Don't NEED It...BE IT!

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Published on Tuesday, 16 October 2012 15:49

Written by Tom Terwilliger, Achievement Mentor, former National Body Building Champion, IFBB Pro

I was recently asked for some advice by an old friend who has been competing as a body builder for several years. Over his 20 plus year career he’s had some great success but he has also dealt with some frustration and disappointment.

His goal has been to capture a prestigious IFBB pro card which continues to elude him.   He’s come close on several occasions and in my opinion, with a few minor adjustments has everything it takes to achieve his objective.

“Do you think I should go for one more pro qualifying contest before calling it quits?”

Below is the advice I gave him, think about how it might apply to your quest whatever that might be.

In my opinion your physique is already awesome and pro card worthy so let me offer a subtle “Mind Set” suggestion for you bro. 

Let go of NEEDING this to happen.

“Need” is a small scarcity mind set and leads to contraction rather than expansion of your ability.

Don’t need it… OWN it!  BE it! And next time, unlike your past competitions have FUN with it. 

You’ve gotten comfortable with the pursuit and have learned to identify with chasing the goal not possessing or being it.  It seems to me that the part of your ego that’s comfortable with that… does not want you to succeed because it would mean change and it FEARS change.

When you’re too freaking serious instead of enjoying the process that part of you is aroused in fear and as a result it throws all sorts of internal resistance on your path designed to stop you.

You’ve worn the armor of “deadly serious” for too long – it might be time to try on for size supremely confident and secure that no matter what the outcome it’s what’s supposed to happen and that you will be rewarded for your efforts regardless.

Start right NOW by putting a BIG shit eating, confident (just ate the canary) grin on your face every time you think about your objective – look beyond “IT” and see yourself celebrating victory and the joy and satisfaction the entire experience has provided.
If you can’t get a little excited and even giddy about that then my advice would be to stay home... one more “serious effort” is not what you want. What you want is a serious outcome – you’ll be ready to receive that when you let go of needing it and just allow it… coupled with a supreme effort of course.”

The real question isn’t “should you do another show?” the real question with what mindset and attitude will you do your next show?

The advice I gave my friend by the way, minus all the “unconscious, ego, fear” mumbo jumbo was the same advice I received from my coach after the discouragement of two failed and quite serious attempts at winning the Nationals and earning my pro card. The year I received that advice was the same year I was victorious at both.
 
See you in the winner’s circle
Tom Terwilliger