Skip to main content

Pollyanna Is NOT Dead.

"Consult not your fears, but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you have tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do." - Pope John XXIII

How many times has someone told you to "look on the bright side," or "think positive?" If you've been a consistent reader of my blog I know you've heard it from me at least once...

Recently however, I've been on the receiving end and I'm grateful for it. Last week I did one of the most difficult things I've had to do: close Muscle Mechanics personal training studio permanently. Am I sad? Scared? Depressed? Well - yes, but this is where I put my words and philosophy to the test. I can choose to give into those negative emotions or I can "look on the bright side." Which decision do you think will change my life for the better?

Pollyanna Complex aside, don't get me wrong. I am not delusional. I know the reality and feel the pain of loss, but because I can still choose my attitude; I can choose to focus on the good and learn from the bad.

With the employment rate at 8.1% at the beginning of May 2012, and when the estimated number of bankruptcy filings for this year are expected to match those of 2011 (1.5 million); I know I am not alone. However, I've got plenty of projects still left on my plate and thankfully I have even more friends and family to cheer me on.

The loss of a brick and mortar business does not diminish my experience or skill. I own those eternally. The knowledge I've gained in the near 20 years of building Muscle Mechanics from the ground up is all mine. The same could apply to you.

If you are experiencing a similar situation my advise is to keep your eyes on that which pulls you forward. Maybe it's your family, maybe it's the dream of going back to school, charity work, or (like me) following a new business idea or dream "of a different color." Whatever it is, positivity and enthusiasm can take you farther than you think. More importantly, they can move you away from depression and self-destructive actions.

I've lost a big chunk of my heart to Muscle Mechanics and I will miss it, but I'm so grateful for the time I had with it, the friends I've made through it, and for the skills & tools I've acquired over those years. These will be the materials I use to cultivate my plans for the future.

After all, we cannot simply rest our lives on any one achievement (fulfilled or incomplete). Instead, we've got to stand on them so that from this higher ground, we can see the future. A future filled with achievements we have yet to accomplish.

This is my driving force. I hope it is yours also.

As Always -(yes, even in difficult times)- Enjoy Your Life!

John Aaron Villarreal


The Legal Stuff: The content and information on this site is not intended to diagnose,
cure, treat or prevent disease. Please consult your physician
prior to starting any exercise or diet program.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Should I Get a Massage and How Often?

This is a question I get often… Let’s face it, if it were up to massage therapists we’d say that you should get a massage every day, but in reality – very few people ever have the means or time to make this scenario play out in their lives. So technically speaking, your frequency should depend on how much you like massage, how often you experience chronic pain, and your budget. If you’re able to afford it, getting a monthly or weekly massage works best at helping prevent injuries by catching tight areas before they become problematic. With my more athletic clients (runners, weightlifters, gymnasts), I usually recommend timing their massage to coincide with the times they are training their hardest. For example, runners can develop tight hamstrings and hips, gymnasts and weight-lifters can get tight shoulders. These tight muscle groups can elicit injuries over time if they aren't treated by massage. If you are physically active, I recommend getting a massage within 24 hours ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Coffee Has Health Benefits

Anyone who knows me knows I love my Joe…. err, “cup of joe” that is. In fact, I’m enjoying a cup as I write this post. However, as a wellness professional that little admission of guilt has gotten me a few sneers and looks of condescension. Caffeine is BAD for you, they say! Well, perhaps abusing caffeine may be “bad” for you, but ‘caffeine’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘coffee.’ Despite this fact, coffee has gotten a bad rep over the years after a few health experts linked it (or rather, linked caffeine abuse) to several diseases. But is coffee actually that bad? Probably not; new research shows that drinking coffee in moderation provides numerous health benefits. Antidepressant It might seem a little odd to find that coffee could help with depression, but new research has shown that it does just that. Now, don’t go throwing out your prescriptions or quit counseling just yet though, coffee is not a cure for depression. Rather, the caffeine in coffee helps regulate your mood trans...
2 comments
Read more

What To Do When You’re Chronically Stressed

Of all the modern-day ailments that seem to affect us, none is more pervasive than stress. Everywhere you turn, there are factors lurking to redirect you from your peaceful pursuit of happiness and lock you in the clutches of “stress.” What exactly is stress—and what more insidious effects does it cause? The dictionary defines stress as “great pressure or force; strain.” In today’s world, we think of stress as the result of too much pressure laid upon us by life, causing mental worry or anguish. This, in turn, manifests itself in tight neck and shoulders, headaches, nervous stomach, etc. But these physical and mental conditions are really only the beginning. Studies show that stressful situations can develop into more threatening health conditions. For instance: A sudden or unexpected stressor can activate your adrenal glands, which sends adrenaline and other hormones into your bloodstream. This brings about an increase in your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood f...
Post a Comment
Read more