Have you ever taken on a meaningful, long-term goal and wondered when you’re going to start seeing the results you sold yourself on?
“Why am I doing this if I’m not getting anywhere?”
I just completed my 236th jiu jitsu session. This is a random special milestone and I only know this because I take notes after each session. I was talking with a teammate after class this morning about the process and experience of jiu jitsu. We both landed on how it’s made our lives better and is one of, if not the most fun thing we do for ourselves.
Reflecting on this allows me to recognize how far I’ve actually come since the first time I walked through the door. However, each time I arrive I wonder when that big break-through will happen.
Show up first.
Show up to learn.
Show up knowing you will fail (over and over and over and over).
Show up for yourself.
Sometimes, show up for others because they keep you accountable (whether they know it or not).
If you look back on all of the time, work, and financial investment you’ve put into anything that mattered, would your current self still have shown up knowing the struggle you went through to get to where you are today?
Maybe you have a cranky hip or shoulder and you want it to feel better, to have it be as functional and strong as the other side. You have to show up and do the work needed now and that will suck sometimes.]
Lighten the weight used or change the exercise to one that’s less demanding.
Right now, the initial target seems very far away.
Then, one day, you realize you’re at the end. You’ve reached the target.
If I knew ahead of time what I was going to go through in jiu jitsu or business, to get to where I am today, I don’t know if I would have shown up. To be honest, this holds true for being a husband and a father.
I am glad I did it all because I am a better person today by an infinite % than where I was before I started any of it.
So, if you’re frustrated with where you’re at now, or beginning to look back upon 2023 to see what went well and what you achieved, what did not go well and what was a miss, think about where you were when you started and how far you’ve come.
Are you stronger?
Do you feel better?
Did you hit your goals?
Once you show up, continue to show up consistently. This is how goals and results are reached – through sustainable action over time – showing up.
No quick fix.
No hacks or magic.
Show up today, then come back and continue showing up.