When I decided back in April of this year that my life had to change—that I had to change—I was determined and focused. Even before that, I’d been making small changes to my routine, habits, and mindset that I thought would bring about change in my life. As I was dealing with a challenging work situation and fatigue, the positive changes I had made didn’t stick. I was slowly, but consistently, sliding back into the bad habits that kept me stuck in life. That was when I knew I had to ask for help.
The Struggle to Change
To change anything in your life, you must be prepared to step outside of your comfort zone. One area I wanted to focus on was my running, but to improve I knew I needed to get back to strength training. And before I even stepped into the gym in my building, I was in my head telling me all the reasons why I couldn’t. I didn’t want to look foolish or seem like I didn’t know what I was doing if other people were present. I wasn’t strong enough (wasn’t that the point of doing strength training?). It was easier not to go.
Since I started my current job back in August 2023, getting in writing time seemed more challenging. I was tired and wanted to nap more than anything else. When I sat down at my desk, I let e-mail, my phone, laundry—anything and everything—distract me. I knew I wasn’t being who I wanted to be, just like I knew I could do better. The ‘sad’ part was that I wasn’t able to, despite having tried, make the necessary changes. Something inside of me held me back. Fear? Doubt? Maybe both, but that’s when I knew it was time to ask for help.
Ask for Help
I was tired of making progress and then regressing. There were days when my willpower wasn’t enough, when I lacked discipline, when I was so overwhelmed that I just couldn’t begin. And I told myself that I could do it on my own, make the changes and create the new habits, but it became clear that I could not. So, I did what has always been hard for me: I asked for help.
I’d been listening to Rob Dial’s podcast for a while, and I followed him on Instagram. In the world of self-help, he came across as more relatable. More than that, it was clear that he lived what he taught. Even after an exchange with Rob through direct messages on Instagram, it still took me time to ask for help. Because I saw it, as I’d been taught growing up, a sign of weakness. No matter what I was going through, I was supposed to be able to handle it on my own. But this time around that wasn’t the case.
Invest in Yourself
It was about two weeks after my Instagram exchange with Rob when I finally reached out to his team, eventually joining his Mindset Mentor University program. I joined not because I wanted to change, but I knew I had to change in order to reach my fullest potential. Because I didn’t want to live a life of regret. I didn’t want to be stuck where I am forever. And because I knew I was capable of so much more. It was time for me to invest in myself. If not now, then when?
I’m in my third month of the year-long program, and it’s given me something I’ve never had before: a community of individuals who are also committed to improving themselves and their lives. It’s been a way for me to also hold myself accountable to take actions that move the needle forward. I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m noticing the small improvements…all because I, finally, wasn’t afraid to ask for help.
Let me remind you that are loved, you are worthy, and you matter. And, best of all, you do not need anyone’s permission to be—unapologetically—who you are.
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