Happy Summer! While I’m out having fun (and chasing my goals) in the summer heat, I am only publishing new blogs every 2 weeks.
But there’s no need to be sad because I am re-sharing this post from 2021.
Enjoy this Best Of Operation Melt blog, and stay tuned for a thrilling new post coming your way next week.
Are you ready for a dad joke?
I offer you this "dad joke" as a light "amuse-bouche" to entertain your mind before we get serious. My dad joke may be groan-worthy, but it's worth every penny you paid for it, right?
A horse walks into a bar.. The bartender says, "Hey"
The horse replies, "Sure".
The One Thing
In my journey, I have learned that there is one secret to all self-improvement. It can make you healthier, wealthier, a better leader, a better person and happier. But it seems to be in very short supply in the world around us.
Here’s what I mean…
Despite acknowledging many of these things as the “ugly” of 2020 so far (read in Final Lap of 2020), I made some questionable choices over the past couple of weeks. I have binge-watched cable news. I have watched two debates (if you can call them that). I have read people having arguments in social media comments (as I wrote in My Hazardous Mistake, I know I shouldn’t do this).
Through all of these things, I have observed a stunning lack of humility in the world around me. It is so frustrating to see and really confuses me because it is so self-sabotaging.
Perspectives on Humility
I could write for pages and pages about what humility is, why it is important and share hundreds of examples of humility successes and failures. Instead, I will share a quote that particularly resonates with me.
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
C.S. Lewis
Humility is not about downplaying your strengths. It is not about adopting an “aw, shucks” or “I don’t know, I’m just a xxx” self-dismissive personality. That’s dishonesty and the opposite of humility.
True humility is admitting you don’t know everything and can learn something from everybody around you. It is about leading with empathy and curiosity to genuinely understand new things. It is about being vulnerable. It means putting other’s needs ahead of your own sometimes. It means generosity. It usually means listening more and talking less. But humility could also mean that you aren’t keeping your perspective or knowledge hidden when it could help somebody. You are using your talents for the benefit of others.
In short, humility is about recognizing that we are all imperfect and growing beings and genuinely wanting us all to improve together.
Five Times
I have so many examples of when humility has been important throughout my life. Some of them were tough lessons that I learned and some are accomplishments that make me very proud of myself.
Since this is a Fitness Lessons are Life Lessons post, I am going to share 5 quick examples of how I reinforced the value of humility in my fitness journey.
Humility to take the first step. When I stepped on that scale and heard the painful truth from my doctor, I had a moment of humility. I admitted that things weren’t working and I had to make a change. Without embracing humility I would never have even started this journey that has resulted in some of my proudest moments and accomplishments. All self-improvement begins with humility.
Humility to set myself up for success. At the beginning of my journey, I didn’t know how to be successful. So I embraced my humility again and did lots of research into how to be successful with my weight loss journey. Plus I took lots of partners, especially my doctor, to help me get on the right track.
Humility to seek help. I had been working out in the gym for a while and had just achieved my 100 pounds lost goal. But I needed to admit that I didn’t know what I was doing in the gym and needed help to get better. That’s when I engaged a personal trainer to help me help myself get better.
Humility to get better. When I became a runner I had a couple of injuries and struggled a bit to improve my performance. Then I started seeking input from every other runner I know in my life to get their tips and tricks. I started getting better at running and I continue to improve every day today and still continue to seek expertise from others.
Humility to give to help others. Early in my journey, I started to realize that I had experiences and knowledge that could benefit others. That’s why I was always willing to share my experiences in conversations, I launched my blog and wrote my book. I want to give to others to help them accomplish their goals.
As I said, this list could go on and on. For example, I wanted to run today to top last week’s mileage but I had to concede that my body needed rest and the desire to run was just about ego. And don’t get me started on body image.
Your Turn
I believe that the best way to boost your humility is to embrace the scientific method as a tool for life. By actively approaching all situations in our lives with the perspective of “here’s what I think, but I might be wrong.” Be willing and eager to discover new information that could prove your perspective wrong and make it better.
Where can you better embrace your humility to help yourself and others grow?
I believe in you; let me help YOU believe in you!
Meet Coach Tony
My name is Coach Tony, and I am a coach, author and project manager on a mission. I am working to build a world where no goal ever dies of loneliness.
I almost allowed one of my biggest life goals to die without ever being attempted for forty years. My goal almost died, not of failure but of loneliness. But, I took a risk and leveraged a simple, logical process that helped me wildly exceed my goal.
I transformed my life, and you can do the same with the help of Operation Melt.
Operation Melt provides engaging, practical content and hands-on coaching to inspire, motivate and equip project managers and other left-brained high-achievers to pursue and accomplish their biggest goals.
Breathe new life into your goals
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