Line Up Your Next Success
I don’t remember who.
I don’t remember when.
And, I don’t remember where.
And, in today’s data-driven and scientifically-based approach to working out, what I’m about to say may not even line up with what we’re supposed to do. But, as I was reading Steven Kotler’s The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primerthis morning—specifically the section on unlocking creativity—I was reminded of a very important bit of exercise dictum.
Here’s what I remember:
Always leave a workout wanting to do more.
In talking about ways to hack creativity for the long-haul, Steven Kotler advises that we need to build momentum:
“Creativity isn’t a single battle; it’s an ongoing war. By quitting when you’re excited, you’re carrying momentum into the next day’s work session. Momentum is the real key. When you realize that you left off someplace both exciting and familiar—someplace where you know the idea that comes next—you dive right back in, no time wasted, no time to let fear creep back into the equation, and far less time to get up to speed.”
The same goes for fitness.
Fitness is not a single battle. Like creativity, fitness is an ongoing war. Unfortunately for you, though, you’ve been primed to think differently.
How?
Well, there are so many programs out there that attempt to convince you that you can get the results that you want in a short amount of time.
A quick Google search of “perfect abs in 7 days” reveals the top hit of a video by Lilly Sabri: GET SHREDDED ABS in 7 Days (flat belly challenge) | 10 minute Workout.
Lilly’s ab routine is great.
But, I can promise you this: 7 days will not give you shredded abs. 7 days will not give you a flat belly. And, Lilly did not get those abs in 7 days.
What will give you this desired outcome: consistency.
And one thing that I’m sure Lilly does a great job of is being extremely consistent with her approach to fitness: day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year.
Ask yourself this:
When it comes to anything that I’ve done in my life that has led to an outcome that I was extremely proud of, has it ever happened in 7 days?
My guess: the answer is a resounding NO.
Consistency—day in and day out over an extended period of time—was most likely the key.
And, that’s where Steven Kotler’s advice on creativity applies to fitness. In order to build consistency, it’s important to build momentum. We can simply alter Kotler’s advice so that it applies to fitness:
“By quitting when you’re excited, you’re carrying momentum into the next day’s work[out] session. Momentum is the real key. When you realize that you left off someplace both exciting and familiar — someplace where you know the [workout] that comes next — you dive right back in, no time wasted, no time to let fear [or exhaustion] creep back into the equation, and far less time to get up to speed.”
Put another way:
Always leave a workout wanting to do more.
You’ll be amazed at the momentum that you build day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year.
That’s were the magic happens: consistency over the long run.
Ditch the quick fix mentality.
Nothing of value ever comes in an instant.