If the whole world was blind, who would you impress?

This week I was speaking with someone who I had just met, they had asked me how had I gotten the courage to get up on stage, they felt they could never do it because they were scared. I had to think about it for a minute, I could remember being scared but I never took the time to think about why. I wasn't scared to walk out onto stage in front of a crowd of people, although initially that's what most people must assume would scare you about a competition. In fact, I was scared to disappoint myself. I had an overwhelming feeling of terror inside the whole time backstage that I wasn't going to do what I set out to do. I knew I only had those two minutes on stage and I have never wanted anything more in life than to perform what I had practiced for hours upon hours for months leading up to the date of the competition. I saw this quote this week and felt that it rang true to my personal experience with competing as well as so many other aspects in life. I think far too often people worry too much about other people's perception of them. As I grow older the decisions I make in my life are more about me and my goals and what I want to achieve personally, and less about what others think about my decisions. The moral of my story is, praise and acceptance is a part of life, and is more than appreciated, but what molds you into the person you are meant to become is the standards you hold for yourself and the goals you set for yourself to achieve a more powerful, stronger YOU.

Accountability

ac·count·a·bil·i·ty noun accountability1. the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility. It's been awhile!! I kept pushing off writing a blog, something always came up, I had a meeting, I had to work, I had nothing to write about, I had no motivation myself so how could I give anyone else motivation? Well... Here we are, about 6 months post comp. I've had some definite ups and downs with finding a balance post show. It's not until about 6 months later that I looked back and realized, I didn't have ups and downs, I was living my life….That piece of cake I had at a friend's birthday party wasn't going to ruin my life or the body I had worked so hard for. That one missed work out because I was busy studying for my personal training certification wasn't going to make my muscle disappear. You are seriously so wrapped up in the "process" of training, you forget that once it's all over, life goes on, just like it had before you started training. I have lots of new goals and things to focus on for the next 6 months. My head is telling me I'm extremely stressed and overwhelmed, but my heart is telling me that everything will happen as it should and I just need to "trust the universe". The reason I posted a "selfie" is to show that maybe in my head I don't think I look my best but you have to tell that little voice to go away and realize that a fitness journey is much more than having the best body you can achieve, its about finding balance with your mind body AND soul and figuring out just how tough you are mentally and physically. Finding what "works" for you is what keeps you accountable. Eating 6 measured meals a day and spending half of my free time in the kitchen does not WORK for me, so how do I maintain an off season body, I use isagenix health and wellness products to keep my BODY in check. I am not much of a reader, not because I dislike to read, it's just I never find the time to sit and relax and let my mind stop racing long enough to concentrate on a book. How do I keep my MIND in check? I exercise!...because I LIKE to work out and I genuinely enjoy it. I focus on helping others that look to me for guidance and advice. Lastly, your soul...how do I keep that in check, well I think I am still working on that, I know it involves surrounding myself by loved ones who keep me grounded and make me laugh and help me not take life TOO seriously. And a glass of pinot noir always helps the soul too!