12 July 2014 — “Discouragement, A Moment, or a Way of Life”

Each morning I arise, head for the bathroom and weigh myself. Each time I either groan with disappointment or smuggly smile at myself in the mirror with complete satisfaction. No matter what the result and subsequent response, I then must put that aside and get ready for the early morning (5:30 AM) training session. My wife and I swallow our supplements and various drinks, eat breakfast, throw our training gear into the car and head “up the hill” to Golds Gym. Slight correction is needed at this point. I throw my wife’s gear into the car and she rides her bike “up the hill” to Golds Gym. After training she takes a shower, puts on the prettiest outfits you could ever imagine and she rides her bike on to her office. Christine, clearly outworks me always.

We could very easily have let the weigh-in number drive us nuts if it wasn’t what we expected or wanted. We could start telling ourselves lies about how this stuff is too hard. Why do I do this anyway if the body weight is not going in the right (anticipated) direction? In short, we could get “discouraged.” This “discouragement” could be an open door for excuse making and for under performing or worse—quitting altogether. We must learn to take “quitting” off the table as an option. In fact, no matter what we do in life “quitting” should never be an option if what we are engaged in is worth it.

I am on a quest to win a National Championship in July 2015. Everything I do before now and then must be under girded by the maxim, “Onward and Upward” at all costs. Doing my best in all things including bodybuilding, must be the order of the day. This mindset will easily translate itself into my training and elevate my motivation to succeed. “Discouragement” cannot get a foot hold as long as I keep my focus on the prize and what is required to attain the prize. The converse is also true. If you continually tell yourself that you cannot do it. You are not good enough. Winning is for somebody else and not for you. The best one for me is, allowing others who do not share your goals to convince you that you will never measure up or you are “too old” and you ought to stop trying to “prove” something and “grow up.” All of these self-talk examples can destroy you and by extension, your opportunity to excel. 

I am on my way! I would love to hear from you to tell me what your goals are and how you are going about the task to win. I do bodybuilding and a host of other things. What are you pursuing? Is it worth it?

We can allow “discouragement” to be a dominant and destructive force in our lives or we can recognize it for what it is —- Only a Moment!

Once you see the “Moment of Discouragement,” discharge it, get going, go eat breakfast, feed the damned dog, get your togs on and get your butt out the door to win!

This is OUR TIME! Persisting “discouragement” has no place in our lives.

Take good care of yourselves. Missing all my friends from the Class of 1969, at Mason City High School, Mason City, Iowa

Douglas E. Graham