Mind over matter

I recently encountered this meme while exploring the digital world:

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This is true.

Basically, any type of self-improvement is first and foremost a mental challenge. Stripped down to the basics, humans are ultimately a combination of habits and perceptions. How we perceive ourselves will determine the habits we develop, and thus how we live our lives. So the very first step to changing ourselves is to recognize the NEED to change. The second step is to BELIEVE that we can. And finally, we must COMMIT to the change. Each aspect of this process has its challenges. Sometimes the hardest step is the first step … thus the process never begins. But for many, it is really the second step that is the hardest to overcome.

No matter how we may recognize the need to improve something about ourselves, we will NEVER be able to grow if we do not BELIEVE that we can. We won’t even start doing what is needed if we do not believe it will work. And even if we believe enough to commit to change, commitment requires CONTINUED belief. In ourselves and in our ability to grow. Everyone comes with built-in limits. Ironically, the hardest ones to overcome are the ones we impose on ourselves.

The ultimate difference between an athlete with an “amazing body”, and an “average”, slightly overweight or unfit person is really attitude.

Sure every body is different. Sure some come to muscles or weight loss easier than others. But what really makes it happen is the simple fact that they believe in themselves, and DO it. Instead of stopping themselves short with “I can’t do this,” they try harder. Few of us are really ware of what we are capable of, primarily because we hold ourselves back. We psyche ourselves out.

I’ll give an example right now. How many push ups can you do? Try it. When you reach the number you THINK you can do, do just one more. I will be willing to bet if allowed, that one more will happen. The key is to not convince ourselves that we cannot. This applies in ALL aspects of our life … not just the physical.

I learned this following mantra in my own journey to self- improvement, and it is really one of the cores of my own personal growth:

MY BODY IS NOT ME … IT IS MINE.

MY EMOTIONS ARE NOT ME … THEY ARE MINE.

MY MIND IS NOT ME … IT IS MINE.

Only WE can decide who and what we will become. And ultimately, only WE can stop ourselves from achieving our own potential. Once we have accepted this simple fact … there really are NO limits.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!