Fitness is not a team sport. We often try to make it out to be. We find people with similar goals and interests who can relate to what we are trying to accomplish. We allow them to motivate us and push us as a way of sharing our journey and passion. There is a measurable energy increase when we are around like-minded people. We can become a part of a group filled with special people, and that makes us feel special as well. We can experience a sense of belonging that to some degree can define us. We can truly come to believe that without our group, team, or support system, we wouldn’t be able to make it. This is completely untrue.
You and only you will determine your ultimate success. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get help along the way. If you are fortunate enough to have the right guidance or push or encouragement, yes, your journey can be a lot easier and in some cases shorter. But not having not those things or people won’t stop you if you don’t let it.
Most of us will never experience an ideal situation, at least for any extended period of time. We will never have the ideal gym, metabolism, time, energy, perfect training partner, or whatever it is that we feel we need to be successful. I’ve had great gyms and poor ones. Worked with amazing training partners, completely useless ones, and none at all. I’ve had people around me encouraging my every move and other times when there was no support to be found. At the end of the day, it’s really all about you. You have to do the work. You have to find the right information. You have to create the ideal environment for success. Those other people who come into your life are often there because you sought them out or at the very least recognized that your journey needed what they were able to give you. And you should be appreciative and give back as much as you can to those who may need you. Sometimes the best way to find what you need is by helping others. But it still must be you that travels the path.
Those endless trips to the gym. Getting in that scheduled meal. Staying right with your diet. Remaining true to your goals. Making the necessary sacrifices when needed. That’s all you! You have to embrace the process. You have to understand that sometimes it will be hard. You have to know that often you will be alone. And you have to be okay with that. Because there is a value that you will find in the journey beyond the physical changes. Beyond what anyone else will see or know.
Somewhere along this solitary path, you will run into someone and get to know them very well.
Somewhere along that path, you will find out who you really are.
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