Stop Chasing What You Already Are

'I'm trying to lose weight', 'I try to go to the gym 4 days per week', 'I'm trying to eat well', 'I'm trying to be more conscious of my health'

At what point can you say you are that person?

No, seriously. Ask yourself when you can own your new identity, rather than just always putting yourself in the boat of chasing it.

I had a conversation with a client and it was sparked by her saying 'I'm trying to lose weight'. I said 'What do you mean trying? You have lost weight? You are quite literally losing weight'.

She explained that she hadn't lost much and didn't want to jinx it, but she was quietly proud of herself. It was her third week and she'd lost 2kg. I asked her what other things was she trying to do. In her mind, she was just someone trying to be a person who did these things. It turns out she; IS losing weight, IS someone who trains 4 days per week, and IS someone who eats well.

She just didn't think she deserved the new identity yet. See, to me, if you trained at the gym last week then you're someone who trains at the gym - as long as you identify with it. No one is ever going to question the validity of your identity or effort, so why do you do it to yourself?

By always postponing when you embrace your newfound identity, you're always leaving room for failure. By leaving room for failure, you're planting that seed in the back of your mind that you can't do it, and this time will be the same as the others.

Starting now, you're no longer waiting to reach a certain amount of time or weight lost before you celebrate yourself or put yourself on a pedestal. If you lost 1g in your first week, you're not trying anymore... you're doing. If you went to the gym 3 days last week and intend on doing it again this week, then you 'go to gym'. You're not 'trying to go to the gym'.

You're chasing an identity that you already have. The moment you're waiting for to celebrate your effort or speak about yourself differently is never going to come by sitting around. It's only going to come when you change your language and let the people around you know that YOU ARE doing something, or YOU ARE this person.

To anyone doubting themselves - you're not pretending to be the person who eats well, is losing weight or trains... you are that person. The more you doubt yourself, the more the people around you will doubt you and you should never put that power in someone else's hands.

Your coach & friend,

Maddy