We’ve all been there. You look in the mirror or try to keep up with the kids, and the quest to get back in shape feels like an impossible mountain to climb. Between work, injuries, and the sheer lack of energy, it’s easy to let excuses become your reality.
But sometimes, all we need is a change in perspective. I recently sat down with Tom Turner. Tom is 35 and has been paralyzed from the waist down since birth. He has endured 19 surgeries. Yet, he trains three times a week because he “couldn’t get along without it.”
If he can find a way to break through, so can you. Here are three principles to help you crush the intimidation and reach your goals.
Move Into the Fear
- Move Into the Fear
We often avoid the gym or a new routine because we’re afraid of looking weak, failing, or aggravating an old injury. Tom’s advice? Meet those fears head-on.
Identify the Source: Ask yourself what is actually making you uncomfortable. Is it the fear that you’ve let yourself go too far? Is it an injury that makes you distrust your own body?
Visualize the Version of You That Wins: Stop seeing yourself as “out of shape” and start visualizing yourself as you want to be.
Trust Your Body’s Potential: Your body has an incredible ability to heal and adapt. Your only job is to stop fighting it and start listening to it.
Trust Your Internal Compass
- Trust Your Internal Compass
In a world full of “fitness gurus” telling you what to do, it’s easy to lose your own voice. While professional advice is great, the ultimate decision-making has to come from you.
Know Your Boundaries: Everyone has restrictions—whether you’re in a wheelchair or have 20/20 vision. Identify your physical and mental limits so you can work within them effectively.
Small Wins Lead to Big Goals: Tom doesn’t try to climb the whole mountain at once. He focuses on one more set, one more rep, or five more minutes of endurance.
Raise Your Expectations: Once you know your boundaries, aim to meet them every single day. You’ll be surprised how quickly “small steps” turn into massive transformations.
Choose How You Live
- Choose How You Live
At the end of the day, a lot of our hesitation comes from a primal fear of discomfort or even mortality. Tom’s perspective, forged through nearly 20 operations, is a wake-up call for all of us.
Attack the Day: You can choose to be beaten down by fear, or you can choose how to live. A positive attitude isn’t just a cliché; it’s a tactical advantage.
Don’t “Go Gentle”: Don’t let your best years slip away because you were too afraid to break a sweat. Life is happening now, and you don’t want to miss being part of tomorrow because you were hiding on the sidelines today.
Find a New Mountain: Once you reach a goal, don’t stop. Find the next challenge. That constant pursuit is what makes life worth living.
The Bottom Line: Real role models aren’t always on TV or social media. They are people like Tom—real men facing real obstacles and refusing to let them define their lives. You have the same strength within you. Set your intention, put it in motion, and enjoy the process of getting stronger.
