“It’s always darkest just before dawn.” That’s the best time to bust into the cookie jar — nobody can see you. 
I thought this worth sharing, for all of us who are in our own “middle parts”, seeking better fitness.
Often when we are right in the middle of a difficult situation, it is tempting to look at our results as a disaster. “I’ve failed!” we might lament, feeling completely certain that life’s test has defeated us. A few days ago I was meeting with a client who expressed something like this and his embarrassment at being in the kind of situation that he was. I responded to him that from my perspective he was describing not a failure, but the middle part of a very inspiring story. Think about how some of the stories that inspire you the most have some very difficult stuff in the middle. Everything is OK in the end – if it is not OK, it is not the end! Keep working on your story — you’re not done yet.
— Dr. Paul, 3 September 2008 “M-Power” weekly e-mail, The Middle Part (emphasis mine)
I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs, and look forward to reading your great endings!
This is such a great way to frame progress of a goal and how to keep going when things get hard. Thank you for posting your own journey and letting us be a part of your “middle.”
Don’t you find that blogging and sharing your journey with others helps keep you going as well? I have always felt that writing, listing, and journaling were great ways to prioritize and motivate yourself through tough times and to accomplish goals, but doing so on a blog leaves a nearly infinite number of readers to help hold you accountable. It’s great!
~Melissa
http://www.melissamorris.wordpress.com
I have to agree, Melissa. I certainly didn’t set out to be a hub of inspirational material for people. I simply wanted a place to share my thoughts with the other members of my master mind group. As others started to stumble on the blog, I found the opportunity to share and be accountable motivating. At times it’s even fun!
I also find reading what others have been going through beneficial. It’s so human to think we’re the special case; that nobody else knows what we’re going through. Reading others’ journeys helps keep me humble. I’m not an exception to the rule, just an individual case of the common human experience.
Thanks for sharing.
Ah, good idea to ponder over. We are really quick to think we have failed, aren’t we? But if we could see past the immediate situation we would know that the bad times are usually just the middle part of a long and inspiring story. If we could see farther we would know that we should keep going. Thank you for sharing this and your story through your blog. I just found it but I think it is fantastic!