First Posted: 5/6/2014
The best strategies for improving bad habits are rarely executed. Why? Because people love to be dramatic. People often want a good story to make a bigger impact. The truth is that it takes small steps to make big changes.
Take, for example, my friend Kate, or “K8” as her friends call her. K8 was a classic case of “I want it now!” We all want results fast because we know that our inspiration is short-lived. Inspiration kicks in quickly but often fades as fast as it starts. So, we tend to jump on that impulsive behavior instead of really accepting the process.
K8’s struggle was lack of consistency at the gym. She knew this, but wasn’t sure how to overcome it. She has a busy schedule that left little time for making the commitment to the gym she needed, and wanted. She knew the rules. She knew she needed to be accountable. Being accountable to someone or something is one of the best ways to stay on track.
And K8 decided to do something about it.
She knew that she needed to find something she could relate to. Stepping outside of the box can sometimes be too uncomfortable. We tend to look too far or overlook the obvious when it comes to life struggles. Staying within her comfort zone but tapping into something that speaks “K8” is just what she did.
A musician by trade and artist by heart, K8 began a 30-day journey at Leverage Fitness Studio, a place that she calls home. She tapped into her friends, her “family,” and set off to complete the “30 Days of Leverage.” Her life would change as a result.
Her journey started with posting a single picture on Facebook about a workout that snowballed into short films about her journey. As the days passed, she continued posting what she was doing to Facebook. As the owner of Leverage, I became wrapped up reading her posts and was curious to see what she would do next. As result of capturing my attention, as well as the rest of her audience, K8 became accountable to herself.
The take home? Get good advice and be like K8. She learned she needed something. She stayed true to her artistic self and used resources she was comfortable and familiar with. Also, put something on the line. Saying you want it isn’t good enough. Everybody wants it, but nobody wants to work for it. The people who are most successful have something that drives them.
What is driving you?
-Tim Hlivia is the owner of Leverage Fitness Studio in Forty Fort.
