You Can have it all…
We all love the idea of having a six pack, having zero joint pain, being the strongest we’ve ever been, and running the fastest we ever have. Aesthetics, performance, and longevity make up the 3 different categories of fitness goals. It’s possible to have the peak of all 3, but just not all at the same time.
Imagine that you have a triangle and at each corner of the triangle you have a different goal. The closer you get to one goal the further you go away from the other two. I call this the triangle of awareness. This brings me back to the statement that you can have it all, just not at the same time. Trying to obtain all 3 pursuits at the same time isn’t really realistic, and even if you do it’s certainly not sustainable.
The more you go into one direction the more the other categories will suffer. Let’s get a clear depiction of what the optimal ranges of these categories look like. Body builders would be a great example of optimized aesthetics. Their onstage physiques aren’t sustainable, and possess the energy or strength for great performance feats. Professional athletes aren’t able to sustain their careers over long periods of time without injury. The people who live the longest don’t exercise as intensely, eat as much food, and usually wouldn’t be considered to be in great physical shape. Focusing on each one of these goals individually for a period of time will be how you can obtain all 3.
Understanding why you want to achieve a goal you’ve set helps with getting clear on what you want. Having your why and combining it with the triangle of awareness is a recipe for success. Here’s a couple steps you can take when considering of setting a goal:
Be Specific: Spell out exactly what you want to accomplish
Make It Measurable: Define the end result in quantitative or qualitative terms
Make It Achievable: Confirm that your goal is possible and reasonable to accomplish
Make It Relevant: Make sure your goal is aligned with your organization and long term objectives
Set a timeframe: Identify an achievement date for your goal
Accomplishing the goals you set out starts with setting a good foundation. Keep these tips in mind when considering the goal you want to set and why. The outcome that you dream of is possible. It starts with awareness, setting a good goal, and choosing the correct path to obtain it.
-Nigel Cross