Shout Out the Doubt!
It seems to a greater extent than ever before in my professional career, I find myself engaged in deep conversation with people regarding the pernicious plague of self doubt. Sometimes this disease strikes seemingly without any warning. You believe yourself to have been rendered paralyzed, incapable of following through on that commitment to yourself. Like a tall oak tree having been toppled over by a powerful bolt of lightening, you feel as if you shall never be able to proudly stand upright again. For others, this affliction has been a serious, long-time struggle.The wondrous hopes and dreams of youth have all been erased from the memory banks. In their place have been stored only visions full of fear and inadequacy. “One of the greatest weaknesses in most of us is our lack of faith in ourselves. One of our common failings is to depreciate our tremendous worth.”-L. Tom Perry If you don’t believe that you are of inestimable value, then no significant effort will be employed to attain anything greater in life. You who doubt your worth will settle for less than you truly deserve for you must believe that you actually deserve little at all. What a tragic, false narrative you have written regarding your own existence. No matter what your experience, you can alter that mindset. However real your situation, you can change your self-image. Regardless of the depth and magnitude of your adversity, you have the ability to rise above the negativity and see yourself for who you really are.“You have within you the strength, patience, and passion to reach for the stars and change the world.”-Harriet Tubman That, my friends, means that what you do, or do not, is important. You matter significantly!
You are so much more than what you see today! You are so much more than how you feel today! This affliction, whether completely self-induced, or provoked by the unkind words and actions of another, or even just aided by the every day rigors of life, has caused much damage. But, I tell you that nothing is irreversible. “To those who are wounded in spirit or who are struggling and fearful, we say, Let us lift you and cheer you and calm your fears.”-Thomas S. Monson So, you recently talked yourself out of taking that all important step forward in the areas of exercise and proper eating. Perhaps, you didn’t show up for the first couple training appointments which you scheduled. Maybe, you received the first order of food today for an exciting new program and you just panicked. The thoughts of self-doubt begin to pop up inside your head like lottery balls in the hamper. This is not uncommon. Look, it is after all, the easy way out. You know it and I know it. Hey, neither a deflated or bruised ego, nor a singular moment of doubt, nor a lifetime of unbelief can pass as appropriate justification for giving up on yourself. It boils down to this: every single difficulty which you could possibly face must be surmounted. Understand that the helping hands that have been offered are outstretched still. Trust in the sincerity of those who have walked this lonely road before you. Though you may be shy, nervous, anxious, or downright scared to death, you must not retrace the steps of your past. There is a means to vanquish your foe. You can triumph over your own fears. You are not alone.
“Sometimes the best people have the worst experiences, because they are the most ready to learn.”-Neil A. Maxwell Being completely and utterly broken is often necessary to drive one into a state of preparedness. In this condition, one is more likely to find the humility required to be taught the way out of despair. Your health coach is wise as to the pitfalls which have trapped so many others. He or she can provide an awesome support system. You will find an ever present friendly voice of compassion and encouragement. Your personal trainer is forgiving. So, please forgive yourself. Then seek the guidance and protection from that reliable resource.
Just this evening, I shared some thoughts with a woman who had never formally exercised in her life. She expressed just how nervous she was feeling about the entire concept. I was impressed that she showed up on such a cold night. I was more impressed that she listened intently to my counsel and followed my instruction fearlessly. Upon completion of our time together, she exclaimed in a rather surprising manner that this had not been nearly so bad as she had expected. These are my goals: to make the uncomfortable task bearable, to help you see that the improbable is, actually, possible, and never to leave you comfortless.
Indeed, the trials of yesterday may have been extremely overwhelming. You felt weak and weary. How grateful I am for this new day dawning. It is not too cold or too hot. It is not too crowded. You have not ruined everything. It is not too late. “We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.”-Richard G. Scott With caring companions on this journey, you can shut out the doubt. Heck, if you must, “Shout out the doubt!” Scream away at the top of your lungs! I would recommend a secluded spot for that cleansing. “Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other. Cast out doubt! Cultivate faith!”-Thomas S. Monson