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You are here: Home / Self Help / Fitness / Setting Yourself Up to Succeed

Setting Yourself Up to Succeed

January 3, 2010 by Joi 10 Comments

Book links are usually affiliate links. This means I earn a small percentage when you click through and buy the book. This costs you nothing extra - it simply allows me to keep my cats in the lifestyle they're accustomed to.

There are certain things my husband says that I just tune out.  The whole money not growing on trees spiel has never amused me.  Truth be told, it depresses me. It’s akin to the “I’m not made of money, honey” statement.  The first time my husband pulled that one on me, I thought, “Yeah. Neither is my dad.” Do males have a code book or something?

I’m also weary of my husband’s driving instructions and commands to slow down.  He wants to take the sport out of the whole process and I’m having none of it.

While I’m on a roll, romantic comedies are not “stupid” and watching one WILL NOT cost him his man card. Whatever that is. He’s also wrong about shopping.  It most certainly is essential to go down every aisle, how else will you see if there’s anything you need?!  Generally, this is where I learn that he isn’t made of money, nor does it grow on trees, and that money won’t burn a hole in my pocket if it stays there longer than 24 hours. How does he know this?

I’ve given up on making sense out of a lot of the things out of the man’s mouth, but I’ve learned that  many of the things he says do make sense.  I was thinking about one of them recently.

He always says that you are only as good as the tools you surround yourself with.  That’s why he spares no expense on our home office technology, software, desks, and other necessities.  If you want to excel, you have to give yourself every advantage that you can. See, I do listen to some things.  It’s just a lovely little coincidence that this lesson involves spending money.

It’s a truth that everyone would do well to remember when confronting their New Year’s Resolutions and self improvement goals (at any time of the year, for that matter).  If you have a particular area that you want to improve or grow in, ask yourself the following question, “What will help me accomplish these goals?”  Think about it this way:  If you had everything you need to make your dreams come true, wouldn’t they be a reality now rather a resolution?

Very often what’s missing isn’t inside of us, it’s outside of us.

  • The woman trying to get fit and lose weight:  Maybe it isn’t her self-control, will-power, or eating that’s the real problem. Maybe she simply needs to burn more calories and would be a size 10 waiting to strut with an exercise bike, elliptical, or treadmill.
  • The man who’s trying to earn extra money with his blog:    Maybe a premium theme,  professional graphics, or even an seo consultant could push him over the hump.
  • The college student who is trying to carry an A average:  Maybe a great laptop computer and educational software would help with research, assignments, and papers.
  • The would-be-cook:  The Food Network combined with great kitchen gadgets, appliances, cookbooks, and (of course) a great spice rack will keep her or him inspired and cooking up a storm.
  • The individual who is about one traffic jam short of a meltdown:  Relax, Max! Seriously, anyone who experiences stress in their lives needs to surround themselves with things that make the stress slide off of their body:  Bird feeders and bird houses near a window, lavender-scented candles,  a beautiful cat,  desk top fountains, sound therapy, relaxation cds….  Stop going it alone – give yourself the edge you need to take off the edge.

As a golfer is only as good as his equipment, an individual is only as good as they set themselves up to be.

We’re past the holidays now – when your focus is on making everyone else’s faces light up. Now it’s time to be just a wee bit selfish; come on, just a wee bit. There’s a direct correlation between how good you can be to others and how good you are to yourself.  If you don’t take care of YOU, how in the world are you going to take care of anyone else. You have to be healthy, happy, and content first and foremost.

Granted, many times we have shortcomings and we often stand ridiculously in our own way.  Very often the problem does lie inside of us.  But not always.  Remember: If you had everything you need to make your dreams come true, wouldn’t they be a reality now rather a resolution?

Filed Under: Fitness, Positive Thought, Self Help Tagged With: Self Help, self improvement, self improvement advice, self improvement tips

Previous Post: « How Abraham Lincoln Would Have Approached New Year’s Resolutions
Next Post: A Grandfather’s Top Ten List That’s Pure Gold »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Quinn says

    January 3, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    While having the right tools for the job is important, I think all too often we say to our selves I could get in shape if I had this set of weights or I would do better in school if i had this gadget. The thing is if we are not willing to use our new tool to achieve our goals then it will turn in to a toy or sit in the corner gathering dust. A new tool can not is never the solution to a problem, the solution to the the problem is the willingness to use the tool.
    .-= Quinn´s last blog ..Letting my self be me =-.

  2. Steve @Life Change For You says

    January 4, 2010 at 7:19 am

    I agree that the right tools help. I think that deep down, we need to really understand why we want change and what that means to us.
    .-= Steve @Life Change For You´s last blog ..The Greatest of New Years! =-.

  3. joi says

    January 4, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    Steve,
    You are so right about the reasons. The Biggest Loser does as great a job of illustrating the importance of reasons as anyplace. If you don’t have clearly-defined “WHY”s – the HOWs aren’t going to know which direction to move in! – Joi

  4. joi says

    January 4, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    Quinn,
    True… definitely true! Many times tools can be used as a crutch – I’ve been guilty of that before. “If I had a treadmill I’d be in better shape…” It goes both ways, but the true power does come from within, not without. We just have to make certain to do everything we can to harness that power once we hand over the reigns! – Joi

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