Some random encouragement for the new year :-)

I’ve been doing Jillian’s 30 day shred workout videos lately, and I started thinking about something. You know how when you do a workout video the host is always so crazy upbeat and positive, always throwing encouragement your way? The same stuff they say can work well in “real life,” too. When life gets absolutely shitty, almost everyone has thoughts of giving up. “I can’t do this, I can’t take it anymore” (...basically the same thoughts I have while Jillian is kicking my butt every morning).

I mean, life is infinitely harder than any workout video, and most of the time we want to take the easy way out instead of pushing ourselves. So many people end up living out a life which they don’t love or don’t want, simply because that’s the path they think they are on. But think about it—- the same motivation you apply to get through a tough workout can help you on a larger scale. Being your own cheerleader can help you to stay determined in your life choices and not give up when something seems impossible. This is true everything, but especially true for finances too! If you have a bad day or week where spending is pretty intense, don’t be tempted to throw in the towel or get too discouraged! Remember your plans and remember how good it feels to pay down debt or watch your savings grow. Since we don’t have life coaches, we have to give ourselves (and each other) the encouragement. :-) So if anyone is feeling low, stressed, or overwhelmed, remember to push through, be strong, and believe that you can do it!