A few months ago, I started working out at this new gym and I love it. 

 

It is an “every-body-fits, we-don’t-talk-about-6-packs-and-calories, people-are super-nice” kind of a place. Now that I am in my 40’s, I am thinking about my health, mobility and longevity in new ways and I love how the workouts really support that goal in this next phase of my life. Plus, I feel better, mentally and physically when I leave, and that is huge.

 

As with many workout places, there are signs around the gym to encourage you.

But my favorite sign in the gym is a little piece of cardboard, 

duct taped to the wall above the exit door that says, 

scrawled in marker: 

At first, it struck me as odd.

The idea of BELIEF isn’t something you immediately think of when you think about push-ups and squat thrusts. But the more I thought about, the more it felt like it made perfect sense. 

 

When we engage in anything that is challenging, especially if it is new, there is an inevitable period of time between doing the hard thing and getting results. A gap that can feel huge in the moment, sometimes insurmountable. In fact, most worthwhile things are really hard at the beginning and, the hard truth is, they don't get easier for a while.

 

You are new, you don’t know what you are doing, it is scary. 

And frankly, at first, you suck at it. 

(Let’s just be real.)

 

A for Effort?

Want to learn a foreign language? 

I promise you will make some embarrassing mistakes. 

 

Want to teach yourself pastels? 

No doubt you will make some really ugly paintings before you make any good ones. 

 

Want to take a yoga class? 

I am sure you will fall over during warrior two a few times.

This feels like yoga to me.

And if you are trying to find new ways to show up and support the people you care about, whether they are your kids or your clients, you are going to have days where it feels impossible. Days where it feels like it may actually be getting worse, despite all your efforts. Days where you maybe want to give up. 

 

This is where the belief comes in. During that phase between “starting” and “seeing change”, you have to have a certain level of faith just to keep showing up. There is a trust you put in the process: I believe that if I show up, again and again, I will get better. It will get better. 

 

Another word we have for this is hope. 

 

Yes!

I worked with a brilliant physician who used to say, “Hope is not a plan”. And he's right. You don’t get anywhere without the hard work of showing up day after day, time after time, and learning those words or doing that yoga pose or pulling out a fresh canvas. You can't just sit on your couch and “hope” your way to change.

 

Agreed. Hope is not a plan. But, I would add, no plan works without hope. 

 

So if you are having a day where you need to hear it, here you go:

 

 

We don’t do hard things, we can’t do hard things, without also taking a little leap of faith. We have to believe things can get better, or else why would we show up day after day. 

 

 

 

 

So, if you want to make changes ask yourself: 

 

And if the answer is YES and YES, then just keep showing up. You're on the right path.

 

As you walk into the gym at the start of your workout, you are greeted by another sign:

Awww. Thanks!

And, because you know I love an alliteration, if I can offer one more ingredient to the recipe it would be this: Help. 

 

No one holds the hope and does the hard work without help. If you need some more of it, know that’s what this work is here for. (Along those lines, scroll down for an exciting announcement!)

 

Hang in there. As always, sending my best to each and every one of you.

 

You've got this,

After almost 5 years of going it solo, 

I have partnered with the perfect provider to expand 

into a group practice and increase our ability to support more people struggling

and those that love them. 

Please reach out with any questions- we would love to support you!

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