Fit for Life: MATT

Fit for Life: MATT

Something personal you can benefit from, too. 

 

Last weekend I was at a mountain retreat in White Fish Montana, absorbing tons of positive energy from a tribe of people constantly uplifting one another up to forge a path to becoming their best selves. 

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I belong to several networks of great people with sharp business minds that help me level up, however The Todd Durkin Mastermind group has a heart centered element to it that pulls on emotions and helps us focus within ourselves.

 

The theme was Rise and Shine in 25, and we spent a great deal of time strategically planning our 2025 agenda. Part of it was looking back on 2024, figuring out what worked, what didn’t, then creating a plan of attack for the upcoming year. 

 

One exercise I want to share with you, and encourage you to partake, is creating our own personal Core Values to live by. We have Core Values at Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, however I never created ones for myself personally. 

 

Someone in the group gave us all a great idea. 

 

He used his name as an acronym to create his core values, and I took his advice and created mine based on his recommendation. If you have a long name, you could use other words like LOVE, FUN, LIVE, PEACE or any word that you feel inspired to use. You don’t need a lot, just make it simple and meaningful.

 

Here are my personal Core Values and how I plan to live them moving forward using M-A-T-T as an acronym. 

 

M - Mastery in everything I do. I don’t care if I am cleaning the bathrooms, running a business or writing articles, I want to find every advantage and apply every opportunity to do it to the best of my ability. Always exceed expectations with everything you are doing, as average is the enemy. 

 

A - Authentic. To be my true self and not run from my past, my past mistakes, or where I came from. I used to feel inferior because I didn’t have a lot of money or a college education, I came from a small town, and I spent time incarcerated. 

I used to be self-conscious of my tattoos when I was in Nantucket surrounded by wealthy people, feeling like I didn’t fit in.

 

Now I use the underdog story to help inspire others to overcome adversity and a very checkered past. My life is my story, some good, some bad, but I have, and continue to live a life worth telling a story about. This is who I am, and I will no longer pretend to be someone I am not. 

 

T - Teachable. I will always be a sponge willing to absorb knowledge. I will remain coachable, and continue on my path of learning and self development. Over 56 years on this earth, I have soaked in a lot, however I will always adopt the “white belt” mentality and realize there is so much more to learn before I leave this world. 

 

T - Tolerant. Back in the day I was reactive, impatient, and irrational on many levels. I would lose my cool and judge people without fully knowing someone's situation. Don’t get me wrong, I still have little tolerance for constant mistakes, negative people, gossip, and people that purposely hurt others, because those things are intentional. 

 

On the flip side, if someone is genuine, and is willing to accept help, learn, and do the work, my tolerance and patience will increase. I now have a better understanding of how to keep emotions in check and apply “emotional discipline” while conducting everyday life. 

 

Do yourself a favor, and complete this exercise for yourself. It was impactful and a big awakening for me, and I promise it will be for you too!!

 

Personally, when I am in doubt, in a difficult situation, or just don’t “feel like” it, I can dig into these core values and let them guide me to overcome any difficult decision I am faced with. 

 

I will Master my craft, be authentic, learn, and be more tolerant of difficult people and situations. 

 

Here's to you rising and shining in 25.

 

Coach Matt