What does "better" mean?

Being better than before has always been the goal but the way I do it has evolved with me over the years.

You may get better in one area then see regression in another or maybe you think you finally figured it out and then you relapse in some way. If I were to paint a picture of my bodybuilding journey it wouldn’t be all colorful… there’d be many spaces of emptiness, black and white, scribbles, darkness, bright colors, peace, chaos….

I sometimes think of it like you become so hyper fixated on one aspect of it that then you turn around and realize another part needs you. It’s rare you mold into absolute perfect vision. Even the best athletes still get feedback after a show or have arguments at home or go through loss and heartbreak or establish new goals for their life outside of the sport or their businesses and passions.

We cannot rely solely on bodybuilding to sustain and support us but we absolutely can use it as a means to learning more about ourselves, building and challenging ourselves, and having space to take care of ourselves.

But I’ve made the mistake of being so zoomed in that the big picture gets blurry. I’ve learned how to keep a looser grip and focus on what I can repeatedly do while maintaining overall well-being and upholding my values as a person and as an athlete. Pushing myself, how I eat, train, think, communicate, approach things… it’s all evolved. I wouldn’t even recognize 2015 me when I started… I love this version of me.

She’s my favorite thus far because she has her identity rooted in God, her peace with whatever comes of this journey, and a commitment to joy in the journey. Think back on your own evolution or maybe think ahead to the athlete you aspire to become… what steps can you take now to support getting there?