When It Gets Hard and You Want to Quit
We’ve all been there, especially if it’s a Sunday…
We’re at the grocery store with our shopping cart full and ready to head to the checkout line.
As I make my way to the front of the store, I scan the length of the lines, “What checkout lane should I chose?”
The one with the shortest line, of course.
I get in the shortest line and wait… and wait……… and wait…
Oh! But that line next to you? It’s moving rather quickly now.
Your line is taking too long and you think, “I’d be foolish to stay in this line if that line over there is moving more quickly.”
So you jump ship and head to the line that was moving more quickly, but all of a sudden, since you got there it has come to a halt.
Everyone in that line was so excited to see things happening so quickly. They’ve even lured over people from other lines into their own.
You look next to you at the line you just left… and you guessed it… that line is starting to move now, slowly but surely.
In fact, the woman that was behind you in that line is starting to unload her groceries onto the conveyor belt.
“Why didn’t I just stick it out?” you ask yourself.
This analogy is no different than what I see people doing with their health.
When it gets hard, when they feel stuck, they want to quit.
They’re great at “switching lines” because other people seem to be getting there faster.
While there might not be a clear “right line” at the grocery store, there is a “right line” that you want to stay in when it comes to having long-term, lasting health.
The truth is that staying in this one “right line” isn’t easy… at first, but it becomes easier when it does start moving.
That’s why a coach like myself can be valuable in the process of helping you stay focused on YOUR line, especially when it’s tempting to keep “switching lines” and jumping from one weight loss program to another, from one supplement to the next, and from one fad diet to the next “quick fix”.
Again, creating a healthy life for the rest of your life is hard.
That’s right. I just said it. It’s hard. No “B.S.’ing” here.
That’s why few are willing to “stay in their own line” long enough to see it all the way through.
The clients who are most successful during their time working with me are those who have decided that they’re done “switching lines”, because every time they chose to “switch lines” in the past, it takes time, effort, and energy to start again.
They’ve realized it’s not worth it.
They’re going to do it the right way this time.
No short cuts.
No quick fixes.
Just small lifestyle and behavioral changes that become habits over time.
Maybe this sounds like you.
You’re done with the starting and stopping and starting again, only to find yourself stopping… once again.
Right now, you might be in your “checkout line”, but at a standstill. Not much is happening. You’re not moving forward.
You might find yourself peeking over at those people over there who seem to be moving forward more quickly.
But you won’t be coerced this time.
You realize that those faster moving lines look good at first, but they’ll come to halt too, because the changes they’re trying to make are too big, too soon.
Instead, if you stay in your line and ride it out, you’ll be putting your groceries on the conveyor belt soon, so to speak.
The role I play in my client’s journey is to support them while they’re standing in the “longer line”, that is, the longer line for now…
I remind them that once that line starts moving, they will be so glad they stayed.
If you’ve found that you’ve been switching lines to find the shorter one, the one that takes less time, less effort, only to find yourself at a standstill and frustrated once again, it might be time to quit the line you’re in and find the line that looks longer and moves slower, but it’s moving.
Was that confusing?
I have another analogy (similar to the grocery store checkout line) that might help.
I live in Los Angeles, one of the most congested places to drive in the country.
You often have two choices to get to your destination in L.A. — take the streets, but face the risk of many stoplights, or take the jam-packed freeway.
The streets are appealing because you “sprint” a block or two at 40mph, but eventually find yourself sitting at stoplight for a few minutes.
Light turns green and you sprint another few blocks and stop again.
Over and over again.
The freeway, on the other hand, is going at a steady 25mph. It’s moving, slowly but surely.
You might find that you prefer the slower pace that the congested freeway provides — it does give you the chance to put the music on, sit back and relax a bit, and maybe call up a friend you haven’t talked to in awhile (on your headset of course!).
On the other hand, you might find yourself frustrated and angry every time you have to stop at another red light.
You are white-knuckled, tense, anxious, and stressed.
If you only took the slower, yet steady flow of freeway traffic, you might be home by now… and in a better mood to greet your family.
I think you see where I’m going here.
My friend, it’s not easy to make lifestyle changes that translate to thriving health you sustain for decades to come, but I do believe it’s worth it.
If you’re willing to stick with it — I’m not talking about making huge changes in your life — just small, manageable, reasonable, realistic changes in your life, over time, you will get there.
This is my life’s work – supporting women in midlife do just this – help them find their lane and help them see it through all the way to their destination.
If you think I might be able to support you on your healthy journey, schedule a 15-minute call to talk with me about where you are and where you want to be.
I’ll help you determine your next small, realistic step that will keep you in the right “lane” for you, based on where you are today.
Ready to learn what you need to do to look, feel, and perform at your best? I have a 3-part mini-coaching series that I’ve created for you. It’s $7. Check it out by clicking below:
