In our journey toward losing weight, getting into better shape, and fundamentally transforming our lives, there’s one principle that I’ve found to be incredibly powerful: showing up for yourself every single day. It’s about making a daily commitment to your commitment, especially on those days when you feel less motivated or when obstacles seem insurmountable.
Why Daily Commitment Matters
When I started my own fitness journey, the excitement and novelty of the new routine powered me through the first few days. But as the days turned into weeks, the initial surge of motivation began to wane. It was then that I realized the true challenge wasn’t just in the physical workouts or the diet changes; it was in the mental battle to stay committed every day, particularly on days when I just didn’t feel like it.
Commitment Is a Practice
- Commitment is a choice: Each morning, we have a choice—to show up or to give in to the temptations of skipping a workout, eating unhealthy foods, or procrastinating. Making the choice to stick to your goals despite how you feel is what transforms a wish into real results.
- Build a routine: Routines are powerful because they reduce the mental energy required to get things done. By establishing a daily routine, you create a framework that supports your goals. This routine helps carry you through even when your motivation dips.
- Stay connected to your ‘why’: On days when it feels too hard, remind yourself why you started. Was it to feel better? To be healthier for your family? To live a longer life? Keeping your reasons at the forefront can push you through moments of doubt.
- Seek support: We are often our own harshest critics and worst motivators. Having a support system—friends, family, a community, or a coach—can provide the external encouragement needed when your internal motivation is lacking.
- Celebrate every day you show up: Not just the days when you make a visible progress or hit a milestone, but every single day that you honor your commitment to yourself.
The Power of Non-Zero Days
A concept I’ve embraced is the idea of “non-zero days,” where you commit to doing something every day that moves you toward your goal, no matter how small. Some days, showing up might mean a full workout and a perfectly balanced diet. Other days, it might just be a 10-minute walk or choosing a salad over a burger. The scale of the action matters less than the act of doing something every day.
Embrace the Tough Days
The tough days are actually the most important ones. They are what define your journey and forge your resilience. Each day you show up for yourself, especially when you don’t feel like it, you are reinforcing your commitment not just to your physical health, but to your mental and spiritual growth as well.
Commitment as a Way of Life
This journey is about more than just the physical transformation. It’s about becoming someone who can trust themselves, someone who values their well-being enough to prioritize it daily. It’s about growing into the best version of yourself through the daily practice of showing up.
So, let’s make a pact to show up for ourselves every day. Let’s commit to our commitments, push through the hard days, and transform them into opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Here’s to our health, our strength, and our unwavering commitment to ourselves.
