[Gem]

Originally Posted by blackraven

Happy New Year Gem. Yes, one needs will power, but as your mentioned above, even more so, one needs motivation and motivation, unlike will power, comes from a much deeper level of self-understanding. That applies to all kinds of health from physical, mental and spiritual.

Zakly. I know in the early year at my gym there will be many new faces, but only one or two of that number will be still training in June. Everyone has the same will power, but that force of will, like any other exertion, becomes tired and can't be sustained. The few who are still training in June have something else. A commitment, determination, diligence and patience - a love for the process, as it were. But where is it coming from? How is such resolve created, and what is its nature?

I was lying on the couch in front of the warm fire place the other day, just lounging and thinking, then it hit me. If I don't get up off that couch and do something physical right then, it's likely the entire rest of my day will be spent in inactivity. I try to do some form of exercise every day, but some days it takes an inner voice to kick myself into gear. So I jump off the warm couch on a very frigid winter day and took myself to the basement to do a cardio work out on an elliptical. Got the ole endorphins going in my brain and felt really proud of myself afterwards and felt re-energized.

Yes, there is always the easier option of not doing it, but question being not what is easiest, but what is for the best.

The truth is very plain. Sedentary lives are not the best for anyone - musculature is lost; body fat percentage increases in proportion to muscle mass; cardiac health wanes; posture and motor function dillapidates; proprioception, coordination and balance is lost; and extreme frailty is experienced in old age.

A person who was always active remains strong in their twilight years can be capable of incredible things. Check it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8m_qAmsDSQ

In the future there are optional self images, and considering these as consequences helps one to come to resolution on 'what is the best thing for me?'

It think it is inspiring, and one of biggest motivators is what others do. It is a good idea to follow people in social media (You Tube is my 'go-to') who are the same fitness as oneself, be it yoga, weights, athletics, parkour, calisthetics or whatever one might be into.

Today is the same situation. I sit here in front of the fire again on the computer and am about to kick myself off and go to the basement again and lift weights. It's all a part of maintaining my health were I'm at as time goes by minute by minute, day by day, year by year. Just have to stay healthy, strong and with a good cardiovascular system.

Indeed.

My new years resolution is to gut an unused living room and convert it into an art studio/music room/writing room. Took up the old carpet and now just have to finish the cement floor. I'm very excited about this new personal space.

That sounds fantastic, as a space presents possibility.

Lastly, I want to meditate more and be more cognizant about volunteering to do things that I'm very uncomfortable with. Just want to return to a state of peacefulness and slow down time to what's happening in the moment, instead of constantly living in fear of some future event.

Same here. I went into strength training and became quite lax with spiritual practice. I have been very casual with spirituality in the last year, and I want to get back to a routine of daily formal practice. Lately I have been thinking about taking retreat as well, and I'll try set that up for June of July.