Just. Start.
- Tamera Pinkney
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
I was having a hard time trying to find a starting point for this blog… but then I realized, that’s the whole point.
Starting is the hardest part of anything new, especially a fitness journey. But really, this applies to anything in life. Doing something you’ve never done, or something you’ve never even seen someone around you do, can be terrifying.
We often admire people who are doing the things we want to do. We look at them as if they just got lucky or are somehow special, as if the average person doesn’t get the same results. But here’s the truth: they started.
Why Is Starting So Hard?
Starting something new means changing something you currently do. And I truly believe one of the hardest things in life is change. It’s consistent yet unpredictable. It’s something we all try to avoid, yet it happens with or without us.
When I first tried to start my fitness journey, my entire life was shifting. I had separated from my ex-husband, moved back in with my family, and started a new job. My whole environment changed. (I talk more about this in my personal journey blog.) The thought of trying to work out or change my diet wasn’t even on my radar at first.
Even before my life took that turn, I had tried to get active, but it wasn’t sticking. It wasn’t until I found a level of calm that I even considered it again. But what is it about starting that’s so daunting?
The Difference Between Wanting and Doing
Nine times out of ten, when you aspire to do something, it’s a desire of yours. I desire to start that business. I desire to lose weight. I desire to be rich.
But what good is desire without action?
A dream without action is just a dream. It’s not until you start making that dream a reality that it even becomes real.
Most people don’t realize that in order to create change, they have to let go of the version of themselves that they currently are. And that’s hard. Because to do that, you have to admit to yourself that who you are now and the habits you’ve built are not going to get you where you want to be.
The Power (and Danger) of Habits
Habits are routines or behaviors that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously.
The danger? Once a habit is ingrained, it becomes so automatic that you don’t even realize you’re doing it.
That’s why people say, That’s just how I am. But is it? Or is it just what you’ve repeatedly done?
If you want change, you have to be willing to look in the mirror and recognize what habits are contributing to unwanted results. Then, you have to replace them with ones that align with your goals.
The Battle Within: You vs. You
Let’s say you’ve done all the self-reflection. You know you want change. You’ve identified the habits that aren’t serving you. You even know how to change them. So now what?
Just start.
The hardest part of intentional change is that it’s a battle between who you are and who you want to be.
Your current self is comfortable. Even if you complain or wish for something different, it’s familiar. But comfort is the opposite of growth. Comfort keeps you still, while growth moves you forward.
When I got my personal training certification, I sat on it for a whole year because I didn’t want to quit my job for inconsistent income. I let comfort keep me in a familiar space instead of stepping into the unknown. We’ve all done it. We’d rather deal with the discomfort we know than face the discomfort we don’t.
But here’s one thing you can’t avoid: time.
In five years, you will either be in the same place or you will be somewhere new. Either way, you’ll be five years older. The only question is, did you start?
Just Start
I say all this to simply say JUST START. Growth is movement, and if you just take it a day at a time and move towards your goal, eventually you will get there. You just have to take the first step. Even if you have a bad day or even a bad month, just start again and get back out there. Rest, but never quit! If no one believes in you, I do.
What's one thing you can do today towards your goals?
So what are you waiting for? Go get started!
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Ready to Get Started? Start by finding out your body type with AmorrSuii's Body Type Quiz!
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Want to get the full story? Check out my personal blog to read about how my journey started.
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