2 Things That Just Gotta Go

I don’t like to exercise. I like the RESULTS of exercise, but I don’t like the PROCESS of exercising. And as much as I like the results I don’t quite like them enough to actually DO IT. That requires more time and effort and energy than I’m willing to invest. Ugh… I seriously don’t like admitting that.

Ok. So how the heck can I change this? What needs to happen? Here are two things that gotta go and the one thing that needs to take their place…

The Gotta Goes:

#1 I Can–quite frankly, I don’t care what I CAN do. What good does “I can” do? It’s an idea. It’s not real. It’s not tangible. It’s words. I can do that… did you? I can go there… did you? I can get that… did you?  “I can” is nothing more than a possibility and you and I can get so caught up in possibility that we neglect reality. “I can” has gotta go. Stop saying it.

#2 I Will–oh geez, here’s another good one. I can’t speak for you, but I know that for me personally, “I will” is something I typically say when I know I SHOULD do something, but I have absolutely no intention of doing it. I just say that to shut someone up. It’s the same things as saying “I’m going to” or “I’m about to” or “Let me get to that in a minute.”  I think it would be better stated as, “I will… NOT because I don’t want to.” Again, “I will” points to a hypothetical situation that may or may not happen. I’m not interested in what you may or may not do. Stop saying it.

The Replacement:

I am–it’s that simple. “I am.” Notice, it’s PRESENT tense. It’s not referring to something that MIGHT happen in the near future or some time down the road, it’s pointing to the RIGHT NOW. Too often I talk about what CAN happen or WILL happen, but I don’t DO anything in between. I CAN exercise, but I don’t want to. I WILL exercise, but I’m too busy. I AM exercising, but… I don’t want to? Notice the difference. IF there’s a BUT it’s not stopping the process. I may not want to exercise, but I’m still working toward the desired result. “I am” turns my WORDS into ACTION. Stop SAYING it and start DOING it!

Reflect:

• What are some of the things around the house that you “can” or “will” do, but haven’t?
• What are some of the things you know you should be doing but haven’t because you just don’t want to?
• How has your life been negatively affected by your lack of action?
• How would your life be different if your “I can” and “I will” became “I am”?