Don't let procrastination hold you back! If you imagine things to be difficult, it will become more difficult.

Open any platform, and you will see all kinds of "quick weight loss methods" flying around, such as "Lose 10 kg in two weeks", "Get a six-pack in 21 days". These "quick weight loss methods" seem to convey a message: a good figure is within your reach and it won't take you much time. So many people really did it, and waited for the results after two or three weeks, but their legs did not become thinner, and their abs did not appear, and then, nothing happened.

Do you particularly want to do something, such as: running, yoga, traveling, opening a small shop, or even developing a good habit... Although some of your wishes have been in your mind for several years and do not require too much time or expensive money, why have you never started? It is always just a wish or a dream. But, have you ever wondered why?

＊＊＊＊＊

Xiao Zhao has two colleagues in his department who are real fitness enthusiasts who exercise regardless of weather conditions. Under such stimulation, several colleagues have always wanted to join the fitness ranks, but have not started for various reasons: some are too lazy to apply for a gym membership, while others think that the gym is too far from the company and inconvenient. Coincidentally, a new gym opened downstairs from Xiao Zhao’s company, offering a special opening promotion: sign up for one year and get half a year’s membership free.

Two of Xiao Zhao's colleagues felt that it was time to start their own fitness career. The gym was just downstairs from the company, and they could go there to exercise during their lunch break whenever they felt like it. So they applied for membership cards without hesitation. One of them even vowed: "I will go to the gym every day."

I originally thought that the lives of these two colleagues would change drastically from then on. As long as you start exercising, you can not only get a good figure, but also become healthier and more sunny. It is a way of life full of positive energy. However, one year later, according to Xiao Zhao, one of them went to the gym five times in total, including the time to apply for a membership card; the other one never went there again from beginning to end. You must be very surprised. Isn’t the gym just downstairs from the company? Why didn't you go once?

In fact, many people always prepare themselves mentally before starting fitness. In addition, a launching ceremony is also needed, such as buying suitable sportswear, making a perfect plan, finding a partner to supervise each other, avoiding overtime, avoiding menstrual period, etc. As a result, when the figure is out of shape and health is in danger, there is still no progress. Some people sign up for guitar classes, but only attend a few lessons; or sign up for Japanese classes, but never study at all; or want to run well, so they buy a pair of high-end running shoes, but after running two or three times, they put them aside.

In fact, whether you exercise and develop a habit of doing so has nothing to do with whether you have a gym membership or how far the gym is from your home. So, is it laziness or lack of perseverance? Or is it laziness and lack of perseverance?

Many times, we have too many reasons to give up: no time, no mood, no one to accompany us... and these reasons grow very quickly, much faster than the speed at which fitness gives us back all kinds of benefits. So when the reward isn’t fast enough or big enough, it’s easy to give up.

On the road to fitness, there are two particularly difficult things: one is starting, and the other is persisting. However, countless people are held back by procrastination and are never able to take the first step, let alone persevere. Although avoiding problems may make you live a more comfortable life temporarily, it will eventually cause you to fall into greater anxiety and pain.

＊＊＊＊＊

Let me give you another positive example.

There was a handsome and well-educated young man, but unfortunately he was in a car accident in his twenties and lost one leg. But after he recovered, he traveled to dozens of countries. He said that he had always liked traveling and always felt that he had plenty of time and could go anytime. However, he had not been to many places until he lost one leg. Then he stopped procrastinating and resolutely set off, dragging his other leg. He could go at any time, but he never went. It was precisely after he lost his legs that he could go to more and farther places.

After listening to this story, do you feel ashamed and embarrassed?

If there is something you really want to do, just make a list. For example, if you want to travel to the south, you can first check the travel guides of the "luyou" (homonym of "tourism", extended to backpackers), and once the time is right, just pick up your backpack and set off immediately. The worse a person's execution ability is, the more he needs such a plan.

Of course, before doing this, you have to ask yourself: Do I really want to do this, or not? For example, seeing others post a picture of their homemade breakfast on WeChat Moments every day makes you salivate and eager to try it. Don't forget, before making this delicious breakfast, you have to do a lot of homework. Not only do you have to prepare various ingredients, you also have to get up early. Even if you turn on the range hood, there will be smoke. So why not talk to those "people you envy". If you can't accept the hard work, then give up the delusion!

Maybe your excuse comes again: "There are so many things to do in front of me, and I'm so anxious. When can I finish them? I might as well watch TV or check Facebook." If you imagine a task to be difficult, it will become more and more difficult.

For example, some people have been thinking about losing weight for two or three years but have never taken any action. They always feel that losing weight cannot be accomplished overnight, and as a result, the more they think about it, the harder it becomes. In fact, as long as you keep exercising enough, it is not a problem to get a good figure and maintain good health.

Many things may seem too difficult if you don’t try them yourself, but in fact, they are much simpler than you think. Besides, fitness can make our body and will stronger, so what reason is there not to stick to it?

When faced with something that makes you retreat, no matter how reluctant or fearful you are, just face the problem head on. If you really can't muster up the courage to face it, tell yourself to try to hold on for ten minutes; if you still can't hold on, it's not too late to give up. But the reality is often that once you enter a new state, it is easy to become more and more motivated and unable to stop.

This article is from the book "What you should strive for in your life is to live the way you like" by Luminous Culture