Keith JonesJuly 20, 2016

Reaching your goals takes work. Challenges and unexpected surprises can make the effort even harder. Two things have helped me pursue my goals relentlessly no matter how tough or daunting life challenges seem. The first thing I do is to set and pursue three of the same goals every day. They are exercising, eating healthy and having a loving attitude.  These are three winnable goals that are completely in my control. As long as I put in the work, they are guaranteed wins that build my confidence and make me stronger for other challenges that may show up. The second thing I do is to take care of goal number one no matter what. I don’t miss workouts. Ever. I eat healthy all the time. And, I constantly work on being a loving person. I give 100% effort.

Some people assume I love exercising based on my fitness level and physical shape. This is not the case. I don’t especially enjoy exercise. However, I absolutely love the benefits. I really like feeling fit. I like the physical activities I am able to do. I like the discipline, commitment and mental toughness you get from working out consistently and challenging yourself. And, most of all, I love the people I train with. I’ve been blessed to work out with awesome friends the last ten years. The fitness, stronger mental game and friendships  are the special gifts I get from exercise. And they keep coming. I am 46 years old with no aches, pains or serious injuries. If one creeps up, I take care of it immediately by stretching and rolling. I adhere to the philosophy, “take care of your body and it will take care of you.” I still have big goals and a gigantic life purpose to serve and help others. I have to be fit for this.

I’ve eaten healthy for over 12 years now. For the longest time, I didn’t care about how food tasted as long as it was healthy and good for my body. Thanks to recipes contributed by community members over the years and Candy’s Clean Kitchen this last year, I no longer sacrifice taste for good food. My daily nutrition is bursting with nutrients and flavor. The food is so good. (Become a Stronger Total Being Member today for the most delicious and healthy recipes and cooking videos on the planet.) I’ve made eating healthy a high priority because I want to feel forever young. Nutrition is a necessary part of this. It impacts my workouts, health and mindset.

We’ve all heard it many times. Attitude is everything. And I believe it. This is why I work on mine as diligently and purposely as I do on my fitness. I want to make a difference in the world. I can’t do that if I’m down, depressed, angry or resentful. It’s impossible to do if I play the victim or cast others as villains. I will certainly fail if I judge, blame or shame others and myself. Understanding this, I work hard on my attitude. Everyday I wake up and make two declarations. One, I will be loving to everyone no matter what happens today. And two, I will see the gift and opportunity in every situation no matter how it shows up.

To be successful with these declarations, I have a plan in place that I follow daily. I begin each morning with meditation and an inspiring podcast that quiets any negative chatter I have going on. And, I lean on my positive amazing friends if I need to. Now, while I’ve shown that I can be fit and eat healthy on my own, having a loving attitude and being positive is a different story. I need amazing people in my life for this one. Their priceless, unconditional love and support creates the space where I can grow and learn from my mistakes and failures without fear of judgment. The grace they give to me allows me to keep trying because they see the goodness in my heart. They encourage when times are tough and stand for me when I am having trouble standing for myself. Their consistent love, along with my daily declarations, helps me build a stronger attitude every day. With this, I exponentially improve my chances of helping others to be happy, live their best life and make a difference.

I exercise, eat healthy and work on my attitude because I want to live a life that matters. I don’t care about material things. I care about people. And while I appreciate being treated lovingly, it doesn’t stop me if it doesn’t happen. I’m going to be loving anyway. I am obsessed with making a difference. This is what motivates me. And, to fulfill my purpose, I have to be strong physically, mentally and emotionally. This is why I exercise, eat healthy and work hard. Why do you? And if you don’t, consider committing to it. Life is better and more fulfilling when you do.

Stronger Mindset!

Keith