While I was running today it was hard! It was very hard. In fact, it was
so hard I started doing a high intensity workout that required me to
expel bolts of energy then for period of limited energy. I saw people
running with friends, with ipods, with pets? and I started getting
envious. I started feeling angry.
Your Personality
There are several different types of personalities out there in the
world, and my personality is such, that I don't like having someone or
something having too much control over me. I don't like feeling
'dependent' on anything.
I think most "independent," "free-willed," people feel the same way.
While I've competed in both beauty and fitness competitions, I never
hired a trainer, or a makeup artist, or a hair stylist. I sewed all my
costumes and created my own workout program.
I read tons of books on makeup, fitness, and biographies. I have
researched winners on the internet and ordered the competition tapes to
analyze each contest.
My parents didn't force me to constantly challenge myself, and my
friends were happy with who I was, but while I was content, I was never
happy living in contentment: because my personality is also one that
indulges in challenges and seeks to fulfill my potential.
My point is I don't think I'm special in any sense of the word because I
believe the desire to feel as part of a larger process and challenge our
personal skills to its peak lives within all of us. I think that in
order to experience this type of 'flow' you have to experience life.
As Scott Peck's opening statement in the book, "The Road Less Traveled"
states: 'Life is difficult.' And it sure is difficult. It was difficult
running today.
It was difficult not partying last night. It still is difficult to stay
positive when your dreams are not realized. But at the same time, I
balance this negative energy I feel during challenge by experiencing
positive energy on tasks that I do well.
Find The "Niche" In Your Personality Success
The number one rule to success is that people who are successful are
actually really good at what they do. The question to ask oneself is:
what am I good at? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What gives me
the edge?
But I balance out my weakness with my strength in weight training and
other cardio group classes.
In order to stick with a workout program you've got to start getting
good at it. If all you can do is run twenty minutes a day only three
days a week, then put it in your weekly planner and hold yourself
accountable to completing it. As you become challenged, and overcome
that challenge, you will be able to tackle more.
The gist of this is that you can't be good at something if you don't
understand what it takes to be good at it. You've got to educate
yourself on how your body and your mind react to different stimuli. Not
only should you educate yourself on how your personal body functions and
absorbs nutrients, but you have to educate yourself on how your mind
handles adversity and challenge.
While we are all part of the same human family, I know that as a young,
asian, female, I have a different body composition, different food
tolerances and cultural influences than the white, fit, females that I
usually read about in magazines.
At the same time, it is also important to note that while we are all
specifically different, because we are all humans, we are all generally
the same, so it is important to take studies and research them yourself.
While we focus so much on how we are all different physically, there is
another component to success that we rarely tap into. Psychologically,
we are all very different. Some people excel in groups, some excel as
loners. Some people are introverted, and some are extroverted. Some like
to lead and others follow.
You've got to understand what your personality type is. Because while
you may be going down the correct route physically, psychologically you
may not be using your mind potential to its fullest.
If you need someone to lead you, hire a trainer. If you need a friend to
physically encourage you, find a friend to train with. If you don't like
being controlled, get the tools necessary to achieve independence. If
you are an emotional eater, create better reactionary solutions.
Master Your Emotions
In order
to understand yourself, you've got to understand your mind. What makes
you happiest? What makes you sad? What gets you angry? What gets you
excited?
Today while running, I got angry. I got angry because I felt weak. I
felt weak because I had taken five Benadryls the night before and my
energy wasn't up to par.
At the same time, I wasn't getting the results I wanted since I'm only
human, and I desire quick satisfaction. And because I got angry, I began
blaming things. I began blaming my predicament on the fact that I didn't
own an ipod, or had a friend to run with, or a trainer to push me.
I got angry that I was alone. And then I realized that everything in
life is a choice, and I CHOSE TO RUN ALONE. I chose not to hire a
trainer, or run with a friend. My life is the way it is because I
created it to be the way it is.
I think it's important for everyone to look in the mirror and remind
themselves that their life is the way it is because they chose it to be
the way it is.
It is much easier to blame others for altering your emotions, or blame
employers for giving you a hard time, or the media for implanting
negative body images in your head... but the fact is: you can't control
anything in this world but your mind, body and spirit.
The 'Psychology of Success' whether it is about achieving
physical, financial, educational or spiritual results requires you to
understand yourself. Understand your personality.
Understand why you want the things you want, and get angry or happy at
the things that cause those strong emotions. While we all have a
physical prowess in all of us to be outwardly strong and confident, we
are not complete until we become a Master of our Minds.
The Point
I am not saying that I am independent, because god knows I am very
dependent on my friends and family for a lot of my emotional stability.
In fact, let me take this small window to thank my parents, my siblings,
Mike, Ray, Minji, Brian, Paul, Erick, Dave, Gina, and Vivian for your
words of encouragement and wisdom.
What I am saying is that you've got to have balance. You've got to
experience life and get frustrated to know where you are weak, and where
you need to improve. You've got to face the fact that life is difficult
and that in order to grow you must be challenged.
Don't take your challenges in life too seriously. Play life like it's a
game: a game you want to get good at so that you can win. Some days you
win, some days you lose, but as long as you're still trapped in the
game, it's best to start getting good at it.
10 Useful Tips in your Journey Towards Mind Success
Don't compare yourself to others.
Discover your strengths and weaknesses through experience
Find an inspiration
Set a specific goal
Create a plan that you can stick with
Get educated on your body and your emotions
Stay positive! Be consistent regardless of the struggle
Dream big. Hope for something larger than yourself
