Day 18! Here we go! So this is going to be another one where I'm yelling at you, but I'm really yelling at myself, so don't take it personally ok? We're on the same page? Ok. Here we go.
So I'm going to start off with a story I've already told you before (either on here or on my YT Chanel). So when I was in college, I really didn't care for the classes I was taking. I didn't really care for school at all actually. NOW I would love to go back, but back then... I didn't want to be there. But I DID want to graduate and I DID want a degree. Even though I wanted those things.... somehow... I ended up on academic probation... TWICE. Let me tell you something about that "twice" word. After the 2nd time, there is no 3rd. They kick you out of school. So I'm on my 2nd probation and I'm thinking "I cannot flunk out and tell my Haitian mama that I failed out of college, that's not an option". When I tell y'all for that semester I sat my behind down and concentrated. I mean I knew everything I needed to do. I had my scheduling down, got study partners, showed up to office hours, honey all the things. By the end of the semester, I was on the President's List. All A's and B's for the first time in my life. What I learned at that moment was this lesson:
IT'S NOT THAT YOU'RE INCAPABLE: YOU JUST DON'T WANT IT BAD ENOUGH
Show of hands, how many of you know how to make a good excuse? Me too. Now, how many of you have a feeling in the pit of your gut that there is something greater inside of you? Me too. Lastly, how many of you will start doing something with all this ambition, but more often than not end up either quitting or not executing it to the capacity that you thought you could in your head? Ok, me too, all the time! Now sometimes we can get a little discouraged by this and start to doubt our abilities. I'm here to tell you that it has nothing to do with your ability. You are more than capable. Anything you want to accomplish, you can do. You have the ability to make it happen. It's your mind and your will that we have to focus on. If you can get your mind and your will aligned, your capability is light work. But remember the first question I asked you about excuses? Yeah, that's the killer. We disguise our excuses as reasons and don't push ourselves as far as we KNOW WE ARE CAPABLE OF.
QUICK STORY:
I've always struggled with my weight. I use to be super skinny when I was younger, and then I got super big when I was in the deepest part of depression, and then I lost weight, and then it was up and down and up and down for years. Every time I wanted to lose weight I would start strong, lose a little, and then fall off. About 2 years ago I decided "you know what this is it. I'm going to lose this weight." I started working out at home every day (during the pandemic I had no job so I had time). I lost a little, then I started working again and I didn't have as much time. I also got bored of home workouts. So then I decide, that if I wake up early and walk to work, then those 1.6 miles each way can count as my exercise. That was cool until it started getting cold and snowy, I was not finna walk in the cold and in the snow. So I started going to the gym and started my boxing classes again... and then I couldn't afford the classes anymore. I kept having "reasons" to stop. Last year I weighed in at the heaviest I've ever been in my life. I was a cool 218lbs. I said "LORD! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE" And in 1 year's time, my mind and my will aligned with my ability and I WENT TO WORK. I went from 218lbs to 177lbs (and still working towards my goal). ALL OF THOSE YEARS it wasn't that I wasn't capable of getting in shape... I just didn't want it bad enough; because, as soon as I wanted it bad enough... EXCUSES BE DAMMED. NOTHING was stopping me. It came to a point where I was working out 9 times a week. I was determined. It never had anything to do with whether or not I was capable.
PRACTICAL STEPS
POSITIVE THINKING: As cheesy as this may sound, it makes a big difference. Whatever it is you desire to accomplish, you've got to surround it with positivity in your mind. That means constantly reminding yourself that you are capable. Say things like, "I can do this", "With God, anything is possible", and "I'm a lot further now than I was when I started".
LEARN TO PIVOT: When you are working toward something, especially something great, ESPECIALLY SOMETHING GOD ASSIGNED YOU TO DO, there are going to be sooooo many obstacles. They come as excuses disguised as "reasons" for you to stop. DON'T STOP. Learn how to pivot. " Ok, it didn't work this way? Cool, what's another way we can try it? What's another angle we can take it from?" "Oh, they quit. Alright, can we get them back? No? Ok, who else can we put in that position?" "Oh, we don't have the funds? Ok, how can we fundraise for this?" Don't stop, pivot.
RESEARCH: Knowledge is power ya'll. Sometimes I find strength in knowledge. If I'm working on something and I'm starting to feel dicorged. I do research. There is nothing new under the sun so SOMEBODY has either done this or something similar before. So I go to a book or to the internet and start learning more about the thing. Then I get excited ad more equipped to continue on the journey.
GET AN HONEST ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER: The person/people you get to hold you accountable are very important. We are not meant to live life alone. Sometimes we need someone to come alongside us in our weak moments and remind us of our strengths. Get some quality people around you who won't let you settle and won't take your excuses. But not only that, you have a part to play too. If you give them the authority to speak into your life that way, then you need to be able to submit to that and listen to them when they come to hold you accountable.
PLAN: I am a big fan of plans and budgets and schedules. I believe we have to be as intentional at budgeting our time and planning ahead. When you don't set short-term goals to help you reach your long-term goals, it makes it that much easier for time to pass and you not accomplish anything. If you want to write a book, you can't just say "I'm going to write a book". That's just the long-term goal. You gotta plan it out. I'm going to write 5 pages a week. I'm going to have one chapter completed each month. I will have my editors selected by the end of June. My first draft will be ready by August 30th.
GRACE: With all the planning, pivoting, and positive thinking, things still may not go according to plan. Have grace for yourself. Sometimes you need to take a pause. But get back to it. Sometimes on the journey, you discover this isn't what you wanted, well then take all of that energy and put it towards what you actually wanted, Just don't stop. Have some grace for yourself. It's a journey.
PRAY: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6. Whatever it is you put your mind to, give to God. He'll see you through. Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more, and then believe that it is so.
Like I've said to you all many times before: It's not easy, but it is possible. So my assignment to you is to find ONE THING you've put off because you didn't think you were capable, and then DO IT! I'll be one of your accountability partners if you'll allow me. I'll even pray with you. Go get'em!
I love ya'll for reading, and I love ya'll for real!
- Woods
Lighting up the woods, one Syllable at a time
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