The Crazy Simple Life

For years I've had a mental list of why I don't like going to the gym. It's been a convincing list that I've rather enjoyed reviewing. Reasons include:

• Prefer working out without an audience
• Like my treadmill, free weights and the great outdoors
  
• More people = more germs
• One more thing to add to my daily schedule
• Monthly membership money could be spent in other ways

I've relied on this list because I haven't been ready or willing to make a change in this area of my life. But there came a day (we'll call it last Monday) when I wanted to get better results from my body and I was in a rut. You might know the rut I mean - doing a lot of work with depleting results.

And as you may remember, my New Year's resolution contract focused specifically on weight training so I feel compelled to stay on track with this goal. 

So I decided it's time to take my "why not join a gym" list and change it into a "Why, yes!" list. I looked at each of my reasons in a new way -

Prefer working out without an audience

- I'll get over it. Probably. I think most people feel a bit self-conscious when starting at the gym. It will pass!

Like my treadmill, free weights and the great outdoors

- STILL like these options and will use them, but now I'm adding one more possibility to the list.

More people = more germs

- This still bothers me, but thankfully there are hand sanitizers and spray bottles to wipe off equipment.

One more thing to add to my daily schedule

- Health is the cornerstone of a productive day, so this time investment pays off in huge ways (we know this, but it's so easy to move it to the bottom of the list!). And the gym is literally only 3 minutes up the street.

Monthly membership money could be spent in other ways

- Yes. But there's no long-term contract involved so I can give it a whirl for now and go from there.

And to make this an even bigger commitment, I am hiring a personal trainer to create a special weight-training plan for my body and needs. That gets me pumped up! Knowing that I'll be supported with expert advice and tips is  encouraging.

Too often we can stay stuck in our "why not do something" mentally, but there are a lot of opportunities waiting for us when we expand beyond what we've told ourselves to believe. For every reason not to do something, there are reasons to do it. We arrive at new possiblities when we are ready for them. The next doorway to walk through is always right there if we want to explore it. But we have to be ready and willing for it at a deeper level.

Do you have something in your life that you're ready to change from "why not" to "why, yes!"? Tell me, tell me!