“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” – Saint Augustine

I realize that I am all over the place with this blog… but welcome to what it feels to be inside my mind. This week I have been thinking of foundations. Going back to square one. I have been studying a gymnastics training program and they insist on going back to level 1 of the foundation movements and moving up instead of skipping steps. No matter how strong you are, or what skills you can do, all athletes must start at square one and move up. Some may go through the levels faster then others because of previous experience, but they still need to start back from the beginning and NOT SKIP STEPS.

This translates to so many other areas of life. You would not want to live in a house with a solid foundation. As beautiful as the house might be, it will not last and it might collapse so it is better to take the time and build a solid foundation so no problems arise in the future.

Do not skip steps.

I have recently been having issues with my diet. I have been binging. I recently completed the Rockstar body program and was feeling like a rockstar but once I left the program I slowly started to go back to my old ways. Luckily because the program I was able to identify the slippery slope I was on and I am now in the process of trying to fix the “leaks”. But one thing I realized is that I skipped some steps. I didn’t journal every day, and didn’t complete all the missions as asked. I just went with the flow and did what I thought I needed to do.

Do the work.

A lot of us have goals. In life, in fitness. In crossfit for example you are always adding to your list of “goats” or things that you have trouble doing. The problem is that we aren’t willing to do the work. It takes REAL work to get a muscle up, or to start your own business or to learn how to do (insert skill here). We all have great intentions but then fall short on focus, and discipline to do the work. If you have ever followed a squat program or gymnastics program and have actually done the work… you will see results.

How to get results.

This goes back to my last post about Undisciplined Enthusiasm. We need to prioritize our goals and then make a plan and stick to it. Give it your 100%. Do not skip steps. And do not give up on your goal until you have reached it.

A house isn’t built in a day. It needs a solid foundation and lots of time to build it from the ground up. The same with a skill or a sport. It takes time and discipline and lots of work. But if you want it you can have it.

Focus.

Going back to crossfit, the problem is that there is SO MUCH TO LEARN. So we dabble in this and that but never really master anything. To really get somewhere you need to prioritize and focus on certain goals. From there you build.

This can be related to other things like relationships, work, passions. All of these take time and patience to build. Once built they need constant maintenence.

So let’s go back to the basics. I know that I will be restarting my Rockstar program and doing it right. I also am choosing a few key skills that I want to master in gymnastics and lifting (Muscle up, Planche and Snatch) and I will be building those skills from the foundation up.

In this instalife we all want things quickly or now. But real life isn’t like that. You don’t just want a pretty house, or a pretty body… you want one that will stand the test of time… and can perform when needed. Think about what you really want and start building. Don’t skip steps. And reap the rewards of completing “something” and reaching your goal. Whatever that this to you.