"You don’t set out to build a wall. You don’t say ‘I’m going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that’s ever been built.’ You don’t start there. You say, ‘I’m going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid. You do that every single day. And soon you have a wall. "
~Will Smith
You ever get tired of hearing your own self talk? I do. I got to a point where as much as I loved to write, and I loved the random emails, inboxes and texts that someone I only knew peripherally had been inspried, in addition to the flat out encouragement by those I know and love the most to keep doing it...I feel like I had said it all and it was all being said and I had nothing new. I also (are you asleep yet?) felt like it was ALL.ABOUT.ME. because for whatever reason that is what I write on.
But this year I've been inspired to work on my faith. (And leadership, but that is for another day). And I've been hit over the head over and over that this is what I should do so I am stepping out in faith. Even tho I can think of a list of reasons why its a waste of time and how it won't help me or anyone else (so why do it?)...this is an exercise in faith.
I commit to blog at least once a week for the rest of 2016 as an act of faith. And I realized what was holding me back was things I don't like about it and the fact Im out of practice, yada yada yada. Its a fine line between writing for yourself and writing for others and writing for yourself and sharing it with others... thats a fine line, but is a super strong one. I did not like writing for others but I fell into that trap. Looking for feedback is addictive and its useless to me. I can also use writing to procrastinate. Like you sit down to write and get that done but 17 million hours later you are rearranging your desktop icons an you are avoiding tasks that should have been done.
The above quote has never been about faith to me until just now. As I was talking my self out of this I realized I was still not doing things I could not do perfectly. I help others get started and fail fast ALOT...and I personally admit I am willing to fail at a lot, but the perfectionism creeps in and it was creeping in this project.
So in my more successful endeavors, I've leaned heavily on the above quote recently. In the past I worked around the clock furiously building the wall and without a perfect vision of the end result, I ended up with a tired me, a sloppy wall in some places and a great wall in some, and not knowing the endgame, no end in site and a lack of inspiration to finish! So then I learned you need to see the wall you want to build. In my world, I think of my child, my health, my work, my home, etc.... what is the end goal? Then I can slow waaaaayyyyy down and lay the brick in that wall...or as I think of it, like building a house. I am building Ellen Rose... Her physical (outside) and her mental/spirtual (inside) house is my job. How can I lay that foundation today? With health/fitness, this was super helpful in attempting a fitness competition... you can't see the results of that work or those 6 perfect meals today, but you must just focus on them as brick in the house you are building (in this case the house could be my body/or the goal itself)... etc, etc, etc. So last year is when it truly hit me what it meant to "trust the process". Not to view every failure as a sign to stop. But also to heed the problems and failures and not stubbornly fall into the same traps.
So today Im putting a brick in the wall of writing. But this time I can't see the end wall. I just know 2 things. I commit to do it each week and write for ME. I don't care if anyone reads or the reactions...but I commit to share as an act of faith. Of believing that the signs, reminders, words of strangers, are signs its what I should do. ITs what Im wired to do, apparently gifted to do and what I can contribute with. After wall, like a lily in the field I need to do what Im made to do and not question it. I am not sure if I can see the purpose or endgame...because this is the year of faith so I feel like I am building a wall only God can see. Its not for me to see how this will be used for me or even for others. Its an act of faith. Im laying the brick. The house is up to Him.
That's all I got!
Anna
- Anna Smith, MSA, NASM CPT
- In my professional and personal life, I have always sought to lead people, teams and projects with one mission: positive influence and impact. As founder of Revolution Personal Training Center, I lead an award winning private studio to impact thousands of lives using the concepts I still teach today. As President of Elevate Your Life from 2016, I switched into a consulting role providing mentoring to those seeking to build a business in the fitness industry. I have effectively taught thousands of people on sales and leadership, generating millions in sales in the fitness and wellness space, as well as multiple award winning and recognized top producers in nationwide companies. Today, I am focused on writing and sharing what I have learned along the way. Uncommon Optimism is the underlying theme of knowing that NO MATTER what life throws our way, we are always able to focus on what we can control - ourselves… Join me on the journey as I share what I've learned to help you elevate your self, your business, and your life.
