Mind Over Matter (yea, as if that were just sooo easy RiGHT?!?)

"Instead of thinking outside of the box, get rid of the box."

                                                  - Deepak Chopra
I recently read an article featured in The Huffington Post about how once babies learn to crawl or take their first steps they develop a fear of heights. Before they gain mobility they are virtually fearless. This fear and/or awareness sets in even if no injury occurs.

This got me thinking...

How else do we limit ourselves simply in fear of something happening to us instead of having actual reason or experience to keep ourselves from a certain experience?

In my line of work (Rocket Science. I kid, I kid) Immediately upon meeting people (potential clients) they like to tell me all the things they won't do, don't do, or can't do. Usually this list is so ridiculous I often have to work really hard to keep from rolling my eyes and ask "yea, and hows that been working for you?"

Whether we realize it or not we all have this 'breakdown' of who we are in our heads that we have built up over years of both negative and positive experiences. This list is initially compiled to keep us safe but as we grow older this list doesn't keep us safe, it holds us back!
Worried face.
This list of what and who we are (and that's just how it is.) grows and grows and the older we become, the more we learn, and the more we learn ways to reinforce these beliefs. We don't argue with it or try to change it. In fact, in most cases we work around these things, hoping that our efforts will yield the same and/or better results had we not had this self-imposed "limitation".
I'm not just talking about limitations that relate to physical fitness either! Some of my favorites include:
"I'm not a good dancer."
"I can't/don't run."
"Sweets are my weakness."
"I don't get along with other women."
"I'm only compatible with ________ type of men."
"I'm a smoker."
"My feet/knees are too wide/too flat/too narrow/too fat to jump."
"I'm Polish/Virgo/Jewish so I'm slow-moving by nature."
"I'm too old for this."
"I don't have time to ________."
"I don't have the money to_________."
(After the end of all of these you might as well also put "so I'll remain miserable because that's easier than changing.")

Well in response to all of these things I say: SAY'S WHO?
The honest answer is: Say's YOU
        and what the hell do you know anyway?

 (I have a couple of these myself by the way... I have a slow metabolism. I'm not good at math. I'll make a horrible Wife/Mother. I'm selfish. I'm a bad cook. I associate love with food. I'm a loner. It's a script I'm not quite proud of but in the interest of being honest with my audience...)

Where did all this start? BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY when will this tape stop playing?
We are brought up being told: You can be whatever you want to be! Just do X, Y, & Z and you WILL get there. Something happens along the way though... student loans, kids, a job we don't get, etc. so we turn down a different path telling ourselves : "It just isn't my time."

BUT I ASK YOU: Isn't this just another one of those self-imposed limitations: "It just isn't my time."? 

Phooey! 

My challenge to you this week is EVERY time you tell yourself what you AREN'T
or DON'T do
or CAN'T AFFORD 
you then ask yourself if that's really true
or: Is this Aren't/Can't/Don't something you are just hanging on to because the idea that YOU are more powerful and capable of doing anything you want and accomplishing everything you want is just too much for you to handle? 

This limitation is in your head! Nothing is reality unless you BELIEVE it is! 
Can you digest that whatever limitation you have was placed on you BY YOU?!

End. Of. Story.
You are in charge.

Again, pretty heavy stuff here I know. But in my opinion life is too short to not take responsibility and own who you are!
I mean, take a good hard look at WHO YOU REALLY ARE and if you don't like it change it ALREADY and kick that non-running,
                                slow-meatbolism'd,
                                       bad dancer OUT of YOUR LIFE!

LOSE the weight!
Get healthy!
Make the time!
Go back to school!
Save up for that trip!

You'll never know unless you try

Mind over matter, right?
Dooo work!
We are in this together
xoxo
T