You gotta do the stuff. At least a good chunk of it. Most of the time. If you want results. In training and rehabilitation.
Magic, or at least a great outcome, does not tend to happen spontaneously. Putting in the requisite amount of work is what leads to better function and performance.
Today’s message starts off with a few humorous insights which happened recently.
I was talking on the phone with my sister the other day. She had been out doing some community errands and reported that she had seen not one, not two, but three ostensibly very unfit people (all in different locations) wearing “Just Do It” t-shirts. Her comment, which wasn’t shameful in any way, was framed interrogatively. She said “Just Do What?” As in “Just Do Nothing?”
The next afternoon my wife and I were out taking a walk. As a career educator, she mentioned how challenging it often was to get follow-through on an independent education plan for a student. I offered up many similar experiences related to rehabilitation plans and home exercise programs in the therapy and sports field. All of those interventions are based upon the expectation of compliance. You gotta do the stuff.
That same evening I was having a conversation with an old friend who has been a rehab client and a Training Tribe member (in its various incarnations) for several decades. He shared some very complimentary feedback regarding how pleased both he and his wife were with the results they have gotten using TLA programming over all these years. Having a “flexible structure” that’s personalizable, not getting hurt in the training process, and achieving great outcomes – all while having fun – was something they valued immensely. I appreciated those comments and of course that’s the goal with what we do and it’s precisely why I’ve been doing it for so long. But the real credit goes to these folks because they did the stuff. That’s why they got the results.
Outcomes require application. Results demand compliance. To variable but generally high degrees. Consequently, it’s consistency of habit that exemplifies excellence. In academics, art, healthcare, music, athletics, relationships, business…and more. My intention is not to suggest that this is perfection. There really is no perfect anyway. Most processes are dynamic and constantly evolving. While there may be a very ideal situation momentarily, frequent if not constant refinement is the key to long term success. The avoidance of stagnation.
The key to consistently doing the stuff, and thus getting the results, is intrinsic motivation. There has to be a meaningful reason (for you) to stick with it. Much of this circles back to good program design, which makes the process enjoyable and yields products (early results) along the way. Building positive momentum.
Even a Lifetime Athlete benefits from these reminders. For many, doing the stuff isn’t the issue. You are disciplined and dedicated. The concern is doing the right stuff. This may necessitate study and consultation. Coaching. Whether you coach yourself or work with a professional. But even once you have the correct exercise and training identified…it still comes down to the doing of said practices.
As opposed to offering up a step-by-step sequence of bogus PollyAnna self-help bullshit, I’ve got a couple questions I like to ask my clients, and myself, when we’re trying to make change or preserve a condition. What exactly am I trying to accomplish? Why is this important to me? What is the most optimal route that I can see at this time, to complete this journey? How will I re-evaluate and adjust my methods when that’s necessary?
Come up with the answers to these questions. Write them down if you want. But keep them in your mind regardless. Such a mindset will keep you motivated and consistent. And on your way to the destination you seek. You gotta do the stuff.