What we focus on in life is typically what we attract in life. Self limiting beliefs can take away our joy and create needless torment. By changing our focus of thought, we can transcend the pointlessness of negative energy by learning to center on all that is positive in our lives. As a photographer, I often find myself playing the role of listener. I hear a lot and I thought I would lay out some of the more critical choices we are faced with each day that I feel are important to share and discuss. Controlling our thoughts is imperative to living the best life possible. Here are ten choices that need to be addressed daily by competitors and everyone alike.

1) Trying to be perfect. As athletes, our minds are programmed to be number one. Keep things in perspective. The fixation on the impossible can only lead to disappointment, so rather than trying to be perfect, let's simply enjoy life doing our best at everything we do without becoming obsessed on perfection. We can take pride in doing something well, to the best of our ability, but remember no one on earth is perfect.

2) Comparing ourselves to others. For those competing in a physique sport it's very simple to look at the physical attributes, or the athleticism of those around us. We have each been given a genetic code that can be maximized, but we need to keep things real and simply do our best with what we have been given. Striving to be the best "me" is a lofty goal in of itself without trying to be better than someone else over which we have no control. Let's not worry about what others think of us. Even as we step on stage, all we can control is ourselves. Judging is subjective. That we know. We did our best. That we know. Everything else is out of our control.

3) Focusing on the past or the future. The past is something that is already over. Each of us learns from experience but what happened in the past will never exactly duplicate itself again. Let the past go and start living in the present. Let's focus our attention on what we are doing now. A close friend of mine had to reiterate that to me over and over a number of years ago as it always seemed I was too focused on the future. It's good to set goals, definitely including some long term goals, but let's not get caught up in focusing most of our energy in this direction or on the past. The most important moment in time is now.

4) Procrastinating. This practice usually originates from childhood when we put off doing something because we didn't like doing it, or there was something more "fun" to do first. In university, a couple of my professors would tell me, "David, had you worked the entire semester as you did the last two weeks, you would have been a straight A student." I had more important things to do. The gym and sports being my main focus. Although I still fall into this trap at times, "getting things done today" relieves a ton of headaches that build each day something is put off. Take care of that business asap and let's get our game back at the gym and everywhere else in our lives.

5) Feeling we can't do something. The only way we can't do something is if we don't even try. If something is important to us, there is no reason why we can't start working towards it. Progress, even baby steps, will reward us with the feeling of accomplishment. Let's track our progress and we'll soon see that what we thought was a far off lofty goal, is coming closer and with it the realization that it was always accessible.

6)  Living for others. We have to live in harmony with others as I mentioned in my last Blog, however, we are free to set goals and work towards them. I have seen a lot of people live their lives feeling that they need to do things this or that way to appease family or friends. At the end of the day, the only way we will move forward and feel good about ourselves is if we did things for ourselves in our own way.

7)  Keeping things inside.  Communication. That one word, if executed correctly and thoroughly is the answer to almost every single issue that arises in our lives. From work to relationships, if we know the situation, where others are coming from, then it paints a clearer map that is easy to navigate. Don't allow anything to bottle up inside. Share feelings with the person closest to us. Discuss the hard topics, the topics that might even hurt at times. It's much better to have everything out in the open then to keep something inside growing until it amounts to an insurmountable obstacle. Communicate daily. Set times to "debrief" each day.

8) Having expectations. The moment we put an expectation on someone or something is the moment we open ourselves up to disappointment. Limiting those expectations will limit those negative emotions that can flood up quickly. Enjoy what is.

9) Trying to control everything in our life. Life happens. Allow it and accept it. It is impossible to control every aspect of our life so that the results are always favourable. Let's not worry if we make mistakes, we're human. Learn to enjoy each moment for what it is.

10) Blaming others. As much as we would like to deny it, this is one of the most common signs of lacking happiness, confidence and focus inside ourselves. The amount to which we can fulfill our dreams depends on the amount to which we take responsibility for the journey we lay out for ourselves. We need to accept responsibility for the life we are creating for ourselves and with this responsibility comes the need to "free everyone around us".  Blaming others denies our responsibility. It allows others to have power over that aspect of our lives. The sooner we let this go, the sooner our lives will move forward at an exponential rate.

By recognizing and addressing these ten choices, we will start to feel a new found freedom in our life. Yes, it takes a conscientious effort. Some days may be more challenging than others, but it's keeping the course of our path moving forward that will present us with more opportunities then we ever realized possible.

These ten points to consider are relevant in our personal lives as well as in our competitive lives. Regardless of who or what we are up against, believing in ourselves, that we are bigger then our problems, focusing on what is positive in our lives, will inevitably reward us with the life we seek for ourselves. Once we can step back from our life for a moment, the energy we put out becomes clear. Is it the energy we want to attract in our lives?

Beginning this moment, let's think before we speak, before we act, and ensure our words, our tone, our actions improve our life and the lives of those around us. We will feel the positive effects immediately in the gym and in our lives.

I have seen these points help myself and friends around me, let me know how it works for you.

In health & fitness,

DF