“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are” — J. Pierpont Morgan, American financier and investment banker
Photo by Damian Markutt on Unsplash
Of course, we would have January for a theme of revitalization!
But revitalization comes back to something more profound than a calendar date at which to make a change. It comes back to the desire for change – or more appropriately stated – improvement.
I recently read a line that captures the sentiment. “If necessity is the mother of invention, then discontent is the mother of change.” None of us really enjoy change, but most of us are always seeking improvement. Meaningfully, the discontent I am speaking about does not come from boredom with a comfortable situation, but from the desire to realize a better version of what can be. Whether that relates to our physical, behavioral, financial, intellectual, or relational health.
When JP Morgan spoke about the first step of deciding “that you are not going to stay where you are,” he was addressing that desire to improve upon what is. The next step then extends to determining what you are going to do to get to your “somewhere” and following through with action. Perhaps that first step was deciding you need to strengthen your relationship with your parents, or perhaps with your grown children. Then the next step is calling them. And not just once but setting a calendar reminder to call them every week or other week. Or setting aside a weekend to travel to be with them in person to spend not just quality time but quantity time with them. (I know, we’re just coming off the holiday season where we probably got a good dose of time with lots of folks – but there’s always the opportunity to work on a couple of those relationships).
When it comes to our physical fitness and well-being, that may be an area where on one hand it would seem the most easily approached area of revitalization, yet it can be one that is most easily set aside or skipped. To help with that, here are a few simple items to revitalize your approach to fitness:
- Meal planning: Look at where you are with your meal planning and think about one simple thing you could do to improve it. If you don’t make a meal plan at all, you don’t have to suddenly start crafting recipes for every meal through the month. Just sit each Saturday and write out what the evening meals will be for the following week. That simple step will get you to think about nutrition and the food you put into your body. If you’re already doing so, think about what the next step is you could take to make those meals healthier.
- Write down what days you will exercise: If you’re starting from nothing, simply write down and commit to a day a week of a structured activity. If you’re already setting aside the time to exercise, write down what you want to get from each exercise session. The writing down is important as it helps make it a tacit and tangible commitment we are making to ourselves.
- Increase the quality of the exercise you’re doing. If you’re starting from nothing, just get up and do something! If you’re already working out 5 days a week, think about (or talk to us!) about how you can make those days more effective. Who knows, you might even be able to gain some time back!
Here’s a shameless plug – we are specifically here to help with this! Which is why we’ve launched a 30 day transformation program including nutrition coaching and accountability sessions to help you revitalize that pursuit of fitness. If you’re interested, shoot a note back and we can arrange a call to discuss your needs and how we can help!
One last thing – HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!