Doing It Anyway

Chances are, here on the third Monday of the year, you might be tired.

You might have set some goals at the beginning of the year and then got busy, doing lots of new action and work. And now you are tired. And chances are, that even with all your hard work and energy, you aren't seeing any signs of progress yet.

This is the way of it.

Physical progress towards our goals is never as fast as our brains want it to be.

And so we give up, citing a lack of evidence. We start thinking, "We're not getting anywhere. It's not working. I must be doing it wrong. Why do I even try?" or something similar.

I started a new exercise program two weeks ago. It's something I've never done before. It is different than any other workout I've ever tried. And so my brain is desperately looking for evidence that it is working. My brain wants to know my effort isn't futile. My brain guards my effort and energy like it's its job. (Thanks, brain.)

What I have decided is that I'm doing it anyway. I'm committed for 12 weeks. Regardless of results or outcomes or visible progress.

This allows me to stop arguing with my brain. When my brain brings it up its doubts about my progress again—and it will—I just say, "I've already decided."

And then I move on and get to work.

Try just committing. You can completely ignoring your brain's need to "see progress" in order to continue.

Day to day, progress is insignificant.

What your brain doesn't know is that it is also irrelevant.

Decide. And do it anyway.

xo,

April

P.S. This week on the podcast I talked about the critical role our beliefs play in our ability to reach our goals.

If you have a goal that seems impossible, how do you develop belief in your ability to achieve it—how do you believe the impossible? This week I'll give you three tips that will help. You can check it out here.