you don’t always have to change
As we pursue our authentic Selves, we sometimes need to grow and make changes to who we have become. There is plenty of evidence that proves through habit changes, discipline, and neuroplasticity (rewiring our brains), we can change our Selves in ways we couldn’t imagine possible.
If you have a characteristic that is misaligned with the version of your Self you are pursuing, you can change it–it may not be easy to change, but you can change.
But, just because you can change something about your Self doesn’t mean that you have to.
Let me share an example…
My discipline with my workout routine has diminished over the years. When the boys were younger, I’d work out in the garage during the winter with a small box heater without thinking twice; in summer, I’d be in the driveway, gutting out workouts in the blazing sun. I had the internal competitiveness and the discipline to work out on my own–I enjoyed the community of CrossFit back then, but I was also perfectly content working out hard on my own at home.
Fast forward to now, my workouts at home are not as intense as they should be to maintain the healthy body (and appearance) I desire. I’ll also skip a planned workout to do something with the boys–I’ll even use being tired and needing to rest, which is important but truthfully often an excuse, not to work out (“I’ll get back on track tomorrow”). Thankfully, my reduced discipline hasn’t gotten so bad that my health has gotten bad or my body too far out of shape–I’ve done enough to maintain, but I know it’s only going to be harder in the future to maintain and improve like I want to.
I’ve accepted that I don’t want to put in the effort to rewire my brain or change my habits to become the old version of my Self where I can go hard in a workout at home–I could, but I don’t want to.
I don’t want to not because I’m lazy or afraid of the hard work, but I have another solution that still aligns with my authentic Self–I hired a friend of mine who does personal training on the side and has a goal of making that his full-time job. I now have the built-in accountability that I’ve grown to need. I have the companionship that I used to enjoy in the CrossFit boxes I used to go to. And, almost most importantly, I get to support a friend of mine as he works on bringing his authentic life to his reality—both financially and hopefully as a “success story” he can share with his audience and future clients.
So yes, there will be times when you will need to actively work on evolving and changing aspects of your life that are holding you back from moving closer to your authentic Self and life. But, there will also be opportunities to realize that you don’t have to change–you just need to look for a solution that aligns with your authentic life and works with the characteristic you are looking to improve.
PS: If you're in Indy, or close by, and need a trainer to work with, let me know and I'll connect you with Franqlin!
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC
🦅 Some ways I might be able to help you live your authentic life:
🤝 One-on-Ones Let's hop on Zoom to do a guided meditation, a creative brainstorming session, or an overcoming an obstacle session.
💸 AlignedLife+ A unique relationship offered at Santiago that combines life planning, financial planning and advice, and ongoing coaching to help you discover your authentic life, design a plan to bring that life to your reality, and support to help you evolve with the evolution of your authentic life. Learn more here.
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