Whatever we want to achieve, we need to strive to break through — to wherever we can reach. I’m not saying that you need to immediately break down a wall. Not at all. And very often, many processes, especially those related to adaptation (for example, the body), need to be implemented gradually. But the key point is that we always need to have a larger picture in mind.
For example, weight loss. The concept that I have realized today on a physical level fits perfectly into the idea of motivation in the process of working on the body. Motivation has been talked about — over-talked about. And of course, the main elements of motivation in some physical transformations should be, firstly, the realization that something needs to be done, and secondly, realizing what needs to be done. At first glance, these two things seem completely identical, but they are not. The first is the realization that, in order to change something, you need to act. The second is about realizing that action itself is the key task. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter what action you take. Sometimes, even one small action is enough, which later grows into something bigger. But it’s not enough to realize that action is necessary. YOU NEED TO MOVE AND ACT. Start with whatever you can. Another thing to understand is that if you force yourself to do something, sooner or later, without proper support, you will face a breakdown. Support is necessary: either your own or from your environment, but it must be there in some form. But even support cannot always prevent the fact that, sooner or later, someone who forces themselves to do something will experience a strong backlash, often with the same force they used to push themselves. The key point here is to transform this “forcing” into something that, instead of resistance, will provide momentum, a boost. That could be the “larger” picture. It doesn’t matter how quickly we move toward what is “behind the punching bag”; we need to keep hitting — consistently. And feel empowered by realizing how much more we can do than we ever thought we could.
A person is capable of a lot. Even just accepting this fact is necessary to achieve anything. It doesn’t mean you should immediately get up and run a marathon. Get up and run at least five meters. Tomorrow, run five and a half. Or maybe again, just five. Run as much as you can. Know that one day, you will run a marathon. I guarantee that. But I’m not asking you to run it in a year. Everyone has their own pace. Run five meters today. Try six tomorrow. Can’t do six? Run five again. Sometimes, you’ll only manage four. That’s fine, tomorrow you’ll try five again. And one day you’ll realize that five meters is boring, and you’ll want ten. You’ll run ten and feel the rush, and you’ll want 15. The key is to keep the marathon in your mind — then progress will happen. However slow it may be. Even if you only manage to run your marathon at 60! That’s not important. What matters is that the marathon has always been in your mind. Even if, in the end, you lie on your deathbed and never run your marathon. I GUARANTEE that, looking back, you’ll proudly say to yourself: “I did something every day to reach my marathon. I didn’t give up, I didn’t stop, I didn’t lie down, I didn’t stuff myself with pastries instead, I pushed through my five meters with all my strength.” And you’ll realize that the most beautiful part of this journey toward the marathon wasn’t the marathon itself, but what you did — and what you did on the way there. That’s what you’ll remember. That’s what will always drive you. The fact that you did something. And every time, you tried to do just a little bit more.
That’s what makes us respect ourselves. And respect for ourselves raises our self-esteem. Self-respect opens up endless possibilities. And gives us endless strength.
Run your five meters every day, and each new day, increase the distance just a little. Let the big Marathon live in your mind. Run, Forest!
YOU CAN DO IT!