Fistful of Metal: Busting Your Inner Voice in the Mouth

You make a decision to get in shape, so you join a gym. You’ve read that doing 30-45 minutes of intense cardio per day will take off the fat in a few short months, so you’re ready to hit it with all the “inspiration” you’ve got. After 15 minutes, this voice in the back of your head starts saying, “It hurts—I can’t do this. I’ve got to do it for how long? How am I going to keep this up for months?” You listen to the voice. You get off the treadmill. You tell yourself, “Well, it’s a great start. I’ll do 45 minutes tomorrow.” You never do.

Who the hell is that speaking to you? Who is this enemy of your progress? Who in the world is living inside your head that is so damn dedicated to your failure? Who is this person that won’t shut up and is committed to keeping you in debt; keeping you in bed; keeping you in that job you hate; and making you think it’s okay to settle for what you have and who you are? Whoever it is ain’t no friend. Whoever it is needs a fist in the face!

We’ll make this simple—the entire philosophy of personal achievement can be reduced to how effective you are at beating the holy hell at that inner voice. Before you ever quit any discipline intended to improve your meager existence, that inner voice tells you to quit. Before you get off the treadmill too early, or resort back to your bad habits, that voice in the back of your mind tells you to quit or give up.

Therefore, if you DON’T listen to that voice—and actually learn how to defeat it—then nothing will be too difficult for you. You would lose all the weight you want, and more, if you simply crack that voice in the jaw! Why? If you didn’t listen to the “voice of giving up,” you would stay on the treadmill. And if you stay on the treadmill, the weight comes off. This is not rocket science, people!

The secret is to never quit, and every decision to quit is preceded by the very thought to quit. This is that inner voice. He or she hates you, but you think they’re friendly. You think they have your best interest in mind. That’s why you listen to them. Stop listening. Every time that voice speaks, bust him or her in the chops and say the opposite to yourself. Every time the voice says, “It hurts,” you say, “Too bad.” Every time the voice says, “Fifteen minutes is enough,” you say, “I’m going the full 45 minutes.” So long as you keep saying it, your body and emotions will follow.

Metal Up!