This is part of a Ralph Marston reading, but I thought it was necessary to share this. It's SO good! I know for years I thought I could just do "whatever" and make this getting healthy and the weight loss I desired, just happen...... NOT SO! I have to have a goal..... something to work towards or I'm just going to aimlessly flounder and never get where I need and want to be! This talks about that very thing..... you can't get where you need to go without two ESSENTIAL things and that's discipline and focus. I know some of you are saying to yourselves right now that you aren't very disciplined and never have been. I used to think that about myself, too, and then I looked at other areas of my life that I excel in, like my music for instance and I realized that because I had a passion about my music, I had no problem practicing every day, never missing rehearsals and being pretty darn dedicated to always improving. Suddenly the penny dropped and I realized that those everyday actions that I took for granted are DISCIPLINE and FOCUS! I was pretty amazed since I thought I was not the least bit disciplined or focused! Then I thought about how much I want to get the rest of this weight off and be the healthiest person I can be and I instinctively knew that if I applied myself to my daily "health care" the way I do to my music, I would have all the rest of this weight off in no time at all. I know have a different perspective on being disciplined and focused! I know all of you can have that same "light bulb" moment if you think about something that you do diligently everyday........ give this some thought and apply it to your eating/exercising/drinking water, etc.....

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The question you must ask yourself is -- what do you desire and why? Forget for a moment about what other people desire or what they expect you to desire or what is fashionable to desire. What do you really, truly desire to do with the incredible treasure of possibilities that is your life? Take a moment and really think about this......

Answer that question and you'll have a driving reason to become DISCIPLINED.

Answer that question and you'll have a clearly defined objective upon which to FOCUS.

You are completely and immediately capable of all the discipline and focus you could ever need when you find a compelling enough, personally meaningful reason.

-- Ralph Marston
Ralph Marston's home page (http://www.greatday.com)

I tend to be a very controlled person, and it was one of the things I found out that I loved about getting healthy. It is the one part of my life that I have control over. I may not be able to keep my kids from messing up the house, or get my hubby to let me know when he has changes our schedule for the day. The weather never does what you planned for, and the boss is bound to ask you to stay late the one night you can't. But what I put in my mouth, and the exercise I get in every day is under my control.

Believe me I am thankful everyday for knowing that I have that one little piece of sanity in my life.