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Results
Along with the result of the Natural Olympia came a set of mixed emotions. I missed my target this year, placing outside of the top three. Of course there was the disappointment of not realising my vision. But there was also the satisfaction of honestly knowing that I had upheld all of my standards and expectations throughout the preparation. So what was missing that meant falling short of my goal?
My standards were not high enough.
Standards are born from knowledge, experience, beliefs, values and rules. To take my performance to the next level I must raise my standards by expanding my knowledge, broadening my experience, challenging my beliefs, re-prioritising my values and restructuring my rules.
How will this change my strategy?
Now, one day after the contest, I must immediately begin redefining how to live my life in alignment with my
dreams and visions. I will consistently enforce newly established, non-negotiable actions and behaviours that, when strung together over the course of one workout, one day, one week, one month, one year, will become a more powerful force than I created in 2011.
In other words, I will create a new normal. A more diligent, educated, intelligent, focused, strategic, knowledgeable, structured, determined and committed normal. A normal which demands higher standards and more lofty expectations than I pursued in 2011. A normal which incorporates the familiar constructs of pain, pleasure, disappointment, excitement, self-doubt, self-acknowledgement, loss and victory. The normal way I will go about my day-to-day life, where there is no need to waste energy questioning the decisions I make, debating whether or not to train, or having an internal battle over what to eat, do, think or feel.
My new normal is a step closer to achieving the goal of top three in the world, for which I will continue striving relentlessly. I created this vision when I began competitive body building in early 2006, and to most, the road may appear too long and arduous to bother continuing. Six years of “failing” some would call it. But I trust myself. I believe in myself. I know that I am fully capable of taking my body where my mind wants to go. I know that I will raise my standards to the level that will get me there. By focusing on these standards, I don’t need to concern myself with anything else. By consistently enforcing these standards, the rest will take care of itself.
2012
With that being said, I begin my quest for The Natural Olympia, 2012. I have twelve months to bring a stronger mind to the gym and an improved physique to the stage.
And so it begins again……
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