Q: How do you win the psychological battles so you can keep going no matter how hard it gets and not give up on your journey of becoming and staying the success you are today?
A: I focus on a concept called “shrinking the change,” which you can read more about in Chip and Dan Heath’s book, Switch (New York: Crown Business. 2010). It’s about taking an overwhelming task—let’s say building 15 pounds of muscle—and focusing on one pound at a time.
I love this concept because it shifts your focus to the now and gets you mentally prepared for what you must do today to succeed. More examples: If you had the daunting task of driving across the country, how would you do it? One state at a time. If you had the stressful task of unpacking dozens of boxes after a move, how would you do it? One room at a time.
As for bodybuilding, if you have the goal of gaining 15 pounds of muscle, how do you do it? One workout at a time. One meal at a time. One day at a time. Focus on making today the best day ever. Focus on having your meals prepared so you don’t miss any feeding opportunities. Schedule your workouts in your appointment book. Close your computer at 9:30 p.m. to ensure you’re in bed at 10 and can get the sleep you need to recover.
It’s all about today. Being the person you need to be and doing the things you need to do. Focus on being and doing, Being and doing, being and doing. The truth is, you probably don’t need more information to be successful; you just need to start using the information you do have and apply it one day at a time. Go make it happen!
Editor’s note: Vince Del Monte packed on an amazing 40 pounds of muscle in 24 weeks. Known as “the Skinny Guy Savior,” he offers courses to help you go from twig to big, including No Nonsense Muscle Building. For more info or to sign up for his free newsletter, visit www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com. IM
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