Fit For Life: Don’t Believe Everything You Think

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Matt Espeut, GoLocalPDX Health +Lifestyle Contributor

This may sound funny to some of you, but I grew a bit this week. Not physically - but mentally.

I always write about how you need to get your mind right to get your body tight, and mindset is the primary function that drives us to either success, keeps us at mediocrity, or will lead us to failure. I preach this to you, my client base on a fitness level, and other people on a personal ‘life’ level, that once you have an "I can do" attitude (like when you walk into my gym, and work with the guidance of myself and my staff), its impossible to fail. Well that holds true in every aspect of life, not just fitness. It doesn’t matter if you have the best trainer or coaches in the world (my clients do), or if you have access to the most expensive and latest equipment around, if your mind isn’t in the game, your outcome will not be ideal.

I know this holds true on a business level also. I use a lot of comparisons to my issues in my own business, to that of my clients, and what they are going through with their health and fitness programs. I have a coach just like they do, who keeps me accountable. I needed to seek help of business experts, because this was all new and intimidating to me when I started, and today, I still seek help of experts. When I see my coaches, they help me with my mindset, and tell me that if I follow what they are telling me to do, and do it with confidence, it is impossible for me to fail.

Last weekend I attended a business mastermind meeting with about 60 other Fit Body Boot Camp Owners, as well as the head brass that work at headquarters, including the owner of the company. When I got on that plane on Thursday, I wasn’t in a good place. My business was doing great, my clients were all getting amazing results, and I was feeling strong, physically, but my mind wasn’t right. And I couldn’t understand why.

Strength in Numbers.

When it came time for me to speak at the round table, I confessed for the first time that I was struggling. I felt disorganized, and that anxiety, and stress, were crippling me from taking my next step to success. I had no reason for this, as I mentioned above. On paper everything looked great, but in my head, things were wrong. Mind trash was getting to me. But despite all this, I got up every day, and fought through it, because I refuse to fail, and be a victim. I wasn’t on the verge of failure, but staying the same or being mediocre isn’t an option for me either, and I hadn’t grown financially in a couple of months. Well it seemed a lot of others were going through almost the same pressures and stress that life dishes out, some even worse. But we all talked and offered solutions to each other, and I felt better after the discussion.

At lunch, I went into the hallway and had a private heart to heart conversation with the founder of the corporation, and he confessed to me that on occasion, he too suffered from stress and anxiety. What? My mentor, the guy I look up to coach me to success? The guy responsible for making hundreds of people successful has issues with stress? I thought this guy was bionic. Suddenly I started feeling a sense of relief. That I wasn’t alone. I was around people, even a powerful influential leader, that were in the same situation and feeling the same pressures.

Relating what had happened to my work in helping people attain their fitness goals at Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, I know that many people who are working with are suffering from the same issues, and without addressing the “mental trash” that follows them, which we do every day, and isn’t found in many gyms where it’s in and out and you’re on your own, they couldn’t push beyond and reach their goals. There’s strength in numbers, and being around positive support works. It makes you feel human, and when you see other people succeeding it makes you want to push harder to do the same. You know the term “misery loves company”? Well, so does success. And when you surround yourself with like minded people that are willing to give you a hand, and pick you up off the canvas, your chances of success are more likely. And that’s how we roll. Family and friends are always there for us, but its not the same as being in the company of people with the same goals, and struggles.

Cleaning out the mind trash.

Since Sunday, I have read 1 1/2 books, changed my mindset, started waking up earlier, organized things at work, and feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. Will I still get stressed out on occasion? Yes. Will I still feel anxious until I am where I want to be? Yes. But now I can put things in perspective, realize I am human, and its all part of this thing called life.

So in conclusion, know that whatever struggles you face, you are not alone. There are people around you who are experiencing the same or even worse. We are all human, and everyone will need some help on some level in their lives. It’s helpful to know that even the people we look up to, and seek guidance from, have been where we are, and understand. Also know that whatever your situation is or how bad it gets, everything is solvable. Never quit striving to achieve your goals. They are there to be crushed, and once your mind is right, you will succeed. Committed to success…

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years.

Related Slideshow: The 7 Best Health and Fitness Apps

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MapMyRun

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MyFitnessPal

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JeFit

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Strava

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YogaStudio

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SimplyBeing

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Fooducate

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Made for iPhone and Android