Don’t Let The Spotlight Effect Keep You Out Of The Gym

What do people notice about you when you walk by them on the street? Is it the size of your biceps, the brand of clothing you’re wearing, the spot you missed while shaving, or that you got a tight shape-up the day before? Your priorities are not the same as the average person you see on the street. Few things stand out enough to make stranger’s heads turn.

Unless this is your haircut, you probably aren’t getting noticed.

In reality, the odds are that a lot fewer people notice you than you think.

Enter the Spotlight effect.

This phenomenon has been proven by a few studies conducted on normal everyday people. It states that you think the spotlight is on you way more than it ever actually is. You are the center of your universe but not the center of anyone else’s. Except maybe your mom’s.

That’s good news for everyone. You are not in the spotlight. So stop worrying what you look like so much. Having abs is great, and showing them off is fun, but no one cares if you are 5% body fat or 15%, much less the difference between 5% and 7%.

This post is really about you learning to love the process and reaping the rewards as a secondary effect.

If you want a vascular stomach, great, but don’t let it cloud your vision of the present. Every time you workout or eat something good for your body you are making yourself better. Live in that moment every day.

Keepin’ it Real

In an effort to keep this from turning into a self-help post I’m gonna get real.

You need to recognize the time it takes to get the results you want. Anyone that promises you results in weeks is a liar. If you’re the type of person looking for a quick fix I guarantee you don’t have the type of body that will show any significant results in weeks. Start measuring things in 6-month increments if you want to be realistic. Building muscle takes time. Losing weight is quicker, but keeping it off, in the long run, requires real work.

Now that you are disheartened, it’s time to become process-oriented. Love every workout for what it is. Learn to appreciate the nutrients in the foods you eat. Have respect for the time and skill it takes to prepare a meal. Become a professional at everything you do. I’m the best fucking dishwasher I know. That doesn’t have a lot of application outside of a kitchen directly. Indirectly, I can take the focus and pride I have and apply it to everything else in my life.

If that sounds dumb to you, you don’t get it and are probably horribly unhappy.

How to know if you love the process/ can live in the moment/ have respect for the simpler things in life:

If you find yourself thinking about your next meal while you are eating your current meal. You need work.

If you are thinking about how hard the next rep or set is going to be while you are in the middle of a rep or set. You need work.

If you are thinking about work tomorrow while you are laying on the couch watching Netflix and getting a foot rub from your gorgeous wife. You need serious work.

If you are fantasizing about driving a Bentley while driving your Ford Taurus past people waiting at a bus stop in the rain. You are missing the point.

In Summation

Before I digress further:

People care a lot less than you think

You are probably focused on the wrong things

If you are in agreement with all the above and are not found deficient in mental presence, then I’m sure you know someone who is. Send them this, and buy yourself a Kit Kat.

Originally published at www.composurefitness.com on July 2, 2018.