As I have been working through many issues in the last two weeks since my Dad passed away, I have found comfort in a couple of quotations by John Maxwell. The two that have really made a difference are…
“The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that’s when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.”
“As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behavior. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become. Take action on your behavior. Too many people want to feel, then take action. This never works.”
One of the things that kept my dad going for 94 years was his love of exercise. Ever since I was a little kid he would get up every morning at 4:30 and go ride his bike for an hour or two. He would even get up in the dead of winter, bundle up in two jackets and gloves and head out. His determination was amazing. I want this habit in my life.
My problem has always been that I don’t “feel” like exercising. It’s real easy to go back to bed and say I’ll do that tomorrow. I’m going to try Maxwell’s solution and just do it. It worked for my Dad. I’m going to “begin to act the part of the person you would like to become,” which in this case is my Father.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Hey… It’s cold outside…
