The fact that you’re reading this, tells me you’re the type of person who wants to get better.  However, those who are constantly trying to move forward, eventually lose momentum.  It doesn’t have to be that way.

Last year I lost about twenty five pounds over a six month period.  It doesn’t sound like much, but it was life changing.  My wife claims it was closer to thirty.  Whatever it was, it didn’t last.  I ended up going through a tough season where I didn’t feel like doing much of anything.  Needless to say, I ended up gaining back about half of what I’d lost.  Maybe you’re there right now.

It may not be weight, but some kind of personal gain.  Maybe it was a great routine or saving money.  Perhaps you had a regular date night with your spouse.  You’re not alone, all of us get side tracked at one point or another.

Rather than thinking about what you’re going to do next to get your mojo back, why don’t you just pick up where you left off?  That’s what I did.  I went back to cutting portions, making healthier decisions between meals, eating a good breakfast, cut soda, started drinking my coffee black.  As of this writing, I’m no Adonis, but I have lost some of the weight and experienced some victory here and there.  With a little persistence, I will get back to where I was and start working toward my initial goal.

In the words of John Maxwell, “We all have uphill hopes and downhill habits”.  You’re not alone.  We’re all in the same boat.  But it’s also not too late!  The minute you start believing that, you’re all done.

It’s not too late.  It’s not too late.  It’s not too late.  That’s not a typo.  I’m here to tell you there’s still hope.  Doesn’t it seem so simple once you boil it all down?

You don’t have to give up on your dreams.  Here are some tips to help you as you transition into your next season.

Get a Partner– Rather than placing all of the weight on yourself, there are other options.  For example, you can get an accountability partner.  Did you know that 90% of people who have a partner, stick with the program?  On the flip side, only 10% of people who exercise, have a partner.  Ecclesiastes reads, “It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.  Share the work, share the wealth.  And if one falls down, the other helps.  But if there’s no one to help, tough!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (The Message).  A partner will be there to pick you back up when you fall and encourage you to keep going.  Get one!  What are you waiting for?

Measure your Results– I used to be the type of person who only weighed in about once every ten years, beside Dr. appointments.  Now I weigh in daily.  There’s one thing I’ve learned- numbers don’t lie!  Monitor your progress.  When the numbers or results aren’t what you’re aiming for, make adjustments in your strategy and capitalize.  It will pay HUGE dividends.

Call a Friend– That’s right!  The importance of connection can’t be emphasized enough.  So when you call them, make an appointment to meet and catch up.  The reason we sometimes struggle is because we don’t take the time to cultivate our relationships with the people we love and care about.  Just this past week, I reconnected with a handful of relatives at the fair and it totally recharged my batteries.  Who is it that you need to get together with?  The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, wrote, “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17 (The Message).  If you don’t have at least one friend who brings out the best in you, find one!

Whatever you do, I want you to know it’s not too late!  Your best days are still ahead of you, not behind you.  You may not feel that way right about now, but it’s the truth.  So learn from your mistakes.  Instead of trying to continually come up with a new plan, re-work the old one.

Just this morning, while taking my daughter to a track meet, we pulled onto a major highway and the traffic was crawling.  At first, we reasoned the State was probably doing roadwork.  Inwardly, I confess my focus was on myself and how I was being inconvenienced.  Granted, it was a fleeting thought, but I admit to having it.  However, as we proceeded further, we saw the facts proved otherwise.  First we saw the red flashing lights and firemen, then a mangled can the size of a car wedged under a guard rail.  A helicopter was idling in the other oncoming lane.  The feelings of being inconvenienced were soon replaced with prayer and thoughts of thankfulness.  I thought to myself, if that person or people are still alive, they’re probably going to have a long road to recovery.

The fact is, recovery takes time.  So if you get back in the saddle, don’t just think things are going to change over night.  They will in some ways, for instance you’ll be relieved that you made the right choice.  But most likely it will take some time to recover if you’ve crashed and burned.  So the question isn’t what are you going to do tomorrow.  The question is what are you going to do right now?  What’s your next step that’s going to set you up for the success you’re looking for?

For instance, if you’ve decided you’re going to start working out again before work in the morning, prepare.  Put your clothes and running shoes out before you go to bed.  In the morning, you won’t have to waste time trying to find everything while you’re still half asleep.  It will all be there waiting for you.

Maybe you’ve decided you’re going to get out of debt.  Cutting up your credit cards may seem absurd, but it’s a partial solution and you don’t have to wait until tomorrow to do it.  While you’re at it, go to the Library and borrow a set of C.D’s on Financial Management or get a book or two.  Better yet, do both.

But whatever you do, don’t just keep waiting for a moment of inspiration to get back to the fundamentals that once helped you achieve success.  Feelings can be nice things, but successful people don’t wait for them to show up, they just get down to business and enjoy the feelings when and if they come.  I’d love to hear about some of the strategies you are using to reach your goals, so please feel free to comment below.  Remember, it’s not too late!  It’s not too late!  It’s not too late!