“If we complain about something 3 times, we are obligated to come up with a solution.”
–Rachel Cosgrove
There are two types of people: those looking for problems, and those looking for solutions.
Which are you?
Nothing de-enegizes me more than a complainer. Not only talking to someone who just wants to complain, but even when I find myself complaining. It’s old. It’s boring. And most importantly, it makes me want to throw in the towel and give up. In short, complaining sucks for all involved.
Why? Because if we are complaining, we are not getting better. If I am complaining, I am actively choosing to be a victim. If I am complaining, I am consciously putting myself in a position of inaction. I immobilize myself. And I am not open to solutions when I am in victim mode. I just want to be miserable (oh–and if you can feel bad for me too, that’d be great, thanks!). :)
This victim mentality, of course, applies to life in general, but it also pertains relevantly to the quest for fat loss. When we are dieting, it is easy to slip into “why me?” mode and want to garner pity. In fact, sometimes we just want to complain so that people can know how tough we have it. I get that. I have done it a million times. But, the bottom line is that complaining and being a victim only lead to one place–nowhere. When we are in that headspace, we don’t see a way out. We lose our power to choose. We lose our ability to make a change.
To remain a victim of your circumstances is a choice. You always have control over your attitude. You always have control over your effort. You can always choose to act differently, think differently and LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS.
Finding the solution can be hard work! :) But if we truly want a change, we need to muster the strength to start looking. It starts with a choice to act. And usually, the minute we decide to take action, things start happening fast! The answer often reveals itself during the process. And it’s the process that is the key because in it, we get to learn. When someone just gives us the answer, we are cheated of the blood, sweat and tears it takes to really understand.
“Find a way to love the process as much as you love the results” <—THIS. Saw this the other day on Twitter, posted by one of our favorite IFBB pros Cheryl Davis. I can’t speak for Cheryl, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you don’t become an elite figure competitor by operating as a victim. If fact, you have to love the process because if not, the process owns you.
Most people who have mastered living the fat loss lifestyle understand that it’s a choice they make every day. They take responsibility for their actions, their behaviors and their outcomes. And if a certain behavior is not yielding the desired outcome, they take responsibility for finding a solution.
It starts with your mindset. Make the switch from “this happened to me” to “this happened, what can I do to change it?” This takes practice. Catch yourself in the midst of blaming people or things “out there.” Blaming doesn’t serve us. “There is no blame in change” as Jade says…this is the bottom line if you truly want to make a difference in your own life.
Regardless of what has happened to you, your power to change is inherent and cannot be taken away from you. Own it. Start with your mindset. Convince yourself of your own power. You’ll never look back.
“What comes out of your mouth is determined by what goes into your mind.” –Zig Ziglar
