“This weight is too heavy!” My client struggled to complete the last few reps of her exercise. As she finished, I casually grabbed the 20lb weight from her to put back on the shelf. There was a 45lb dumbbell sitting in the spot where it belonged, so I lifted that dumbbell to put it in its proper place on the bottom shelf. My client watched me and then mentioned the ease at which I moved the 45lb dumbbell. “Wow, you lifted that like it was nothing,” she said. I told her it was because I sometimes use weights even heavier than that one, so the 45lb was lighter in comparison. She paused for a second before quietly mentioning that maybe she should use heavier weights when she works out. When it came time for her next set, I handed her a 25lb dumbbell, five pounds heavier than the one she had previously used. Now, she lifted with a new intensity, using a dumbbell heavier than the one that was TOO HEAVY just seconds before. What changed? Her mind. She believed she could do it, so she did.
Many of my clients HATE when I increase their weight. But I only do it because I know they can. I see the potential to achieve more, to get a little more uncomfortable to make a little more progress. Through the moans and complaints, most times, I am able to show them that the weight they were using before was too light. No challenge, no change. How does this relate to life?
We shortchange ourselves. We think small, we live small, and we don’t stretch ourselves to become more. We have big dreams and big goals, but we talk ourselves out of them. We stick with what’s safe and what’s comfortable and rarely make a consistent effort to really step outside the box and go after what we want. Why not? Because we doubt ourselves. We’re not sure we can do it. And instead of trying, and possibly failing or even possibly succeeding, we’d rather stick to what we know we can do, even if it limits our growth.
What are you thinking yourself out of? What will you think yourself into? Your thoughts control EVERTHING. Every action is initiated by a single thought. Control your thoughts to control your actions to control your outcomes.
This week, make a decision to do something that will take you a little outside of your comfort zone and move you in the direction of your goals. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Even the smallest steps add up over time. The most important part is controlling your thoughts. Because whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right!
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