Why not you?

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why not me?” If you have, you know the power that these words have in shaping the direction of your life by expanding the realm of possibility and enabling you to dream big. If you haven’t, then it’s possible that you are extremely content with your current situation (which is commendable), the fear of failing to achieve your dreams is holding you back, or you believe the doubts that others have spoken over you, due to their own insecurities, making it impossible for you to dream big. If any of these scenarios sound like your current reality, know that it’s never too late to start adopting a growth mentality and going after the future you desire.

Though I am content with what the LORD has given me, I still ask this question, “Why not me?”, especially when I see masters of a craft display their years of dedication to honing a skill. As a former collegiate athlete, this often happens while watching professional athletes step up in big moments during a game. Watching what little I did of the World Cup got me excited to ask this question again, as I saw the best soccer players from around the world compete for their respective countries to be crowned the best team in the world. As each player seemed to effortlessly control the ball while running, cutting, and receiving passes, I couldn’t help but ask myself where I would be if I displayed the amount of devotion to my craft required to become one of the best coaches/gym owners.

Do you ever find yourself in awe of the talents of others? What typically causes you to ask, “why not me?” What is your underlying motivation for asking such a question?

Unfortunately, there is also a dark side to these words that must be considered. As Peter Parker’s uncle famously said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” While the words, “why not me,” have the power to put you on a path towards maximizing your own God-given potential, if asked with the wrong motivation, in greed, overconfidence, and/or entitlement, this same question has the power to lead you down a destructive path in your pursuit of greatness. Remember, “Thou shalt not covet” (i.e., yearn to possess something that is your neighbor’s). Coveting often happens when we lose a sense of gratitude for what we possess, regardless of how much or how little that may be, and rather believe something that we don’t have is rightfully ours (i.e., entitlement). The true and purest way to ask “why not me” is with a healthy dose of humility and patience. Humility kills the ego and will drive you to work. Patience will allow you to work hard for a sustained duration in the pursuit of your dream.

What if Henry Ford was afraid that he would fail to build the first automobile? What if the Wright brothers were afraid of failing when figuring out the aerodynamics of flight? What if Milton Hershey had given up while experimenting on how to create the perfect candy bar? What if Dr. James Naismith was afraid that basketball would be seen as just another game? What if Booker T. Washington allowed the condition of his birth as a slave to stop him from building the Tuskegee Institute? What if Jackie Robinson let his fear of breaking the color barrier in sports prevent him from joining the Brooklyn Dodgers?

Each of these men changed the world as it was known at the time. Each of them could have let the fear of failure stop them in their pursuits. We must acknowledge that in pursuing something of significance, we will often fail. It’s true, you may never see your dream fulfilled, but that is no reason to bury your talent. People who have embarked on the journey of pursuing their dream know that the greatest treasure is never in attaining the thing itself, but in the learning that occurred along the way, through successes AND failures. It’s a treasure that will last a lifetime!

So, why not you? What’s stopping you from pursuing your dream? What’s stopping you from taking your health seriously? What’s stopping you from signing up for that fitness event or trying out for that team? Why not you? Ask the question, make a plan, and execute…because life’s too short to say, “what if.”

Challenge:

• Take a moment right now to list out your talents, and things you once dreamed of doing/becoming as a child? If you’re not living your childhood dream, what’s stopping you? Are the reasons valid or just excuses?
• If you truly can’t live out your childhood dream, what is a dream you currently have as an adult? If you’re not living that dream, what’s stopping you? Remember, if you want it bad enough, you’ll always find a way.
• Now, what about when it comes to personal health? What is your fitness-related dream? Are you actively pursuing it? If not, why? Remember, if you want it bad enough, you’ll always find a way.

For more on how to build healthy habits despite limited time, check out our blog series “How to stay disciplined when life gets busy.”

If you’d like to learn more about the Parris Performance Institute, check out our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our free fitness group for people in the Lehigh Valley where we answer fitness related questions and post/host various challenges.

If you’re looking to maximize your fitness by receiving coaching, fill out our connect with a coach form or book a free “No Sweat Intro” to learn more about the small group training programs taking place at the Parris Performance Institute. For those of you not in the Lehigh Valley, we also do online coaching as well.

Now…go make today better than you found it!