Where were you in 2012, where are you now ? How far have you moved forward in your life plans in the last 4 years ? Where do you want to be in 2020, how far do you want to move forward in the next 4 years ?
Strange question ? Well ask most of the amazing Olympians that has just completed the Rio olympics and hey can probably answer all those questions.
It is definitely one of the main (there have been many during the games) recurring themes that came out of watching the olympics over the last 3 weeks.
To these athletes, competitors, Olympians whatever you prefer to call them, setting a target 4 years away is a normal thing. It's not a quick 4 week, 28 day, 6 minute a day temporary fix.
It's a set date, it's a specific target, yes it is a fucking huge target, that most of us mere mortals can only sit back, watch and admire their skills.
Whether they just missed out on the games, just missed out on a medal, got a bronze or a silver they will ( unless retiring) be looking at progressing at least one place higher, if not that very shiny bright gold medal spot. They know what they did to get as far as they have. They also definitely know they will have to go faster, harder, longer over the the next 4 years to achieve that goal.
Even the gold medalists, even the multiple gold medalists, they know, doing what got them those golds, will probably not be enough to get them gold in Tokyo 2020, those looking up at them, will be better in 4 years, which obviously means the champions of 2016 will need to be better to keep a hold of the title.
So, what has all this got to do with us mere mortals ?
Well, it has definitely made me aware of how short I make my goals, 1 week, a month, 3 months max probably.
Why, don't we make bigger goals, longer term ones ?
"In 4 years I will be .........................." Insert answer of your choice
Make it your Olympics aim for your personal gold medal target.
Granted it seems forever away, but just think, especially UK, London based people, where you were in 2012 and how quickly 2016 has come round, again I ask you, are you as far ahead in your life goals as you thought you would be ?
If yes, awesome, I hope you still keep moving onward over the next 4 years.
If you're either still doing near enough the same things, living the same life, doing the job that pays the bills and that's about the highlight of it, or like me, you feel as though you may even of went backwards a little ( sometimes that's ok, before you go forward) .
What are you going to do different in the next 4 years?
What are you willing to do ?
What do you need to do ?
Well, firstly you need to figure out what and where you like to be, what you feel needs improving most, find that GOLD MEDAL TARGET (or be like Mo or Usain, have more than 1)
4 years, you can do almost anything, university or college courses, how many books or your chosen subject could you read, how many experts, coaches, mentors could you find, work with, learn from, become one, if not, the best in your chosen field. The person people come to see, to get where you are.
How much weight could you lose ? 1lb a month = 48lbs = nearly 4 stone, 1/2 lb a week = 96lbs = 6 1/2 stone !
1/2 lb a week, now that is definitely a very doable target !
In the gym, put 0.25kg on a lift every week, that's nearly 50kg heavier, again not an unrealistic goal, when broken down into smaller targets.
If you can run 1km now, before getting out of breath, add less than 1km a month (250metres a week) and you'll be running a marathon.
Learn a sport, learn a language, learn a new skill, take up that 'thing' you've always wanted to (no you're not too old to start), travel to that country you've always dreamed of, go to Tokyo for the olympics ! Do all of the above.
This may seen a very long time to be working on/toward something, possibly, then again how are all the quick fixes working out for you ?
That is what you need to ask ?
To get something you never had, you need to do something you never did.
What is going to stop you ? The same thing that will stop those Olympians - nothing, well nothing that you are in control of, yes there maybe set backs, injuries, life, illness etc but if you set the correct goal, you know the one, the one that is always in your thoughts, bouncing about in your head, the one you keep putting back in that box, yeah that's the one. You will get back on course, you will reach that goal.
Decide, now is your time to start, 2020 will be here, very quickly and you will be where you hoped, dreamed, needed, wanted to be, trust me, more importantly trust in yourself.
Find a quiet spot, sit or lie down, visualise yourself in 4 years, the olympics are on. Where are you watching them, what are you doing, what do you look like, how do you feel, how does your life feel ? Amazing right, are you smiling now, just having a second thinking about it.
Imagine how much brighter, happier, how bigger your smile will be when you actually take real time to think, create this vision.
Then realise how utterly amazing this will feel when you actually reach your goals !
Pretty awesome eh ?
This is something I am definitely going to do, find that big massive huge goal/s and fully immerse myself in getting there. Break it Disney, set smaller targets, places I need to be, to get to that final place.
Like a train journey, going through each station, stopping at some, flying last others, all on the same track with the same destination.
Create your journey, do it this week, then plan your journey, get to the first station, get on your train.
I will post this every year, as a reminder to myself and to you.
Don't be the one thinking, fuck is that 4 years already since I read this, I should've started
