What it takes…

Let’s say that you decide to try a new hobby…or learn a new skill…or, how about start exercising…now, be honest with me, how long are you going to last? :-)

I will honestly say that I’ve probably given up on more things than I’ve stuck it out on. Why? Oh…I’ve got a great list of excuses right at hand! :-) And I bet you do too.

We live in a world where instant gratification is the name of the game. Where, as my 12 year old son put it, “30 seconds is TOO LONG to cook my food!”

We have instant messaging, text messaging, cell phones, On Demand TV, instant food, readymade snacks, 24 hour convenience, and pizza in 30 minutes or less. We have become a people attempting to move at the speed of light and if you can’t keep up…you get left behind.

What happened to the attitude of working on something until you were the best, no matter how long or how hard? Is that just too difficult to manage now?

I was just reading that the Phelps-fish started swimming and racing at age 7 and by age 10 was setting records. Today, at age 23, he’s the most winning Olympian in history. Think he had commitment to the long road?

I KNOW that everyone has had this experience. You get excited about doing or learning something and when you start, it’s all great and fun. Then, as you get a little bit further into it, you realize that it’s going to actually take work to succeed at this. And right at that moment is your crucial junction.

You either take the blue pill and find the appropriate excuse to just walk away and not try, or you take the red pill and suck it up, motivate yourself in any way you can, and do what it takes to succeed.

Are you a blue pill kinda person or a red pill?

Really…what I’m asking you is do you have the heart and courage to overcome whatever is placed in your way to get something that you want? Are you a fighter or a flee-er?

It seems that MOST people in our world today fall into the category of flee-er. Oh sure, there’s LOTS that we’d love to do or learn or achieve, but as soon as we start to think about it all this negativism comes rushing at us and our brain starts generating the excuses we need to slide by that negativism. It keeps us balanced and safe inside our little comfort zone. We don’t have to risk, we don’t have to fail, or even try.

Does that sound like a GOOD thing to you? Me either.

So, let’s do something fun. Find something that you want to do or learn. Anything. Think about doing it and pay attention to all the self talk and chatter that you start to get. List it all out on a piece of paper (or several if you’re like me). Stop when you’ve got most of it down. Now reread your list and “solve” every one of the items on your list.

No time? Make a schedule and stick to it so that you can MAKE time.
No teachers? Find some help on the Internet or in your local community. SOMEONE is around that can help.
No money? Figure out a way to do what you want with a smaller (or free) price tag. There are LOTS of ways to do this.
Too hard? Slap yourself a couple times…just to get rid of that feeling. :-) It’s only too hard if you LET it be. Remember this is going to be a process and a journey.

Now is YOUR crucial junction time. Are you going to stand up and take the red pill? Or are you going to set this one aside again and choke down that blue pill?

I hope that now, after you’ve taken care of your own excuses and your list of “why this can’t be done” that you’re able to reach out and actually start working for what you want. All you need to do is reach out, and KEEP reaching until you get it!

This is NOT a time for just a little attempt. Take the bull by those horns and hold on until you get what you want. Put some faith in yourself, steel up the ol backbone, and COMMIT to the long haul. The success that you gain will be worth ANYTHING you might have to go through.

By the way…I’m going to learn a new language. I’m thinking Spanish…hey; it’s the second language here in the states…especially Florida. :-) I’ve got my list taken care of and I’m taking the red pill.

Wanna join me? :-)