Reaching Your Goals Easily

Hi again,

Yesterday we talked about the Japanese concept of reaching your goals easily. 

Taking tiny steps in the direction of your goals guarantees success.  Yes, this takes longer than what all the gurus say. 

You know, the gurus that promise you weight loss while watching tv, building muscles while watching tv, becoming a millionaire while watching tv.  And so on and so on. 

But, each tiny step builds upon itself and progress is made every day.  This is how Japan, a tiny nation that has to import almost all of its natural products was able to grow into a world wide power. 

This is how Vasily Alexeev was able to set over 80 world records in weight lifting. 

This is how I was able to set a personal record in the leg press just last week. 

So the first thing is you have to have the mindset that your goal is going to take a while.  And that you will reach it by taking the tiny steps you need to take everyday to reach your goal. 

However, something strange happens along the way. 

Somewhere along the way, you make a leap.  I learned about this when I was teaching fitness classes at the junior college level. 

Let's use pushups as an example.  Most women have a hard time with pushups.  So I start them out slow.  If they can't do a full pushup, then I have them do 1/2 pushups.  If they can't do that I just have them go up into the pushup position and hold it while the rest of the class does the regular pushups. 

If they can only hold themselves up for 10 seconds, then they do that.  Next time they do it longer.  And we will do pushups several times over the 40 minute class. 

Eventually, everyone will be able to do at least one pushup.  This happens about half way through the semester.  But, here is the kicker.  Even the weakest will one day, right out of the blue, come in and do 4 to 6 pushups. 

They are actually shocked.  They had been struggling for weeks to do just one and then all of a sudden they can do 4 to 6.  So what happened?

I have no physiological answer for that.  I believe it is the synergistic effect of doing a little bit consistently that allows for leaps forward. 

Yes, this way still takes longer, even with the leaps.  But, it is also consistent and it is easy to do.  As long as you do the little things, the big things happen. 

Thanks,

Mike Val
http://www.valshealthsite.com/