It was a cold, January morning, and I was just finishing up a three-mile run. I was soaked to the bone. It had been raining when I started and was raining even heavier now. As I turned the corner to head home, a blue minivan pulled up beside me. The driver side window eased down a bit, and I could see it was my neighbor from up the street.
In a rather sarcastic voice, she said to me, "Don't you know it's raining out here? And they're calling for more." I just smiled and replied, "I know. I know." I then continued on my way.
Her comments got me to thinking though, and so now I want to ask you. Do you do it in the rain? Well, do you?
Now, don't misunderstand my question. I know I have been talking about running here, but "doing it in the rain" could be a lot of things. Anything that you really want.
I don't know your answer, but I can tell you that most people simply do NOT do it in the rain. On a nice sunny day, sure. They are committed then. Big time. But not on the days when it's nasty. When anyone with "good sense" would remain inside.
The truth is, if you want to accomplish the truly big goals in life you're going to have to have the kind of mindset that will get you out there doing what you have to do. In good weather and bad. When you feel like it and when you don't. Day in and day out. In short, you must be willing to do it, No Matter What!
The good news is that having such a mindset is something that can be developed. Here are three simple ways you can do just that:
1) Think about what you want and why you want it.
Most of what we do, we do for the feeling we get as a result of having done so. Remember that feeling whenever you forget why you're doing what you're doing. It's a great way to refocus on what you need to be doing to accomplish your goal.
2) Need to accomplish it for a reason outside yourself.
This one idea can cause you to achieve more than you ever dreamed possible. It has for me. Just determine someone who will benefit from you accomplishing your goal. You could tie what you're doing into a fundraiser, for instance. You may feel like quitting on yourself at times, but you won't quit on them.
3) Talk to yourself in winning ways.
This is exactly how it sounds. Talk to yourself, but when you do, tell yourself how you're achieving your goal, you're getting better and better everyday, etc. Use "I am" statements as in "I am feeling great!" I am getting better everyday." I'm on my way to achieving my goals." Obviously you must do the work that goes along with the talk, but the way we talk to ourselves make a huge difference.
So there you have it. Three simple ways that you can start on your way to doing "it" in the rain, no matter what the "it" might be for you.