Every Solution Starts with You

    For better or for worse, every solution starts with you. You alone have the power to make the choices for change. There is no trainer, sensei, sifu, teammate, spouse, parent, or anyone else that can make the change or decision to drive you forward. When we seek to create a fitness program or get fit, or embark on a martial arts journey because we were inspired by a movie, the big question becomes, how do we keep the motivation that got us excited? For some people, it  immediately clicks and they just keep running with it. Others, they may get excited for a minute and then never even set foot in the gym or a dojo to follow through.

    There is a comforting fact about all of this. Everything is in your hands. You make the decisions to do or not to do the journey. The martial arts or fitness journey is up to you. You control it. Your steps take you to the path that lead you on your way to achieving the goal that you want to achieve. 

    You can find inspiration with others. You can find motivation in all kinds of places. You can find a lot of things to help you, but the decision comes back to you. For me, that is a huge positive. It means you control what is going on and what you have to do. 

    I wrote in my last article not to be intimidated by the impossible standards that have been set by society. This is the other side of that coin, where I am telling everyone that all of you, all of us, control what we can do to help better ourselves and become the best version of ourselves. I am big on boiling things down to digestible steps. That makes things accessible. Remembering how to keep control for yourself is not so difficult. It comes back to five simple things.

Step 1 - Focus on Yourself

    Remember you have the control. You are taking the journey. You can make the change, just choose to do it. It can look any way you want it to. It can be every day, or it can be twice per week. We all have to decide on our fitness journey and shape it to what will work best for our lives. That being said, remember you are in control of what you want to do.

    Sometimes having control is not enough. Some people want more than just control to be able to make their journey happen. One thing that helps is that it is a way of life, and you can make it a way of life, because you are in control. Once you make the decision to do it regularly, it becomes part of your life and it becomes easier. Don't be intimidated. 

Step 2 - Find Support

    You may be in control, but it does not hurt to have support in making the journey. As people we all look for support in living our lives. Whether that is a family unit, a group of friends, or a group of strangers. When people share a goal, or an interest in a goal, there is a bond that takes place that creates support and motivation. It is undeniable. We all need it, unless you are one of those types of people that just needs to train alone, then that is different. But most people at least need one or two people who take an interest and can share the experience.

    A perfect example here is that I created a fitness program for two people. I know them both personally. In order to help them, I created a chat group where we can post small notes, photos, updates, etc. After having created it, what do you think happened? Everyone started feeling like they belonged and took pride in each other's successes. We supported each other on our workout journeys, no matter how different or similar they are. We just made each other feel like we belonged and gave positive feedback about whatever we were doing. Don't under estimate the power of shared experiences in a journey. Find that support for what you are doing, even just one person.

Step 3 - Get Some Basic Knowledge

    This is really not that complicated. In today's age, the internet is a great source for helping people get started, and for almost no money most of the time, if you know where to look. If you are willing to spend some money, it is even better. It does not take much knowledge to start something new either. Once you find your knowledge of how to start your plan, or update your existing plan, organize it and get it going.

    The key here is to not get discouraged when you start something new. When you start something new, you won't be as good as when you are doing something familiar. Think of it as an adventure that you are embarking on and the new knowledge is your map to that adventure. It may be new, and unfamiliar, but it should be fun for what you are about to do. 

    Organize it so it makes sense. If you have the money to help you organize your plan, spend a little to make your life easier, if you fitness or martial arts journey is important and you have a little to invest, do it. It is an investment that will definitely pay itself off many times over if you treat it right. Maybe you need a teacher or a trainer. Maybe you need some equipment, or maybe it is something else. Whatever it is, spend the money to make it better for yourself.

Step 4 - Make it a Routine and a Way of Life

    This is the quickest way to make it successful. Make it a habit, or a routine. Once it has become a routine, it becomes a way of life. Whether it is martial arts training, fitness training, or both. When something is a way of life it just kind of becomes part of who you are, and that is the best thing that you can do for yourself.

    It fits into how you act. It becomes part of a way you see the world. You become efficient and fluent in what you practice. There is no substitute for this step. It is a conscious decision to do it for yourself and share it with those people around you.

    I think people sometimes believe it has to dominate your day, every day, for hours and hours. That is definitely an option people choose, but it could 30-60 minutes per day just 3 days per week. Just choose how it looks for you, and that will be your expression of the discipline of martial arts and/or fitness. I say expression because the way we live our lives is ultimately and expression of who we are in some way, shape, and form.

    Whatever you choose, however you choose to do it, don't let it intimidate you or scare you, or even discourage you. Just choose to take the path and follow those above steps and you will find a measure of success that is worthwhile for you, your mental outlook, and your physical health. It is an enjoyable path that can truly make a difference in the quality of your life and bring a great deal of fulfillment to your life.