Hey guys, guess what?

We made it through the first month of 2018, can you believe it?

How are you doing on those New Year Resolutions so far? How many of you have already broken your resolutions?

Don’t feel bad, it’s absurd to think that on January 1st we are going to be totally different people- suddenly going to the gym 5 days a week and only eating kale salads and smoothies.

We are human, and we are going to mess up. We are going to fail, and we are going to eat that chocolate bar- maybe while counting the macros- but you’re still going to eat it.

But it’s not too late, tomorrow is a new day.

I’ll be honest- I have not kept to my own resolutions I made, but I am not beating myself over it. I just go into it and realize ok, that may take me a step back from where I want to be- but it’s not the end of the world.

The “experts” out here say that it takes 21 days to form or break a habit. That’s 21 days of intentionally doing something, avoiding something, or whatever just to make or break the habit!

It’s not easy, but it’s also not impossible.

It takes DISCIPLINE.Discipline as the lovely Webster’s dictionary defines:

Noun

1.       The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior…

Verb

1.       Train (someone) to obey riles or a code of behavior…

I think the key word in this definition is TRAIN. In order to make a behavior change, we literally have to train ourselves.

If you want to run a half marathon, you’re not going to be successful by staying on the couch until race day.

You need to train.

You need to practice.

You need discipline.

I chose discipline because I am a person who habitually begins a project and then never completes it, I start a diet and then eat some cheesecake and I go through spells where I am making up excuses as to why I don’t have time for the gym.

I was tired of that. I want to be someone who sticks to something and sees it through. I want to be disciplined in my faith, health and fitness.

So when my gym asked for us to all choose a word for the year, I knew what I had to choose. I knew that if I am disciplined in the food I put into my body, in my fitness training, and in my bible study – that I will reach my goals of being a healthier and happier person, I will be making those muscle gains, and my relationship with the Lord will grow stronger and much more personal.

But it takes discipline.It takes self-control.And at the end of the day, a year from now- if we remain disciplined in the goals we set for ourselves we will see the growth we had made. We will see the rewards. And I guarantee you, you will feel accomplished.So as I close this, I want you to think about the goals and resolutions you set for yourself on January 1st. Are they realistic? Choose a word that will help you stick to your goals and see them through.It’s not too late.

It’s a new day, a new month, and still a new year.