BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS
I am presently wrestling with the fact that I have gained considerable weight in the past two years. By struggling, I mean that I am unhappy with what I see in the mirror. I don’t like being overweight, but by medical standards, I am obese. Obese is a nice way of describing fat. My only consolation is that a significant part of the American population joins me in this classification. That makes me feel better. Thank you for helping me with that. So, what can we do?
There is one starting place for every endeavor. One must be dissatisfied with the present status enough to want to change it. For me, that means dis-liking what I see in the mirror more than liking what I see on a plate three times a day. Decisions, decisions!
All growth in life has an “essence.” Essence is that which is critical to make something what it is. The nature of moving forward is accurately assessing your present situation, admitting that it is not where you want to be, and getting help to get where you do want to be.
Five disciplines will help you find the new you.
Determine the standard you desire. For me, it’s a specific pant size and the ability to walk further than the refrigerator without getting out of breath. Where is it that you want to be? Is the standard you desire reasonable for you? Many people sabotage their future by choosing objectives that are beyond the realm of possibility. Your goal should align with the time-honored standard. It should be S.M.A.R.T., which means, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based.
Admit where you are. As the title states, “you are the problem.” Humans don’t like to face the facts. Ever since Adam and Eve, we try to cover our shortfalls. We do our best to hide reality. For instance, I can keep purchasing larger and longer shirts. I can stand only face-forward in the mirror instead of the side view, which is very different. You must admit where you are. In my Five Es of Success, I call this the “Examine” phase of growth. It means that I lay out all of the parts of my situation. What is the truth of my present status?
Get help. If you didn’t need help, you would not be in this situation. Everyone needs a guide. Climbing Mount Everest has always interested me. By interested, I don’t mean I want to do it. Several years ago, I read the book Into Thin Air. The book tells the story of a group of men who tried to climb Everest. Climbing this behemoth is one of the most difficult human endeavors. Most people don’t make it to the top. Some die on the trail. Frozen bodies litter the mountainside. Others go as far as their physical and mental capabilities allow them. They end up with fewer fingers and toes than when they started. Or, they traverse the mountain and return victorious. No, matter what their fate, no one tries to climb Everest without a guide. Guides are called Sherpas. Sherpas are usually locals who know the trail, the weather conditions, the pitfalls, and the everything it takes to reach the top. Nobody climbs Mount Everest without a Sherpa. You need a Sherpa. No matter what you are trying to do, there are many people who know more about accomplishing it than you do. The trail of success is strewn with the frozen bodies of those who tried to do it alone.
Start with baby steps. One of my favorite movies is, “What about Bob?” Before going on vacation, psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin, played by Richard Dreyfuss, makes the mistake of taking on a new patient named Bob Wiley, who is played by Bill Murray. Bob keeps calling and showing up at Dr. Marvin’s door for help. Each time, the doctor tells Bob to “take baby steps.” Dr. Marvin tries everything to get Bob to leave him alone, but the trouble is that Dr. Marvin’s whole family falls in love with Bob. By the time the movie is over, Dr. Marvin needs counseling about as much as Bob. Take baby steps. As the old saying goes, How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.
When you fail, and you will miss the mark, just go on anyway. Did you know that in baseball, great batters strike out more than average hitters? Some of the greatest batters of all time also struck out the most. Reggie Jackson struck out 2,597 times! Sammy Sosa, 2,306. And, Micky Mantle, a whopping 1,710 whiffs. Success is built upon what leadership guru, John Maxwell, calls “Failing Forward.” I have a hard time calling most failures - failures. It seems better to me to call them lessons. When you fail, you’ve gained wisdom that you can apply to your next attempt.
Well, all this writing has made me hungry. Guess I’ll make the long trek to the refrigerator so that I can complete my steps for the day. Perhaps I’ll get an apple instead. Baby steps!
