Never Give Up

DONNA THERRIEN: Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to get in shape? Do you want to be the healthiest person you can be? So many people are always on and off different diets or saying they need to eat healthier or get in shape. They have a million excuses for why they haven't been able to achieve their goals and are always blaming someone or something else. But I say they don't want it enough.

When you want something, really want something, you will do what it takes to get there. How much willpower you have is not the issue. And although it is a wonderful thing to have faith, there's more to it than praying to God and hoping what you want will fall into your lap. If you're praying all day and not doing anything else in the direction of your goal how can it manifest? You need to ask yourself this question, "What is my highest and best form and am I willing to do to what it takes to get what I want?"

Everyone is here on this planet to learn certain things and every experience we have in life is a learning experience. We are all where we are supposed to be right now whether the situation is good or bad. If we are ill it's a learning experience. If we are overweight it's a learning experience. If we are injured it's a learning experience and the universe (God or a higher being whatever it is for you) is always testing us to find out if we have learned what it takes to have what we want by sometimes putting little roadblocks in along the way.

What I'm trying to get at is that if you want to lose 20 pounds, do something about it EVERYDAY. If you want to get in shape, then do something about it but do it EVERYDAY! Research what is BEST for you and what is available to you at this moment. Learn what is BEST for you and what is available to you at this moment - and ACT on it - no matter what. Ask the universe for guidance but listen when it gives it to you and ACT on it.

Think about the choices you have. You may be hungry right now and only have an apple and a pop tart in your cabinet. So what is the BEST thing available to you at this moment? The apple - hands down! Get what I'm telling you? You may say I know I should eat whole foods, but I only have enough money right now to shop at the local grocery store. So buy the kind of foods at the local grocery store that are the BEST for you. You may say I can't afford to join a gym so I can't work out to get in shape. Baloney! RESEARCH, LEARN and ACT! If you have no other resources and can move your legs - walk across the room over and over! There is always an alternative. And do it everyday.

Even if all you have is 10 minutes to do some quick crunches or take a quick walk. Take a step everyday in the direction of your goal, whatever your goal may be. You may not SEE the results right away but your body and your heart know the differences and the gradual, but consistent changes are sustainable ones.

Don't let fear or ignorance get in the way. Learn to cook if you don't know how to. Get out of your comfort zone and take action but KEEP GOING with it. Learn to prepare a 'new to you' healthy meal every week. Try a new grain, vegetable or fruit you haven't tried. RESEARCH, LEARN and take ACTION.

Don't blame other people for not reaching your goals. We are all responsible for our own happiness. If you have to work late and you're too tired at the end of the day to make dinner, instead of grabbing something out of a box or getting fast food have some healthy choices in your fridge or freezer handy like leftovers or previously prepared meals to just pop in the oven and warm up. It is all up to you. Think around your situation. Don't stay stuck 'because my job is too demanding' or 'because my husband wants my attention' or 'because my kids are a lot of work'. This is not about them. This is about you and you are the only one that will make it happen for yourself if you work at it everyday no matter what.

We all have days where we are running late, have too much on our plate, surrounded by demands and responsibilities or just too tired to move. This is the time to STOP. Stress is not healthy. Just stop and be. Centre yourself and just be at peace. Meditate, walk, or do whatever brings you peace at this time or doing nothing at all, this is now your BEST form of action.

Don't let opportunities pass you by. ACT on them. If it doesn't work out the first time keep at it! I never would have met the wonderful holistic doctor of functional medicine, Dr. Alfred Costanza, who has become my mentor if I wasn't persistent in reaching him on the telephone. We played phone tag for a month until we finally connected! I would have lost out on a great opportunity in my career and in my life. So if you know something is in your highest and best interest but just can't seem to grasp it, DON'T STOP TRYING! Keep going and you will get there.

So how much do you want it? Is it enough? Are you willing to learn what you need to learn to overcome obstacles and roadblocks that get in the way of you goals? Things always get better when you ACT upon them in a consistent manner using your personal BEST available to you at the moment. As long as you are doing something everyday, even if it's just a little step EVERYDAY, with your best interest at heart, YOU WILL REACH YOUR GOALS.

So what is it that you want? But even more importantly, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT IT?