something, remember something you once committed to and finished.
You have evidence that you can follow through.
You have evidence that you can learn.
You have evidence that you can persevere.
You have evidence that you can do hard things.
So maybe this isn’t about becoming a completely different person.
Maybe it’s about bringing the disciplined version of you from one area of your life into another.
Whatever journey you’re on right now…
Keep going.
You’ve done hard things before.
You can do another one.
Until the next note,
Your Resident Overthinker