The tough get going; at least that is how the saying goes. Getting healthy and fit is not always an easy road to travel on. Even though I am a Leadership Coach and natural bodybuilder, I still find ‘being tough‘ isn’t always enough. I need motivation in my life to keep me energized, focused, and on the path of success.

I need to be inspired.

Inspiration brings light to my path when I find myself in the midst of a dark and lonely stretch in the journey. When obstacles, self loathing, and perceived lack of progress crowd in, I light the lamp of inspiration to see where I am going and remind myself that it can be done.

What are my inspirations and motivations?

Incredible Dreams

I dream big and try to shoot the moon on a regular basis.

This is a relatively new skill for me. I used to only have small dreams because I didn’t know that I was worthy of big dreams. When all you have is small dreams it is easy to give up when you find yourself stumbling around in the dark. Asking yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?‘ isn’t helpful when all you have is small dreams to light your path. Small dreams are like a lone match that is easily blown out by the slightest breeze.

I want a search and rescue spotlight to show the way!

Tips for dreaming incredible dreams:

• Keep a dream journal and write down everything that you want to do or be no matter what they are.
• Spend time thinking about who you want to be 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now, then make it bigger.
• Be honest with yourself about how fabulous you actually are and ask, “What’s next for this fabulous woman?”

Heroes

I need to know that I am not doing something that is completely impossible. Some days I just need to know that this thing can and will be done.

My heroes aren’t the people that have arrived, rather the people that have overcome. When you see the final product or people that have ‘arrived’ its easy to feel disappointed with yourself because you aren’t where they are and it seems so easy for them. There is power in sharing your story. This is one of the reasons that I blog. I don’t think I have it all figured out, but I hope that in the midst of my struggle and wins others will see what is possible for them.

Speaking of overcoming the impossible, meet Barbie Guerra. She is a gorgeous fitness competitor that has no arms. YES. She is in better shape than 98% of the world and has no arms. When I get upset about having Hashimoto or have a day where I hate myself because Gertrude (my muffin top) is making a scene, I remember my blessings.

Heroes can give you a new perspective on life if you let them.

Tips for finding heroes:

• Talk to people that you admire. Email, Twitter, and Facebook are a great way to connect with people you admire.
• Don’t assume everyone has it easy.
• Uproot the jealousy from your heart and be willing to see how amazing other people are.

Community

Life is not meant to be lived alone; yet so many of us live it alone. Maybe you are just starting out on the road to health and your friends and family just don’t understand. When I started training for my first bodybuilding competition, I didn’t know a soul that competed. I wanted to share my fears, hopes, dreams, interesting experiences, and questions with other women that just ‘got it’.

Sometimes you just want to sit down and say you are quitting; that you cannot go any further. A true community comes alongside of you and lets you scream, cry, and rant and then tells you to get off your arse and get going. They remind you that you are worth the struggle and push you to where you want to go even if that is the last thing you want in that moment.

Tips for creating a community:

• If there isn’t one, make it.
• Choose to see the best in others and help them be it.
• Be the friend that you want to have.

Knowing who I am

I am a champion that will change the world!

It takes guts to say that, or does it? Knowing who I am has been one of the biggest motivations and inspirations in my life. Instead of listening to all of the negative things; seeing what is possible for me and the great things about me propels me forward even in the midst of the pitch black darkness.

Champions don’t quit, give up, or say its too hard; they know who they are and what MUST be done…then they do it until they die. When you encounter someone that is living out who they have been made to be it changes the world. You can change the world. In fact, you MUST change the world.

Tips for knowing who you are:

• Keep track of the things that make you lose track of time
• Get curious about what makes you mad, sad, and glad.
• Look for what is fabulous in you rather than what needs fixing.

What motivates and inspires you on the road to health?

Bio:
Donloree Hoffman
Donloree is a Leadership Coach and Natural Figure Competitor who empowers women to bridge the chasm of the impossible. She blogs at www.bikiniorbust.com about bodybuilding and getting your life back, all of it. She can also be found tweeting from @bikiniorbust starting at 4:30 am most mornings.
Disclaimer
NextGen Speaks Out, our guest blogging series, is envisioned as a hub for information and discussion. NextGen is a non-political, non-denominational organization focused on giving all nextgeners a voice. NextGen does not represent the opinions expressed by the individual columnists.