Never Stranded

"...As this dusty road now settles

And I see what lay before,

Every tear that held a broken dream

Is now shattered on the floor.

And now bursting forth in splendor

Are the blossoms of second tries..." 

 -Moving Forward by Colony House

It's hard to FindYes personally or professionally after months of feeling stuck.  Just when I thought my injuries and obstacles were fading, new ones arose.  I find myself going to even more specialists sacrificing precious time I'd rather spend working or working out.  I feel lame and worried.  But, I know that is quicksand for me.

How could I turn these NOs into YES?  The tactics I usually use: managing stress through cardio, training for a race, or tackling a new mountain or stretch of beach seem so out of reach.  So, I started with a list.  A list of everything that wasn't working.  My NO list.  In my own training and training my clients I find that we have a really hard time with setting constructive goals.  We are much better at getting specific about "the bad stuff."  That's trouble if all we do is endlessly cycle through our fears and frustrations, never taking any action (except eating which is worse than inertia.)  But, making a NO list as a way to get unstuck works.  It helps us prioritize and identify next steps. Even if you're skeptical, try it.  What is holding you back today?  Is it physical, like pain, illness, or sleep deprivation?  Is it logistics, like running out of time or not having the budget for the programs you really need whether they are fitness or nutrition services or help with kids, chores, etc.  Maybe it's more internal, like holding on to behaviors that sabotage your health and fitness.  Don't buy another book, video or diet without making this list.  Don't borrow someone else's path or priorities.  Take five minutes and ask yourself-- if you could change three things to make fitness easier what would they be?  That's how we get to YES!