The Slight Edge

I remember feeling skeptical and even rolling my eyes when my Beachbody coach, Lindsay Matway, was trying to convince me of the importance of reading or listening to some kind of personal development book or audio every single day.  Self-help books?  Really?  Didn't she know I was already pretty great?  Didn't she know that I already had it all together and I didn't NEED to read self-help books?  Obviously she did not.  

So grudgingly, I ordered the first book she recommend, The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson.  It didn't take long for me to realize how "not together" I was and how far away I was from the person I wanted to be.  I can humbly say that The Slight Edge completely changed the way I  viewed myself and the way I was living my life.  It opened my eyes to how I had slowly and steadily lost who I was, and how I had changed as a result.  

You see, Jeff Olson writes about how every little decision you make every single day slowly adds up to the person you will become.  Does that sound crazy?  Are you going to be less successful because you sleep in just one day?  Are you going to lose your relationship because you failed to have a date night just that one week?  Are you going to be overweight because you went through the fast food drive-thru just that one time?  Of course not.  You don't fail, break-up, or gain 50 pounds overnight.  But these small decisions compounded over time can and will eventually lead to these things.  

The good news?  Just the same way these tiny, minuscule, negative decisions can lead to failure, so can the tiny, minuscule, positive decisions lead to success!  So why don't more people do those simple, easy-to-do, good things everyday?  Because they are just as easy NOT to do.  

So how does this relate to me?  At the University of Florida, I was an All-American pole-vaulter, graduated with a 3.98 GPA with a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science, volunteered on a regular basis, and was active in a few different Christian ministries.  I was disciplined and I thrived.  After graduating, and marrying my husband, I traveled with him a lot, so I didn't have a job, a home church, or many friendships.  I had lost the art of discipline.  I was unmotivated and if I am being completely honest, LAZY.  I was not being disciplined in the little things (like even getting to the grocery store), so I was not accomplishing big things.  I noticed this, I knew I had changed, but I just figured, "People change".  No big deal.  But in reality, I had lost myself big time.  

The Slight Edge reinvigorated my passion for discipline and sacrifice in order to achieve what I wanted.  I suddenly was reminded of WHO I wanted to be.  I want to be a nurturing, loving mother.  I want to be a passionate and caring wife.  I want to be a bold and influential woman of God.  I want to be a successful Beachbody coach.  

So what did I do?  I started waking up earlier, watching less TV, indulging my cravings less, and prioritizing my time and responsibilities more effectively.  I began setting goals and visualizing those goals accomplished.  I read The Slight Edge, then read it again, and continue to read unbelievable personal development books that are challenging me, encouraging me, and making me better.  I hope and I dream and I believe in the unlimited potential that I have and that ANYONE has if only they are willing to make small, positive decisions every.single.day.

What books do you love?  What books have changed you?  I would love to hear from you!