Life's Like A Spinning Class (Part Two)

A couple of months ago I posted this two part article "Life's Like a Spinning Class." I edited and submitted part two for syndication this week, and well, the feedback poured in. So I decided to re-post the edited version for those of you who missed it.

Enjoy...


I never thought a Spinning class could teach me so much. Here I was, finally on the bike and on my way to… A total meltdown??

What drama! -- starring yours truly. I was having a terrible mental conversation. And all because:

- I was afraid of feeling vulnerable
- Afraid of failure
- Afraid of not having the stamina to go the whole hour
- Afraid of feeling ridiculous
- Afraid I would have to quit
- Afraid of injury
- Afraid discouragement would keep me from going back… afraid, afraid, afraid!!

Fear... It is the root of all evil!

We see the same thing happening in our business, career, with relationships, personal and family matters. Fear is the number one reason why we get stuck. Why we limit ourselves. And it is why we don’t attract wealth and prosperity. Why we don't soar!

We fear the unknown. The funny thing is that the road ahead can only be revealed as we travel it. It will only remain a mystery when we choose not to go on it.

We only overcome challenges when we face them. As hard as adversity is, it does develop character and inner strength. It also develops and grows the faith needed to go beyond our point of resistance.

Success happens when we do... and persevere... even while experiencing the fear. Quitting, is never an option!

I was bruised and soar after the class. I limped, literally for four days afterwards. But guess what? I bragged about it to my friends for days! And, I took away a very valuable lesson:

- I can do anything I put my “right mind” to
- I can prepare myself better by having the right gear, posture and attitude
- Planning is not necessary sometimes, I just have to do!
- It is okay to feel vulnerable
- Ask for help even when feeling vulnerable
- Never listen to the skeptics
- I will experience a breakthrough if I believe and stick to it long enough
- Keeping my mental conversations in check is crucial to my success
- Let myself go so I can enjoy the moment

The journey is always better when we enjoy what we're doing. When we are bold about our decisions. When we try new things. Happiness, prosperity and wealth will come naturally as part of the process.

Life can definitely be like a spinning class… or not!

As Lance Armstrong said... “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

Change is always painful. Taking a risk on a new career, job, city, or relationship may be scary. But it's all worth it if it means being able to live the kind of life you dream about; Feeling passionate about what you do; Smiling when you wake up in the morning knowing you're existence has purpose!

So what are you doing to spin your way to success? Are you making life happen or are you letting it happen to you? Challenge yourself today. You're meant to live a life of greatness!

Have you checked out my upcoming workshop? It's going to be an intense, fun weekend. We're going to have a great time. I hope to see you there - Click here for the details.

Life’s Like a Spinning Class (part two)

I never thought a Spinning class could teach me so much.

Here I was, finally on the bike and on my way to…
A total meltdown??

What drama! -- starring yours truly.

I was having a terrible mental conversation. And all because:


- I was afraid of feeling vulnerable;
- Afraid of failure;
- Afraid of not having the stamina to go the whole hour;
- Afraid of feeling ridiculous;
- Afraid I would have to quit;
- Afraid of injury;
- Afraid discouragement would keep me from going back… afraid, afraid, afraid!!

Fear -- It is the root of all evil!

We see the same thing happening in our business, career, with relationships, personal and family matters.

Fear is almost always the reason we get stuck. Why we limit ourselves.

And it is why we don’t attract wealth and prosperity!
Why we don't soar!

We fear the unknown.
But the mystery of the road ahead can only be revealed as we travel it.

We overcome challenges when we face them.
Success happens when we do -- and persevere.
Even while experiencing the fear.

Quitting, is never an option!

I was bruised and soar after the class. I limped, literally, for four days afterwards. But guess what? -- I bragged to my friends about it for days!
And, I took away a very valuable lesson:

- I can do anything I put my “right mind” to;
- I can prepare myself better by having the right gear, posture and attitude;
- Planning is not necessary sometimes (this one was mammoth!);
- It is okay to feel vulnerable;
- Ask for help even when feeling vulnerable;
- Never listen to the skeptics;
- I will experience a breakthrough if I stick to it long enough;
- Keeping my mental conversations in check is crucial to my success;
- Let myself go so I can enjoy the moment.

The journey is always better if we enjoy what we're doing.
When we are bold about our decisions. When we try new things.
And wealth and prosperity will come naturally as part of the process.

Life can definitely be like a spinning class… or not!

Who would know more about it than Lance Armstrong who said... “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

Life’s Like a Spinning Class (part one)

I finally took a spinning class! I’ve wanted to take one for a very long time.

I loved the idea of the intense workout -- the big time perspiration, toning and building muscle on my legs, and of course, resistance.

I looked into the spinning class studio week after week but wouldn't go in. I was too afraid. I didn’t think I’d have the stamina or strength for it. I was simply too intimidated by this thing.

Maybe if I came up with a plan. But nothing came to mind. I mean really, what plan could get me over the fear!

Until a week ago. I left home for the gym thinking I would “just do it.”

There was a line of people ready to go in. Classes fill up quickly.
I had butterflies in my stomach.

I approached two women in line and pretended to be curious.
I asked them a few questions about the class. When I observed their ease in talking with me, I shared with them how intimidated I felt.

Well, you know how it is when you show vulnerability to people. The reactions are random. Each woman had a different opinion. One was optimistic and encouraging. The other was cautious and warned it would be terribly challenging.

I decided to listen to the “good angel”. I wasn’t going to let a spinning class terrify me anymore!

I adjusted the bike, got on it and began to warm up. The instructor gave me some pointers before starting the class.

I’m not going to lie… the first fifteen minutes were extremely difficult. My legs were shaking. My knees hurt. I couldn’t pedal standing very long. Never mind trying to increase the tension or pedal to the music rhythm.

The instructor came over and spoke in my ear. She told me to relax -- to let the bike do the work for me. Whatever that meant, I didn’t understand how to do it.

A battle ensued in my mind.
Do I quit? How much longer should I go? Will I be able to come back to the class if I quit? Will it always be this painful? I don’t want these people to think I’m a wimp! Man, I wasn’t going to make it!

I kept looking at the clock.
Maybe twenty minutes was a decent amount of time for a beginner.
I would push another five minutes.

Fifteen minutes went by.
I rose to first position and all of a sudden… the pain on my knees was gone! The discomfort on my back disappeared. And it felt good! Yeah!

My mental conversation changed to: I’m doing it! I can really do this! Man, there’s no stopping me now. What a thrill! What a great feeling! Woohoo!!

I spinned the whole hour.
A couple of the people in the class and the instructor commented how great I’d done.
This was a major accomplishment! I felt really proud of myself.

The fear was gone!

Well, I’m not going to tell you how sore my legs were for four days after the class.
I am however going to share with you on my next post how this experience taught me a great big lesson about life’s challenges, fears of the unknown and self-imposed limitations in our journey to attract wealth and success.

How are you spinning in your journey to wealth and success?