Hello Groovers.
Hope you enjoyed your weekend. It has been raining non-stop here in Melbourne lately and in a city which has been on water restrictions forever (seemingly), that’s great news. The trees in my front yard have been clapping solidly for three days. My weekend has been kinda busy so sadly there will be no inspiration and no lesson from me today, just a little hi (hi!). I thought I’d just stop by here briefly to say G’day as I’m heading up to Wollongong for a gig this morning (actually writing this late Sunday night). I am up at 4.45 for a 7am flight to Sydney and then a 90(ish) minute drive to the Gong.
I thought that considering (1) I haven’t had time to write a post over the weekend and (2) I said I would give away a few signed books before Christmas, it might be time for you to do some work and also a good opportunity for you to motivate, educate and inspire the rest of us to greatness. Or at the very least, improvement!
So what I want you to do is share a phrase, a saying, a proverb, a thought, a mantra or an expression which has been a significant part of your journey and development. Something which has helped you stay focused, disciplined and proactive. Something which has empowered you to keep your mind in the game and to create better results in your world. Do your best to avoid sharing any of those cheesey, over-used motivational sayings (you know the ones) and try not to turn it into a sermon. Having said that, I would love to hear from you – even you Lurkers who never leave the cyber-shadows. Maybe today is your day!
Johnny and I will give away three signed copies of Fattitude to the three best contributions. And yes, we will send those books anywhere in the world. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you when I return from the Gong. Just click on the comment thingy and do your thing.
Ciao x
* If you’re not sure how to leave a comment, click here.
{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Craig,
One I use is….if you “almost” do something, you will “almost” get results!
Another one…from my mum…If it is worth doing it is worth doing well. (I guess they are pretty much the same thing though, but they help me!)
Others I use Craig are yours so I won’t add them.
Have an awesome day.
Hugs
Michelle xx
“You’re a better woman because of it, not in spite of it”.
The main mantra that I have used to lose over 40kgs and get fit is …
“What do I want and what am I willing to do to get it?”
Posted on the wall in my office: Change isn’t change until it is changed. Ed Cole, Maximized Manhood.
-Orville from Iowa
When I was in my Senior year of High School my Algebra teacher had this saying posted above the blackboard. It has served me well in all aspects of my life.. I believe it’s a quote by Aristotle.
“The effort you make in trying to solve a problem is often worth more than obtaining the answer.”
“Only right now I can decide to make the right choices.”
“Not all grey is as black as I think.”
It helped me lose 21 kg up to now.
Hi Craig
Glad you made me think this morning whilst eating my very yummy muesli, yoghurt and banana. This just came to me:
All the little buts (but I don’t have time, but I live too far from the gym, but everyone else was eating it, but it’s Christmas!) add up to one big butt.
Not very profound but it works for me.
Have fun in Sydney.
EG
Hey there Craig
The one I repeat constanly to myself at the moment on my weight loss journey is:
What you eat in private you wear in public!
This really helps me think about what I am putting in my mouth each and every day
“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverence”
This hangs on my kyak rack in the garage. I have read it almost every day for about 5 years and helped me understand how to get out of the wanting for “instant gratification” phase in life.
And now I go as far as I can see and when I get there, I can always be see further.
Have a fabulous day!
Kathryn
I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either.
It’s a fridge magnet I found at LA airport a few years ago! Works for me.
Honesty with others is the safest place to stand. Honesty with yourself is the most rewarding.
My sister told me this one: “If you keep doing the same things, you’ll keep getting the same results.”
“If you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live”?
I got these two from the Triathlon QLD site:
‘To finish, you have to start.’
and
‘Barriers are all in the mind. The heart. The lungs. The legs.’
My “Journey” to lose weight and compete in a figure competition and experience other amzing things in my life, was inspired by my Pastor’s “take” on a phrase from the bible…
“Do you want to stay on the treadmill that is your unhappy life or make some real choices and step off the treadmill and choose the life you want?…it’s all about CHOICE!!”…
Mine is a bit of a long one and is posted on my wall at work. It’s part of a speech given by Calvin Coolidge, ex-US president.
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The words “press on” have solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.
I pretend someone is ALWAYS watching me… it’s when you drop your guard that you notice you’ve stuffed up. Not in a paranoid way but as if i have the responsibility to be the one great example in others lives- not just my own!
One thing I’ve kept telling myself over the last few weeks is;
“Why take the easy way out, when I am strong enough to bulldoze my way through?”
and the good old gem “If it was gonna be easy, EVERYONE would be doing it.”
so far I’ve lost 6kg and 7cm off my belly alone!
Cheers
Annie
I started the year with “nothing changes if nothing changes”
With changes I have seen great results and I’m greatly encouraged. I have given up smoking and lost 45cm and just ran my first 5kms.
My Psalm for the year has been and still is Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good:Blessed is the man that trusts in him.
It has been a year of learning to trust others and humbling oneself and to look around and taste and see all the good around us, be thankful and have fun.
Have a fantastic day.
Julia
Hi Craig
2 favourites
Be yourself because everybody else is taken
and
Be the best that YOU can be
Sue
Not sure who it’s by, but after a day when I didn’t quite get it right or am ready to quit, I find this one good to remember:
Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the night that says “I will try again tomorrow”.
Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom, good to have some food for thought.
Safe travels Craig, pop in and say hi to my friend who lives in the ‘Gong could you? She makes a mean cheesecake, …
Be in the now for all you have is the now. Every morning create your day don’t care what people say just follow your own way.
shelley p
Hi Craig,
Firstly, I love your stuff, am so grateful to my mum for leading me to your site (she’s a big fan, you’ll get to meet her at the 2 day RYL!)
I figured today was a good day to stop being a lurker, so here are my two fave mantras to help me along:
I’m Dani and I can do anything (a mantra that saw me through many difficult times – emotionally and physically)
If it is to be, it is up to me (ten little words seen in the office of one of my college teachers).
Cheers, Dani
I think there are only 2 steps to achieving ANYTHING in life:
1) Start (most people don’t)
2) Persevere until the job is done(most people give up way too quickly)
Thinner, fitter, stronger.
I say this to myself before sleep each night and I’m ending the year a lot thinner, fitter and stronger than I was at the start of it (it took a lot of work, though).
Jackie T, emerging from the cyber shadows.
Hey Craig ! Sharing three sayings that have shaped who I am, although they are all probably classed as cheesy and over-used…
“Do as you would be done by”… borrowed from that wonderful story, The Water Babies, which made a huge impression on me when I was about 4 years old. I’ve always tried to live by it and my kids heard it so many times, they thought I was a broken record. (Something from pre-CD days for all you youngies out there !!)
“Today is the first day of the rest of your life”… I saw it hanging on a wall in an office when I was about 20 and went home and pulled out my water colours and made one for myself… even made the frame myself… and it still hangs on my bedroom wall almost 40 years later.
“Worry… putting today’s sun under tomorrow’s cloud”… learned from my yoga teacher who I just caught up with last week after 18 years ! I still have this one written up on a little white board after all those years too.
None of them exactly award winners, but they work for me !
{{HUG}} Tina
Sheesh Craig. I’d love a free book but what do you mean I have to WORK for it? Isn’t there a pill or something I can take????
A saying that's pinned to my Sensei's pinboard is:
"If it's going to be, it's up to me."
It continually motivates me to take action (rather than just thinking about things, or planning, or hoping something will "just happen") .. and it's also empowering when you accept that YOU alone have the power to make great change and you don't have to rely on or wait on anyone else.
And on the occasions when the excuses seem to slip easily off the tongue, a simple "suck it up, princess" tends to work too!
Enjoy Sydney & the Gong .. at least it's not raining up here
Cheers,
Sue
Not fitness related but a funny quote I read recently. Enjoy
“Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.”
Have a great day, Cheers, Vin. PS. Gidday Amanda B
Change it until its changed!
Hi Craig,
A saying I have used throughout my adult life while studying and increasing my fitness is..
“If it is to be, It’s up to me.”
Since finding your webpage I have enjoyed popping in for some time out when my brain needs a break from work.. Good stuff!
Cheers Ingrid
I have two mantras that I keep posted onto my computer.
1. Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall – Confucius.
2. Instead of giving myself reasons why I can’t, I give myself reasons why I can.
I also use “to create different, you must do different”…wonder where I got that from ?
Hi Craig,
I have 3 quotes and 2 song lyrics that I’ve always found will pump me up when I think about them – particularly when I’m in the rut and not in the groove.
The quotes
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein
(Pretty self explanatory in my eyes)
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” – Thomas A. Edison
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison (My addition to this is – 10,001 just might be the way that works).
Song Lyrics
“And I don’t worry about nothin’ no
‘Cause worrin’s a waste of my… time”
Guns ‘ n’ Roses – “Mr Brownstone” – Appetite for Destruction (1987)
(Something I need to aspire to much more often these days).
“But you’ve got to laugh to prevent yourself from crying” – The pursuit of happiness (TPOH) – “Hard to Laugh” – Love Junk (1988)
(No matter the circumstances – always try and find the humour instead of wallowing in misery and guilt).
Cheers,
Ben
My favourite and one I’ve been using often lately is ‘your history does not have to equal your future’ – I think that one’s very powerful.
Anyhow, as I got that one from you Craig, I thought I’d better offer a different mantra so I chose this one –
You have one thing in common with all successful people – ‘24 HOURS A DAY’ – It’s how you use them that makes all the difference.
Cheers – hope you enjoyed your gig and trip to Woollongong,
Monica
Hey Craig ! Here’s another one for ya. I can’t say this one has a long history with me like the other three, but it’s what I’ve been using as my email sig for a while now…
“Do just once what others say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.” James R. Cook
{{HUG}} Tina
Hi Craig!
I have two little motives that always spring to mind when in need. Both of course from good ol’ Mum. I swear I have a Mum on my shoulder most of the day…! (glad she’s not evil…)
1. Some days are diamond, some days are coal – it all depends on the pressure.
Being a chemist by trade this one particularly focusses me.
2. 1%
Always give just 1% more than you thought you could and you’ll be amazed at the difference. I’m amazed how often I think to myself ok just 1% more..
Anyways, thought someone may be inspired from those, I know they inspire me – each person different and each person has their own little mum on their shoulder!
Take care, have a great chrissy and i look forward to hearing you back on the grandstanders next year.
xo Hannah
Hi Craig,
What I say to myself each day is: “I’m worth it” three simple words but when I am questioning why I am doing things that have no immediate results but in the long run make me the best I can be and help me to achieve what I am working for I just say these words.
Mine is the same as Jenny F’s. I am worth it.
Three little words that mean so much. It took me 34 years to believe that I am worth the effort.
On a side note I cracked 95 kilos which was my christmas goal and bought myself a kayak to celebrate. So the fat girl is now a kayaker!! Who woudda thought, not me thats for sure.
Life just keeps getting better Craig.
This isn’t really a saying but it’s 6 words that have lately been helping me push through my comfort zone. And i repeat these words when i go to bed and dream, whenever i feel exhausted during a workout, whenever i eat my vegies instead of the banana bread i really want. I repeat these words whenever i put myself out there and feel embarrassed. When i repeat these words i remind myself why i want to change:
‘i want to be the best, i want to be the best, i want to be the best..’
Ange
Hi Craig,
My favourite Japanese proverb is:
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight”.
It reminds me that nothing worthwhile that I have done or am doing is easy (uni degree, paying off mortgage, losing weight, career etc) and with any venture in life, persistence is key- I may struggle and have bad days, but I never NEVER give up!
Thanks,
Steph.
Hey Guys – wow, what a response. Amazing what the offer of free stuff will do!
Even dragged a few Lurkers from the cyber-shadows… maybe we can meet a few more of you by the end of the day? Good to hear from you all and thanks for sharing a part of you. At the moment I’m sitting at Sydney airport trying very hard to not think about all the germs on this very well-used public keyboard.
Today I spoke to the good folk from Nestle… had some fun and now I’m heading home. Keep up the good work Team and I’ll see you (so to speak) tomorrow.
From the WW message boards, ..
Losing weight is hard, being overweight is hard.
You choose your hard.
Regards
Suzanne
Inspiration for improvement on many levels… here goes…the Metta Prayer…..
‘May I be at peace, May I know the beauty of my own true nature, May my heart remain open, may I be healed’
A definite for getting through those tricky hard times….
Dear Mr Harper
Not so anon to You
My contribution
“When you are going through Hell – keep going”
I gotta keep going
Since my favourite was also quoted by a couple of others, I’ll add two more into the mix.
This one I read here only recently, but love it:
“Don’t die with your music still in you.”
And the classic from Ghandi:
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Hi Craig!
Nothing like a freebie to get people tapping away!!
When I get a bad case of the “Why do I bothers?” (and that is a regular occurrance!!) I remind myself:
“Esteem for myself will come from doing those things that are very difficult.”
Slowly, slowly I will shift my life!
Merry Christmas!
Em
Living your life in a state of balance will rob you of the high highs, but also of the low lows….. because for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction!!!!
Contentment with what you have right now is a wonderful thing.
And… gratitude for all that is in your life.
So….. Thankyou to all who have been a part of the journey!
XXX
KK
Oooh! Nestle! Did you have some choccy?
My sayings tend to change around a bit depending on what is going on. I always like this one. It’s simple and if actually followed through makes for a peaceful and productive day. It can be applied to any situation, anywhere at anytime.
Be pro-active not re-active
Hi Craig, here’s mine:
“Mastering others is strength.
Mastering yourself makes you fearless.”
To elaborate a bit, mastering the self (for me) means being in the moment, always learning, gaining self, and as a result, continuously growing.
Regards,
- Kin
We have no control over what other people think, say or do. We only have control over our reactions to them.
We can choose to act or react – our choice.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Suu
The 5 Ps:
Perfect Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Think lean & eat clean 14 weeks to go .. Winners are grinners.
I count down the weeks & days until my next comp.Think lean – eat clean 95 days to go – 21st March 2009 Winners are grinners
“There can be no let up to your study, regardless of the path your choose, even though you may have mastered a particular level. You must search constantly for still more understanding of your chosen art. If there is no discipline, how can there be a true realisation of an ideal?”
Miyomoto Musashi
Your ‘chosen art’ can be any endeavour you focus on with single-mindedness.
Ciao for now…Kerry
“There can be no let up of your study, regardless of the path you choose, even though moy may have mastered a particular level. You must search constantly for still more understanding of your chosen art. If there is no discipline, how can there be a true realisation of an ideal?”
Miyamoto Musashi
Your chosen art can be any endeavour you focus on with intent, and single-mindedness.
Ciao for now…Kerry
Hi Craig,
Mine is
“If you are not making mistakes you are not having a go. Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again.”
Have a great day and Live with Passion
Kimmy
Sorry I doubled up. Didn’t realise the first comment worked…LoL…
i love this one
Let us all be thankful, for today if we didn’t learn anything at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick at least we didn’t die, so let us all be thankful
Buddha
think about it….
Hello Craig,
This is mine which I read to myself quite a bit….
"Today I will go on living my life & tending to my routines.
I will decide, as often as I need to, to stop obsessing about whatever is bothering me.
If I don't feel like letting go of something, I will "Act as if" I've let go of it until my feelings match my behaviour"
Something I read recently which is so true & hit home for me "Without love we are birds with broken wings"
Have a great day Craig!!!
SC x
Oh, I can hardly believe I’ve been away from your site for so long (but then again, I’ve been busy making dreams come true as you helped inspire me to have the courage to do, like founding my new organization and writing my book…). I’m delighted to be back and will be sure to stick around for all the juicy stuff you bring to all of us.
My motivation every morning is this…a reminder to “do this day what you would do if you knew you could not fail.” I mean for real…I ask myself what would I really do today if I knew I could not fail, and then I proceed to do it.
William Blake: “The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.”
I take that to mean that it’s what your heart desires, not what your mind thinks, that will determine where you end up.
Don’t walk as if you rule the world,
Walk as if you don’t care who rules the world!
That’s called Attitude! Keep on rocking!
“Knowledge is power, but enthusiasm pulls the switch.”
~~ Ivern Ball ~~
“Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more. They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.”
~~ A. Lou Vickery ~~
“Because I can”
C
The saying that has helped me when things seem overwhelming is that to walk anywhere it’s just left foot, right foot, repeat. When in doubt just stick to that.
Kay:)
Oh, my version of the Golden Rule that I am working on applying is: do unto myself as I would do unto others. I have realised that I often am more critical and less giving to myself, so I am working on me being a priority, rather than an afterthought.
I enjoy your posts, which have helped me with this.
Kay:)
I just found this – it fits with the world today…
If you don’t like the way the picture of your life is looking, then paint a new picture.
You said we can keep adding to this, right?
The loud-and-cheeky Jules has turned into a book worm (totally loving being able to read for me and not for a 'dumb' uni essay). I'm reading Sheer Will at the moment – an autobiography of Australia's Michael Groom, mountaineer… inspired by the lovely Cherie Horne – Mountain Girl (Hi Cherie – you're totally amazing). I bought it for Dad 6yrs ago but I haven't read it.
Have got a few gems from this book already:
'Descend the mountain the same way as you came up, unles you are familiar with the other descent route.'
–> My interpetation of this being: if something has worked for you, keep doing that.
'Learn from the best.'
–> stop fluffing around trying to achieve the outcomes you want in your world through your own trial and error. Find an expert to help guide you.
'No matter how good a climber you think you are, there always has been and always will be someone who can climb better than you.'
Focus on being the best YOU can be and be happy with that.
–> Stop comparing yourself with others (Jules – that includes YOU!). Set your own standards and benchmarks and assess your progress against those. Life aint an Olympic sport – no Gold medals are awarded for 'best paramedic', 'best blogger'