“The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100%.”  ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

Back when I weighed 300 lbs, when I walked with a cane full-time, when I wore a CPAP machine for Sleep Apnea to bed, when I suffered from vertigo and was borderline diabetic I simply did NOT have the mindset where I could picture myself walking 5 blocks let alone competing in and completing a Tough Mudder.

I remember clearly, during those days, thinking to myself “Oh God, I have to get up off the couch and take the garbage out.” It seemed like such an exhausting task do to just that. Not even the feeling of embarrassment and discomfort I had sitting on my own couch and having the cushion cave under me because of my weight stopped me from continuing to commit the damage to my body.

Until one day when I gave myself permission to dream.

These days you’ll be hard pressed to find me in front of the T.V. I seldom sit in that worn down and comfy yet stifling corner of that couch.  Now I can’t stop moving, doing, being and living.

What I learned to do differently in those years of transformation was to change behaviours one step at a time but to allow myself to dream bigger all the time.

Practicing this has led me to experience the most incredible moments surrounded by the most exceptional people. More importantly it has helped me to discover what I am truly capable of doing in this life.

Walking into the gym with registration papers in hand  for  Fight 4 the Cause made me feel like my heart was going to pound out of my chest. Never had I stepped out of my comfort zone so drastically. Until this point I had allowed myself to have goals but I had never let myself strive to reach something that so many would think unattainable.

During my training I made a point of envisioning how I wanted the fight to go. I let myself dream about winning and more significantly I believed I could. What followed was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life and a new lifelong appreciation and love for the sport of boxing.

Once I opened my mind to the possibilities that existed out there for me and stopped focussing on the “limitations” of my body I wanted to do more, see more and dream more and I knew I could. Now I understand that the only barrier to me achieving the things I want… is my own mind.

My big dream for next year is to compete in and finish my first Half-Ironman. That is by far NOT the only goal I am setting but it is THE one I feel would be the most difficult to achieve – therefore I WILL do it.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing I hope that you are allowing yourself to dream BIG, to envision and believe that you can do anything that you put your mind to – now, go out and do it!

Love D.

My daily reminder of what I am here to do  and what it will take within me to do it!