Don't be upset with the results you didn't get from the work you didn't do.

Before I start let me just say that this post is not targeted at anyone in particular.  I didn't have a recent encounter that stands out or triggered this post nor was I thinking of anyone in particular (with the exception of myself) when I wrote it.  If it resonates with you I think it's because we share a common human condition expressed best by Paul in the 7th chapter of the book of Romans.

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

What a tantalizing intro - I bet you can't wait to read on!

Joyce Meyers has often said she believes we are educated well beyond our level of obedience.  She points to the fact that most Christians know that the Bible condemns gossip.  In fact, most Christians have been taught this lesson over and over and over - yet most Christians are guilty of gossipping.  It's not that we don't know what to do (or what not to do) it's that we choose to do what we know is wrong rather than what we have been taught is right.  We could get into a big philosophical discussion about this statement on many levels but that's not really what this blog is about so we wont.

When Joyce says we are educated beyond our level of obedience she is speaking of biblical knowledge and obedience to God.  But I think the statement holds true in other situations.  Most recently I have been thinking about how it pertains to making healthy choices - specifically eating well and exercising.  I know which foods are healthy and which foods are unhealthy.  I have unhindered access to all the healthy food I could possibly desire - yet I frequently choose to eat unhealthy food.  And not just unhealthy food but food that might be considered toxic if broken down into its individual ingredients.  I also know that I need to exercise.  I know how to exercise, I have everything I need to exercise including numerous opportunities to workout each day - yet I often choose to spend hours watching mindless television or "catching up" with people on Facebook rather than going for a run, walk or bike ride.

I have heard people suggest that the media or the government have caused the epidemic of obesity and lethargy in our society.  Really?  I can tell you that neither the media nor the government made choices for me regarding what I would eat or how I would spend my time today.  And I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this statement is true for basically everyone reading this blog  Again, we could get into a big philosophical discussion about this on many levels but we wont.

Another common excuse I have heard (and possibly used myself a time or two) is that we are too busy to eat well and exercise.  It sounds like a good argument until you take a good look at how we spend our time.  Yes, we are all busy but I think if we are honest with ourselves we have to concede that we are able to make the time to do the things that are important to us.  And if it's true that being too busy is stopping us from eating well and exercising are we to assume that people who do eat well and exercise aren't busy?  NEWS FLASH!  Everyone is busy!  It really doesn't take much longer to prepare a healthy meal than it does to pick up fast food at the drive-through on the way home.  If you value the spare minutes more than your health then by all means - have a Bic Mac & fries for dinner.  There's nothing wrong with opting for unhealthy options here and there but own up to your choices - don't pretend you're a victim.

The bottom line is there are a million excuses for not doing what we know we ought to.  Many of them are even really valid excuses but they are still just that - excuses.  They don't give us a free ticket to whine and complain that we feel gross and fat - unless of course you feel gross and fat after a sustained period of eating well and exercising.  I'm not suggesting this is easy - taking responsibility for the circumstances we find ourselves in rarely is - but lets face life isn't easy and if we really think about it we don't really want it to be.

I'm choosing to stop complaining, blaming and making excuses and instead, take responsibility for the decisions I make.  Day-by-day, hour-by hour, even moment-by-moment I will try to choose the best of the options presented to me - get up and run rather than sleep an extra 45 minutes, skip the donuts my coworker so graciously brought to work, go to pilates over the lunch hour instead of surfing the internet, drink water instead of soda, take a walk after work instead of watching TV.  Small decisions throughout the day that over time will make me feel better than the extra sleep, donut, internet, soda or TV ever could.  And when I choose to sleep in or eat the donut (which I absolutely will do on occasion) - I will own that choice and any downstream ramifications (my business background just made an appearance on my blog!) whole heartedly.  After all - I am the one making the choice.

Stepping off my soapbox... : )