4 Quotes That Steer My Reflection Right Now
Although I haven’t attended school in years, the fall still prompts me into a different mindset. The fall is usually when I review systems, habits, needs, and wants…..and these inspirational quotes steer my reflection this year! Take a quick read and see how they apply to you!
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Personal Trainer Wisdom: This quote is always on my list. If you want something different, you should be an example first. With the current streams of consciousness, society needs to be more selfless. It must think beyond its selfish needs and become more empathic and sympathetic. And so do I. I succumb to my basic survival needs and often think of myself first.
Now, though, I ask myself: How will my actions affect others? Is it for the greater good? Who will suffer from this decision? How can others benefit from this decision?
From this introspection, I have taken more strategic action in recent years, like starting a neighborhood association with my wife, Sammy, to build a community and curb criminal activity. Meanwhile, I continue to guide my personal training clients in their transformation process. All little efforts close to home that, hopefully, spark a fire for more significant change.
“Ignore the unfairness - there is no fair. Play the hand that you’re dealt to the best of your ability. People are highly consistent, so you will eventually get what you deserve, and so will they. In the end, everyone gets the same judgment: Death. ”
Personal Trainer Wisdom: I typically don’t consider challenging situations unfair. Instead, I see them as games with most of the pieces out of my control (and I accept this). While I’m not the gamemaster, I indeed hold a pawn that can produce results, too. There will be times when I will have the advantage and then times when others will. Either way, I put my best foot forward and hope it’s returned to me over time. And so this is life, and everyone has the same judgment at the end (at least in the physical sense).
“We accept the voice that talks to us in our head all the time as the source of all truth. But all of it is malleable, every day is new, and memory and identity are burdens from the past that prevent us from living freely in the present.”
Personal Trainer Wisdom: I like the thought of the voice in our head as malleable. It insinuates that I have some control over who I am and what I choose to do. While my memory and identity are certainly the foundation of who I am, I fully recognize how they can be burdens from my past that affect my present awareness (e.g., fears, insecurities, etc.). We should realize how the chains of our past (good or bad) ultimately filter the world in front of us and assess their value at the moment. It might help us make more fruitful decisions, leading to a more satisfying life.
“Desire is a contract that you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.”
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Desire is a sexy and dangerous word. While it infers a lustful, passionate stream of feeling towards something, it does wobble on obsession and wishful thinking without a strategic effort to achieve a purpose or want. A person might become fixated and unmoving instead of productively pursuing this goal. Since he or she is leaving this attainment to chance, he or she may consistently feel dissatisfaction, frustration, and/or deprivation instead. Why lust over that “something” when it simply leaves you in an emotional cloud unattached to a specific path? I want trips, products, and experiences, but I quickly jump to the question, “What do I need to do to obtain or achieve it?” instead of sitting in place wishing passionately for such things.
Photo: Admiral General M.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MICHAEL MOODY, PERSONAL TRAINER
As an author, a personal trainer in Denver, and podcast host, Michael Moody has helped personal training clients achieve new fitness heights and incredible weight loss transformations since 2005. He also produces the wellness podcast "The Elements of Being" and has been featured on NBC, WGN Radio, and PBS.
Michael offers personal training to Denver residents who want to meet at the 2460 W 26th Ave studio….or in their homes throughout LoHi (80206), LoDo (80202), RiNo (80216), Washington Park (80209), Cherry Creek (80206, 80209, 80243, 80246, 80231), and Highlands (80202, 80211, 80212). Michael also offers experiences with a personal trainer in Jefferson Park (80211) and Sloan's Lake (80204, 80212).
If you’re looking for a personal trainer who can curate a sustainable (and adaptable) routine based on your needs and wants, Michael is the experienced practitioner you’ve been looking for. Try personal training for a month…your body will thank you!
