Seizing Your Greatness

BY: Julie Ann Meyer

It's rare to find someone who isn't experiencing a default life. Only occasionally do we become who we say we want to be, try what we want to try, and achieve what we set out to do. We talk a lot about our plans and the things we will accomplish, like finally losing weight or writing a novel. Sometimes we actually start, but the first sign of struggle or fun distraction causes us to postpone the plan.

This becomes a vicious cycle of starting and stopping. Eventually, we lose trust in ourselves and become discouraged because our "to-do" list, "to-be" list, and "bucket" lists never get shorter. There is good news, though – it doesn't have to be that way.

I have reinvented myself multiple times and have helped thousands of others to do the same. I’ve gone from being a homeless alcoholic to helping others get clean and sober, an obese couch potato to a personal trainer and nutrition coach, and even an employee to a successful entrepreneur.

In addition, I’ve helped numerous people become their own version of success while starting to trust themselves to do what they say they’re going to do. After being a part of and witnessing so many transformations, I’ve noticed patterns and behaviors that lead to self-actualization. What does it take to start seizing your greatness?

The first step is to decide what you really want and not what society says you should want or what your family and friends want for you. Think about it from a perspective of what you truly desire instead of trying to avoid something you fear. Slow down and dig deep. Take time to explore what it would feel like to complete your goal and consider why it's important. Contrary to popular belief, your why doesn't have to be big and altruistic; it just needs to resonate with you.

After you've decided, your goal needs to become non-negotiable. It's like feeding your kids – it doesn't matter if you're in the mood to feed them or not; they still need to eat. In other words, stop taking your emotional temperature whenever you're about to act toward your goals. Take the debate off the table and just do it. It's entirely possible to keep your word, even when you don't feel like it.

The next step is to set yourself up for success. Make your goal your focus and your main priority, and stop saying yes to activities that will interfere with your progress. For example, going out for drinks with friends instead of creating a proposal for a potential client. Every choice you make helps you get closer to your dream or further away from it. Do you want to get to the end of your life, look back, and think, "Thank goodness I watched the season finale of my favorite TV show?"

Start thinking about what systems you can put in place to succeed. If you're always tired at the end of the day, consider doing your workouts in the morning instead. What can you do to change that behavior if you find yourself scrolling through social media on your phone during the day instead of working? Experiment to find out what works for you. Instead of quitting at the first difficulty you encounter, course correct and keep flying forward. Even if you figure it out the hard way, at least you haven't given up on yourself!

There's something to remember when you're seizing your greatness: you will run into resistance. It doesn't matter how much you want the goal or even how dedicated you are to it. Your level of enthusiasm will wane at some point. Resistance will especially show up when you start thinking your experience should be something other than what it is. This is a normal part of the process. Stay committed and accountable to your commitment, regardless of the possible outcome falling short of your expectations. Who you become during this process is exponentially more important than the goal itself.

Unfortunately, sometimes the resistance comes from family and friends. That's okay. You may need to find a support system apart from them, such as a coach, a peer group, motivational books and videos, seminars, and even a fun outlet. The stoic philosopher Epictetus said, "If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." In other words, not everyone is going to understand your choices. However, when you achieve what you set out to do, those same people will ask you how you did it.

What do you do when the goal is enormous, feels impossible, or you have no idea how to achieve it? Maybe it's even all of the above. Well, this situation actually puts you at a unique advantage. You get to create without past experiences influencing your perception. There don't have to be any self-imposed limitations because you're flying by the seat of your pants, leaving you open to opportunities and possibilities you may not have seen otherwise.

As with any other aspiration, the most important thing is to start. Just start moving forward and take the next indicated step. Start asking yourself questions. What do I need to learn? Who can I ask for help?

Most importantly, what actions can I take today? When you start heading in the right direction, the fog tends to lift as you go along. This takes faith: Faith in action.

Whatever you decide you want to accomplish, stop waiting for the perfect timing, more knowledge, and feeling ready to start. Start now. Don't give up no matter what. You can break yourself out of your default life and start creating a life you're proud of. Just start and keep going.

About the Author:

Julie Ann Meyer is the TV Network President of Achieve TV, a Tell-A-Vision Network for entrepreneurs. She is also a transformational expert and an industry leader in health & wellness, serving as the host of the successful TV show Own Your Wellness.

Julie Ann has supported and coached people through life transformations, mindset shifts, positive habit creation, nutritional changes, exercise, and stress reduction. She has been featured on the TV show World's Greatest Motivators and interviewed for the online publications Small Business Trendsetters and Business Innovators. She is also a contributing author of the book Achieve Wellness.

Find out more about Julie Ann:

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