There’s a quote that has had a massive positive impact on my choices since I saw it earlier in the week.
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The quote is from Jocko Willink – I just picked up his latest book, Discipline Equals Freedom, and it’s full of direct, aggressive motivation & inspiration. Sensitive souls might skip this one 😉
Here’s where most people go wrong with quotes: they don’t do anything with them. They don’t take action. It’s like riding a wave in the ocean: you feel something but not much happens and it’s a very short ride.
Motivation has to be acted upon.
In his book The Motivation Manifesto, Brendon Burchard explains that there are elements of motivation, just like there are phases of fire.
You can strike a match and produce a flame but if you don’t act on it, it will extinguish on it’s own very quickly.
You have to act in order to sustain and amplify the flame.
This is just as true with motivation. The spark won’t last unless you get involved. Unless you take action. You have to do work to sustain & amplify any spark of motivation.
Quotes like this one give us a spark but what are we doing with it?
With my Fat Loss Fast Track clients I often refer to the “red flag of negotiation” – that moment when we realize we’re trying to justify, rationalize or talk ourselves into a choice that doesn’t reflect our goals.
That’s where I’m using this quote.
When I recognize the red flag of negotiation, I ask “what is driving this choice?“
Is this a choice based on convenience? Impulse? Desire? Laziness? Fear?
Is that what I want driving my choices?
What would the choice look like if it was driven by my goals? What would the choice look like if it was driven by my very best self?
What’s driving your choice? What do you want to be driving your choices?
What are you doing with the sparks of motivation that come into your life?
This week I’ve had a bunch of one-on-one calls with folks who attended ASCEND, the Primal Potential weekend workshop in early November. Today, those calls had a powerful theme:
The circumstances we use to justify our choices and our commitment & attachment to those stories.
There are a couple aspects of a choice: the setup for the choice & the choice itself.
When we desire change, we often focus on changing the choice itself – we want to eat less, move more, reduce sugar, etc.
However, a more effective approach might be to change the setup. More specifically, it is likely more effective to stop committing to the story you use to justify the choice.
Not sure what this looks like? Tune in to today’s episode for examples & strategies!
In October 2019, our relationship with Thrive Market changed. They decided to put their marketing dollars in avenues outside of podcasting but we still think they’re a good choice if you’re looking to save money on health & personal care products.
It’s a harsh question, but I hope you’ll keep an open mind because this could be the very thing that launches you into sustainable success.
Here’s what it means for your ego to keep you fat…
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Let’s think about ego as the way we protect ourselves. No doubt there are 100 ways to define or describe ego but let’s roll with the thoughts & stories we use to protect ourselves.
For example…
“I’m too busy to workout” or “I don’t have time to prepare fat loss friendly foods” are both self-preserving ego statements.
Instead of saying, “I’m not prioritizing fitness” or “I’m choosing to not make great food choices“, you’re wrapping a story or reason around your choices.
You’re letting yourself off the hook and blaming your circumstances instead of taking full responsiblity.
We do this to make ourselves feel better and it’s often subconscious. We’re justifying & rationalizing, both of which are ego-driven behaviors.
At ASCEND, I challenged everyone to think about if they were being led by their past or their potential.
I’ll challege you to think if you’re being led by your limits or your potential.
Saying “I don’t have time” or “I’m too busy” is choosing to be led by your limits.
Alternatively, saying “I’ll find a way” or “I’m going to prioritze this” reflects being led by your potential.
When you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them.
If you say you don’t have time, you aren’t looking for time.
If you say you don’t have the motivation, you are trying to create it.
If you say you’re inconsistent, you aren’t fighting for consistency.
I want to challenge you to allow your potential to guide your decisions, not your past.
I want to challenge you to own your choices & take full responsibility instead of blaming your circumstances.
Keep your ego out of objective ownership of your choices.
I’ve been inspired by everyone’s holiday posts on social media! I’m borrowing the idea of a list based on something you want, something need, something to wear & something to read.
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I’m gonna tackle this from two perspectives – my own personal list and my recommendations for others.
Elizabeth’s List
Want: What I want most is everyone who is able to make an appointment to give blood. Please don’t get caught up in the tangible gifts that you overlook our incredible opportunity to give the gift of life. Literally. It’s amazing that we are all capable of giving the gift of life. Your 30-minute appointment for blood donation can save someone’s life! There are travel & health restrictions, but please, if you are eligible, commit to donate blood in the next 30 days. Please visit the Red Cross to find a blood drive near you & schedule your appointment.
Need: I need new towels for my tiny house! My bathroom will be blue and white so I’m thinking white towels are probably the most versatile. Lame, huh? I’m quite practical!
Want: Connection! I encourage you to seek out connection and time together and prioritize that over gift giving! Go skiing, play a game, build a snow fort – do anything that creates connection! If I have to go with something tangible, I’ll share with you the very best bottle of wine I’ve had all year. For those of you who like dry, bold, punch-you-in-the-face reds, you’ve got to try Les Copains D’Abord! I’m struggling to find a place to buy it online, but if you can find it, let me know!
Wear: I mentioned the new Under Armour TB12 recovery sleepwear and I’m so in love with it! It’s light & comfortable and if it helps with recovery, I’m all about it! I sleep in it every night!
Read: In the fiction category, if you haven’t read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, it’s my favorite of all time.
You can have ambitious goals and pure intentions but if you’re eating mindlessly, without paying attention, you’re going to struggle to achieve them.
How do we transition from randomly grabbing a handful of crackers or a piece of candy without thinking to intentionally fueling our body by conscious choice?
If you can break the habit (and you can) of eating in front of the tv, while you’re driving or from random bags & boxes, your physical progress will increase dramatically.
Today we are talking about tactical strategies to eliminate mindless eating & overcoming the obstacles to executing these strategies on a daily basis.
In October 2019, our relationship with Thrive Market changed. They decided to put their marketing dollars in avenues outside of podcasting but we still think they’re a good choice if you’re looking to save money on health & personal care products.
