You might be surprised to learn that a big influencer in my life has been none other than comedian Adam Carolla. I'm an avid listener of almost all the Carolla Digital podcasts, including the titular Adam Carolla Show.
Even though he is a comedian, he shares a lot of personal views that have resonated a lot with me, and I largely attribute my drive to lose weight to his, for lack of better word, teachings.
For those of you unaware of his background, Carolla grew up in a low income home with divorced parents who could care less about what he did with his life. (Even illustrated by the fact that they were too lazy to give him a middle name. Seriously.) He spent his 20s and early 30s working construction and carpentry and worked hard on the side via things like the Groundlings to build himself a name in comedy. For somebody who didn't have any support system to help build himself up, he's gone on to do well for himself, which I respect a lot.
Anyway, one of the things Carolla touts is this idea of internalizing things over externalizing them. In other words, instead of looking to blame something or somebody else for some event, look within yourself to see what you can make better about yourself.
Unfortunately, I think this is an under emphasized point. I'm not saying that we should internalize absolutely everything, but there's not really a value in externalizing everything. The fact of the matter is we can only control one person: ourselves. Expecting somebody else to change is a pretty tall order.
Additionally, you might find that you're capable of much more than you ever expected. For me, I never thought I'd be able to lose the weight, and I especially never thought running would be the way I lost weight. Even at my most fit in high school, I was never that great of a runner. This time last year, I ran my first official half marathon at roughly 10 minutes per mile. This coming weekend, I am set to run my next half marathon, and my current practice pace is 6:30 per mile. I'd really love to win this race, but I suppose we'll just have to see.
I genuinely hope that is an encouragement to you. Ask yourself, also, how satisfied you were when you successfully got somebody to change for your own benefit. Chances are you probably weren't. I know people who have used these exact words: "I thought it would make me feel better, but it didn't."
I think there's something ingrained within each and every one of us that draws satisfaction by benefitting from the sweat of our own brow. It's the same reason the kid who saved his money all summer to by a game console will value it infinitely more than a spoiled teenager freely given a brand new Mustang. And why lottery winners mostly end up living lives of misery.
My challenge to you is to look at your own life. In what ways have you blamed somebody else for your position? Maybe it's time for you to grab the wheel and take life into your own hands.
I think you'd be glad you did it.
Even though he is a comedian, he shares a lot of personal views that have resonated a lot with me, and I largely attribute my drive to lose weight to his, for lack of better word, teachings.
For those of you unaware of his background, Carolla grew up in a low income home with divorced parents who could care less about what he did with his life. (Even illustrated by the fact that they were too lazy to give him a middle name. Seriously.) He spent his 20s and early 30s working construction and carpentry and worked hard on the side via things like the Groundlings to build himself a name in comedy. For somebody who didn't have any support system to help build himself up, he's gone on to do well for himself, which I respect a lot.
Anyway, one of the things Carolla touts is this idea of internalizing things over externalizing them. In other words, instead of looking to blame something or somebody else for some event, look within yourself to see what you can make better about yourself.
Unfortunately, I think this is an under emphasized point. I'm not saying that we should internalize absolutely everything, but there's not really a value in externalizing everything. The fact of the matter is we can only control one person: ourselves. Expecting somebody else to change is a pretty tall order.
Additionally, you might find that you're capable of much more than you ever expected. For me, I never thought I'd be able to lose the weight, and I especially never thought running would be the way I lost weight. Even at my most fit in high school, I was never that great of a runner. This time last year, I ran my first official half marathon at roughly 10 minutes per mile. This coming weekend, I am set to run my next half marathon, and my current practice pace is 6:30 per mile. I'd really love to win this race, but I suppose we'll just have to see.
I genuinely hope that is an encouragement to you. Ask yourself, also, how satisfied you were when you successfully got somebody to change for your own benefit. Chances are you probably weren't. I know people who have used these exact words: "I thought it would make me feel better, but it didn't."
I think there's something ingrained within each and every one of us that draws satisfaction by benefitting from the sweat of our own brow. It's the same reason the kid who saved his money all summer to by a game console will value it infinitely more than a spoiled teenager freely given a brand new Mustang. And why lottery winners mostly end up living lives of misery.
My challenge to you is to look at your own life. In what ways have you blamed somebody else for your position? Maybe it's time for you to grab the wheel and take life into your own hands.
I think you'd be glad you did it.
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