Advice

I have read a lot of self-improvement and growth books over the past year, that have helped me while I thought about whether I wanted to do this competition, and why I wanted to do this, and did I want to do this for the right reasons, and what was the time, money, effort required, and did I have enough of all of those to get it done.  In fact, I spent months thinking about it.

And I’ve listened to a lot of motivational podcasts and follow a lot of inspirational people, so I have all the lingo down to motivate myself and even inspire others.  I’ve gotten a lot of advice and encouragement from family members, and coworkers, and other women who have done these competitions or have known someone who have done these competitions.  So I have a support network to draw on.  But the best advice I have been given is 1) take it one day at a time and 2) do not compare yourself to anyone else.

This spoke the most strongly to me, because I have 169 days left in this journey, and this first week has already proven tough, and I have already realized I’m not perfect, despite being perfectly capable and what I thought was legitimately motivated.  But one day at a time, even sometimes if it’s one HOUR at a time…I can do that.  This person obviously knew what they were talking about, because habits will not be broken overnight.  Transformations won’t be seen in one day, or even one week.  Success won’t be achieved until the journey is far enough along.  But if I plod along, one day at a time, the transformation will come. I know what to do, and if I just keep doing it, day after day, I can’t help but see a difference.  Eventually.  And I’m going to enjoy every step and stumble along the way.

The second part of the advice: do not compare yourself to other people, spoke maybe the MOST strongly to me.  I went into this knowing that I would have to overcome some serious drawbacks, and maybe I won’t overcome all of them.  Because some of these things are things I was born with, things that I can’t control, and I’m ok with that.  I’m a runner, and I have always run my own race.  This is just another marathon, where I may not be starting at the front, and while I know I may not finish first, I also know I’m going to do everything I can to do the best I can.  This is my mountain and I’m going to climb it.  This is my journey and no one else’s.

This first week has not been as wildly successful as I wanted it to be, but I’m going to keep going, one day at a time, and not get distracted by anyone else!