This Is Not A Fitness Post
This may look like it’s a fitness post, but it’s not really a fitness post. It’s more about the process we go through to achieve our goals in general and appreciating our progress along the way.
The picture that you see at the top of this blog is one that was taken maybe a little over three years ago. That was a time in which I was extremely fit and pushing myself even further in those pursuits each day and week. While I felt pretty good about it, I also recall that it never felt like it was enough. I kept pushing and pushing to tweak this and this and this. And while it is necessary to strive for improvement to reach a place of excellence, it’s also important to check in on the motivators that are driving you there. During that time, a little over three years ago, that motivator was that I’m not good enough – hard stop. A better reflection at that time might have been, I’m not qualified to compete at an elite level, however I’m feeling strong, fit and healthy.
I could have also reflected on where I was at when I began those workouts, which was also pretty fit, running regularly, good energy levels, but maybe lacking in strength and endurance. Even when I would look at where I began, it was still never enough, and truly, acknowledgement of your progress is essential.
So why am I writing about something from over three years ago? I noticed that I was facing this same pattern when I started doing HIIT workouts at the gym four weeks ago. From a positive standpoint, this was the first time that I was able to complete a work out of this type since a difficult pregnancy and delivery 18 months ago. To realize that I was able to make it to more than one workout within the same week (rather than take another couple of weeks to recover from not listening to my body) was a huge step in my physical recovery – BUT - my overriding feeling was one of frustration. I was frustrated because I wasn’t at the level that I was at three years ago and I kept thinking about all the things I used to be able to do and I wasn’t taking into account everything that had happened in between that time and this time.
I kept going to the workouts, persevering and keeping to myself while struggling through the workouts and feeling mildly accomplished, but there was something missing; the modifications that I was doing to accommodate my limitations weren’t allowing me to maximize what I was actually able to do. I hadn’t communicated fully to the trainer who was leading the classes about what my specific limitations were, and thus wasn’t taking full advantage of the help that was at my disposal. I finally brushed my ego aside one day and decided to reach out to the trainer and let her know exactly why I couldn’t lunge or plank in a certain way and took the time to fully explain all of the injuries that I received last year, which gave her a more holistic understanding to be able to help me move forward and progress in a much better way. Reaching out for help was one of the best things that I could do to counter my frustration with my perception of slow progress and also give me a reality check that I am doing quite well.
Let’s rewind a bit in this though; what stopped me from asking for help in the first place? I’m sure there were lots of factors, but the first one was that I didn’t want to draw attention to my perceived flaws, as well as the fact that I felt like I had enough knowledge from my previous fitness teaching experience to deal with it on my own. While I know a significant amount about fitness, this is not the best time to apply this knowledge because I’m not able to see my blind spots! Oh hello there ego!
So when I said that this wasn’t a fitness post, I meant it. In life, fitness, spirituality, business and relationships, Coaches help you pinpoint areas that you improve, learn and grow, whether it’s mindset, energy, nutrition, meditation, strategic planning etc. Asking for help, seeking guidance or mentorship is not weakness, in fact it’s seen as strength and shows that you want to move forward, upward faster and with more consistent results. True leadership is shown by the support and systems put into place by the Leader - and you can't lead a team of one.
When I work with a client, I intuitively tune into their energy and patterns specifically with regards to the issue being brought to me from the client. I use a combination of intuition, NLP (Neuro-Linguisitc Programming), Hypnsosis and TimeLine Therapy to map out where to strengthen, focus and heal so that you can bring more balance, growth and ease to the goals that we identify at the start of our sessions.
We’re not here to go through it alone. What beliefs do you need to shift, what action can you take in service to your goals today? Maybe reaching out for support is the first step.
Xo Jessica