Fit for Life: Ready to Quit?

Fit for Life: Ready to Quit?

I have been in the fitness business for over 25 years now, and it still baffles me to this day why people quit on themselves when it comes to achieving their goals.

 

You see the quotes on social media all the time:

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"Things may take a long time, but quitting never speeds it up." 

Or, "We miss on 100% of the things we quit."

"You cannot fail unless you quit."...

"Every time you quit, someone else gets your prize. ...

"Failing is not the worst thing in the world; quitting is."...

 

Yes, those quotes are accurate and sometimes motivating, but they don't expose the REAL reasons people give up on themselves. We all know that life is hard, and to achieve a certain level of success, we must do difficult tasks.

 

So why is it so easy to give up on our hopes and dreams and take the path of least resistance? 

The following comes from Jason Redman, a retired Navy Seal who was severely wounded during a combat mission protecting our country. He now coaches people, writes books, and speaks to thousands about overcoming adversity. 

 

He writes:

Quitting is done in a moment of physical, mental, or emotional turmoil. It is driven by an unrelenting desire to stop the stress, pain, or discomfort. 

People quit at the moment without much thought of the long-term impacts of their decision. They just want immediate relief.

 

I have rarely seen this deliver success. Successful people understand that pain and discomfort are where growth occurs.

 

However, successful people also understand that when we are not getting the desired results because the world, our goals, or our environment have changed, then there is a time to stop doing some things.

 

I read this several times, and it always reiterates the point that we are prone to making permanent decisions based on temporary feelings. It also says that change isn't the same as quitting and that we need a different approach when something isn't working. 

 

So now we have a definition of why people quit, I want to share some tools that have worked for me when I have felt like quitting, and hopefully, you can apply these strategies to work for you. 

As a side note, there have been many instances in my life where I have felt like throwing in the towel and taking the easy way out, but I remember my grandfather telling me about his early years and war stories from the Navy. When I reflect back on his past, I tell myself that if he did what he did, I don't have the right to quit. 

 

I have acquired some other tools over the years that keep me in the game.

 

The Power of One More is a book by Ed Mylett, a renowned speaker and mega entrepreneur. In the book, he talks about doing just one more. One more rep in the gym. One more sales call. One more gratuity text. Etc. When I did the Spartan Death race, I wrote "one more" on my arm with a sharpie, so when I thought I couldn't take another step due to the excruciating pain I was in, I kept telling myself one more, over and over again. I didn't finish the race, but I didn't quit.

 

Think of the contrasting outcomes: When the thought of quitting occurs to me, I look at what happens when I don't vs. what will happen if I do. When it comes to your workout program, think six months ahead and project what your future self will look like if you give up. Then, visualize how much closer to your goal you will be if you don't quit on yourself.

 

Self-talk that you don't quit: Make it a nonnegotiable in your life that you won't quit anything that will deliver a positive outcome in your life, regardless of how hard things get. A fitness routine, starting a business, and taking a college course are all things that will get difficult but will net you a positive result as long as you keep moving forward and don't quit.

 

Tell yourself that you are not special and entitled to an easy life. When I need to open the gym and drive to work at 4:30 am, I ask myself why I am doing this. I want to be home sleeping. Then I drive by a trash truck or notice lights on in other people's houses, and tell myself, "You are not special; others are doing it, so why do you think you are entitled to stay in bed?" That changes my perspective, grounds me, and motivates me to keep going. 

 

The difference between quitting and making changes is a huge contrast. 

If you hate a job because of unfavorable conditions (not because it's challenging), you can quit it and find another one. You are not giving up; you are just making changes. Nobody needs to be unhappy or treated unfairly, as it's our duty and obligation to persevere in life and not be held back by someone else. 

 

If you are a business owner, it's okay to abort the things that are causing you to lose money and find other alternatives, as opposed to closing your doors because things are getting difficult. There is a big difference. One is acceptable, and the other isn't.

 

We all have what it takes deep inside of us. As humans, we are resilient and will do what it takes to survive and thrive. The difference between success and failure in life is the ability to overcome obstacles and keep going. 

 

Yes, sometimes we fail even when we work hard and don't quit; however, if we take that failure and learn from it, stay in the game, and keep driving, we will find success. If we quit, our chances of success are zero.

 

Committed to your success,

Matt