Why you give up.

My gym philosophy is simple. Never say you can’t, and never give up on the person you were when you walked through the doors on the first day. That person wants and needs you to succeed or they never would’ve shown up. When I don’t see someone in the gym for a while, I take it personally, because not only are they giving up on themselves, but they’re giving up on my gyms ability to show them what they can become. What happens is they get motivated and start hitting the gym, see some progress, but make very little changes outside the gym to breed more progress and plateau. Or, they get an injury or suffer a setback and slide back into old habits, old negative thoughts, and they’re back to their old weight. They avoid topics of health and fitness and may even lash out if someone brings it up. They speak less and less to their positive health minded friends and most of them won’t even clap for the progress of said friends because it’s hard to be happy for someone that’s accomplishing what you gave up on. Ouch. That one probably hurt huh? No one likes to be slapped in the face with the truth because it usually involves having to admit something that makes you feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. When my fight coach started making me sparr strictly southpaw I avoided going to sparr training and he reached out and said, “You don’t like it because it’s your vulnerable side, it’s uncomfortable because it’s your weakness…your opponent is going to be looking for all those things to use against you & defeat you….so it’s best to train your weaknesses to become your strengths.” I didn’t listen at the time because I wasn’t in the right mindset to admit I had weaknesses. But his words echoed so much I was forced to reflect. Admit he was 100% right….and decide what my next move was….run away from it because it was the more comfortable Choice, or rise to it and ride through the uncomforts of a challenge until I come out the otherside. One choice is sacrificing my growth and potential for the mercy of easement. The other sacrificing the comfort of ease to apply my potential and commit to my growth. I chose to be uncomfortable. I chose growth. Because I knew the discomfort of building upon my strengths would be much more rewarding. Because I know the discomfort is temporary. It’s beats the discomfort of watching my friends conquer while I feign happiness for them and struggle with self confidence because I gave up, for the sanctity of my comfort. So…if you’re the one trying to give up, I want you to know what you’re giving up and why. You’re not simply giving up a gym or stronger body. You’re giving up on your potential to turn your physical & mental weaknesses into strengths…your goals into accomplishments which turn your self doubts into self confidence. That confidence will change your entire life outside the gym. You’re giving it all up because it’s uncomfortable and it’s demanding more from you than you are willing to give. You are giving up on you. Not the gym, not the body, but YOU. So if this one hits close to home, don’t get bitter…get better.