Expecting Success & Creating Motivation: 10 Questions You Must Ask Yourself

LCE is pleased to present Guest Author, Graeme Street.

The alarm clock goes off every morning for me at about 6:00 a.m. Before I even get up my mind is already swimming with thoughts and ideas of what lies ahead for the day.

Anticipation, excitement, fear, anxiety are just some of the various emotions I feel everyday before I even get out of bed. What do I have to do today? What do I want to do today? What can I achieve today that will make me look forward to tomorrow? Am I a good person? Will Kate forgive me for drinking her last Fruit-2o last night?

We are all asking ourselves these questions day in and day out. Even if we are not aware of them being asked. Our brains are built with an innate ability to ponder our lives. Where we've been. People we have encountered. Accomplishments we've reached. Failures that may haunt our souls. And most importantly...Where are we going? What are our dreams and goals in life?

Are we following the right path?

All of these questions combined together is what offers us motivation in life. These are not simply thoughts randomly circling in our heads. These are some of the most powerful driving forces of the human psyche. It is in the answers to these questions that define who we are from moment to moment, day to day, year to year. The answers are not always the same. They are not always apparent. Sometimes the answers to these questions are right in front of our nose and we don't even see them.

It is in this riddle of answers where people find either the strength to endure and survive or it's where they let their fear control their actions and hinder them from achieving that which they most desire. Nobody likes not knowing what these answers are. In fact some of us are so afraid that we may find the answer that we actually run away from it. Why? Because often times people are more afraid of success than they are of failure.

Success is a responsibility. It is singular in nature. Meaning that when it comes right down to it, your success is achieved by you and you alone. Sure you may have help and support, but the bottom line is that if you have lost 20 lbs. or you have taken up a new hobby that brings you great pleasure or you raise a child into a well-rounded human being...you have no one else to thank but yourself.

This kind of responsibility can be overwhelming. So much so that failure seems like a much better option. There are more variables to blame when something or someone fails. A gimmicky diet. A cumbersome exercise machine. Poor genetics. Whatever.

Failure in itself can be seen in many ways. It can be seen as a direct reflection of effort or lack thereof. It can be seen as bad luck. It can be seen as someone or something else's fault. And...it can be seen as expected for many of us.

What do I mean by 'expected'? Well...I have met many people in my life that just expect failure when they try something challenging. They expect to fail. And of course what inevitably happens as a result of this self-fulfilling prophecy. THEY FAIL!

This is especially true for many people who are just starting a diet and/or exercise program. They go into the program expecting to fail. Why? Well...there are many factors at play here. Let's look at some common roadblocks.

1. They have tried several other diet and/or exercise programs in the past and failed, so they think 'why should this one be any different?' This is the most common one I have run into as a personal trainer.
2. They feel that they have no self-control and as a result know going into the program that it is doomed to fail...but they do it anyway without acknowledging that maybe they need to try a new tactic to overcome their lack of will.
3. They feel that they're so out of shape that nothing will help them. (This is 100% untrue, by the way)
4. Some people feel that they have gotten the short end of the stick because of their genetics or their inherent body make-up and their feeling is that nothing will ever change that (this is 110% untrue!) But, they try it anyway (begrudgingly).
5. Some people let anything and everything become a roadblock or an obstacle in their program and use it as an excuse to quit! Family events, an unexpected injury, a bad day--anything to get out of responsibility.

These are just some roadblocks that people must learn to overcome to achieve weight loss and improved health and success in general. There are probably thousands more that I haven't even thought of. I'm sure that you may be thinking of some of your own right now. It may make you afraid. It's OK to have things you're afraid of. We all do. Use that fear to motivate you, not scare you away. You only get one life to make your dreams come true. You can't let a few roadblocks get in your way. Can you?

Also, don't let other peoples confidence and ego make you think that you're alone in being afraid of your goals and dreams. Even if you meet someone that seems to be the most confident, focused, strong individual you've ever met. Everyone has fears. Everyone! It's how we deal with these fears and emotions that separates successful people from less successful people. It is also what separates people who succeed on a low carb diet and exercise program from others that do not.

All to often people think that success comes as a result of random chance or luck. WRONG! People who succeed EXPECT to succeed. They don't hope that it happens. They don't wish it to happen. They make it happen. They are willing to do whatever it takes. Even if it means that it's not always pleasurable. Do you think that getting fit and healthy is easy? I know that you don't. Yet so many of us hope and wish that it would be. And that is why so many fail. They don't EXPECT success to be hard. Success has to be hard or it isn't worth doing. In fact...if success wasn't hard, everyone would be 'successful' at everything they do. But they're not. And why? Because, successful people are willing to do the things that unsuccessful people are not willing to do. (Thanks for that wonderful quote, Andrea)

It's not the magical program. It's not the Atkin's Diet vs. The Sugarbusters Program. It's not the level of ketosis you may be in. It's not the 'scientifically designed order of exercises'. It's not how many carbs you have a day. And it's not the 'fanny lifter'. It's you! You make things happen. And anyone who tries to convince you otherwise is more afraid or reality and true success than you are. They just don't want you to know it.

It's your attitude towards yourself. It's your choice of motivation. It's the inner desire of wanting something more, something greater than that which you are now. It's your inner guidance system letting you step outside yourself so you can access that which you need to change to make you happy.

It doesn't mean "skinny". It doesn't mean "lean and ripped". Or a runway model. It means Happy! Happy for you and no one else but you. This is the point in the story where we come to the 10 questions you MUST ask yourself about what you want out of your low carb diet, out of your exercise program, and out of your life. You must focus on what is going to make you truly happy. Answer these questions and the rest will fall into place.

Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Trust me...you will want to write this down.

Question #1: Who are you deciding to change your life for? Is it for you or for the people around you? (Think about this carefully)
Question #2: What do you EXPECT to change as a result of your hard work?
Question #3: How will these changes make you happy?
Question #4: How will you measure your success? Weight loss, inches, body fat....happiness?
Question #5: Are you willing to place yourself in an uncomfortable place for an uncertain amount of time so that you can reach your goals?
Question #6: How uncomfortable and for how long are you willing to handle being uncomfortable to achieve your goals? (This is a VERY important question)
Question #7: Are you willing to put 110% effort into your goals everyday, even when apparent roadblocks get in your way?
Question #8: What are potential roadblocks will you have to overcome to achieve your goals?
Question #9: Are you prepared to make these changes permanently even if you always have roadblocks in the way you must overcome? If yes, why?
Question #10: If you could be granted one wish today, what would it be?

If you have answered these question truthfully, with a clear mind and an open heart...you have your answers. You have your motivation. Now....it is up to you to make these dreams came true. Now you can EXPECT success at whatever you do, because you know what you want and what you need to be happy.