This is early on in the creation of this website. Since it is just getting going, you may be asking, “What is thepursuitofhealthy.com about and why should I spend my valuable time here?”
My single goal as a writer is to elevate the lives of a group of people that share a specific set of beliefs. I am excited about what lies ahead, but the foundation of this site is formed by important norms and values.
The culture we surround ourselves with powerfully shapes us. The people visiting this website are passionate about improvement and live in a certain way and for certain reasons. In other words, we are in consensus about how we do things around here and why. I want to build a community for all of us that have this in common.
How can you find out if this website is for you? Read about the 5 beliefs that are the foundation of thepursuitofhealthy.com below. They are the inspiration for my work.
If these principles are in line with how you want to live your life, then you will love what you discover here. I have big plans for this site and I hope you join in. I’m glad you are here.
#1. You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to become great.
Starting before you feel ready is not only acceptable, but essential if you are looking to accomplish something exciting and ambitious in your life.
In this community, we don’t let our emotions dictate whether or not we show up each day. There are days we feel we didn’t put our best into our work, but we come back again with a better effort to build our skills. Sometimes we don’t feel like hitting the gym, but we go put the work in, never regretting that we did. And sometimes we don’t make the best diet choices, but we get back on track and stick to the plan.
We wake up each morning with the understanding that having a subpar day is infinitely better than not showing up at all. We know we have the ability to right the ship and move forward to improve ourselves and the lives of those around us.
The time to begin is always now. You don’t have to wait for a new year or even a new day to begin living a remarkable life. It doesn’t matter what you did up until now, only what you will do to change for the better.
#2. Wellbeing and happiness are essential to a great life.
We understand that everything we do in our lives occurs downstream of how well we manage ourselves physically and mentally. We work on our bodies and minds so we can have an impact on the world.
The effort we put into our wellness protects us. Nourishment, fitness, sleep and caring for ourselves powerfully defend us against sickness and injury. Doing what we can to keep ourselves healthy and happy, we are able to approach each day with energy and drive.
We enjoy trying to become a better version of ourselves and understand the importance of the process. Like everyone else we are a work in progress, but it excites us to reach for higher levels of achievement as we march toward our biggest goals. And we believe they are more within reach each day.
Out of shape or overweight, and you want to get more fit? We understand. Not at the level you want to be in your career, sport, or artistic pursuits? Welcome to the club. Living a decent life but don’t want to settle for average? You came to the right place.
We understand that success follows happiness, and not vice versa. We aren’t constantly waiting to achieve future goals in order to enjoy the moment. Instead of waiting to get a promotion, win a trophy, lose 25 pounds, or reach a sales goal, we celebrate each day.
We are not perfect. Putting in the effort to become better, we smile and laugh as we practice, learn, and work. And we are grateful for the chance to do so. We believe you can be thankful for your current life while, at the same time, still pursuing greatness.
#3. Failure is not pleasant, but it’s a sign you are on the right path
We see the positives while we work on our personal and professional lives. Our view on failure? It can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary. When we stumble along the way, we see it as an opportunity to learn from.
Didn’t get the position you wanted? Okay, more time to get experience and build a better resume. Didn’t do as well as you wanted on the exam? Time to focus and prepare better for the next test. Got injured while trying to improve your game? It’s alright, your body needs a break from training to recover.
Setbacks are a part of it, and the road to success is a bumpy one. We deeply believe that quitting on something that is meaningful is never an option. We don’t complain, but dust ourselves off, get back to it and persevere. We show up again and again. In this game for the long term, we choose consistency. We are gritty.
With growth in mind, we believe that not finding success at something simply means we aren’t great at it… yet! We expect it to be an effortful, repetitive, mistake-ridden process.
We know that losing, struggling with a skill, or failing at an attempt means we are making strides toward success. Those moments propel us from where we are to where we want to be.
#4. Motivation is most powerful when it comes from within us.
We know that there are things that are not within our control. Instead, we are driven by focusing on things that we can control.
We all experience difficulties in our lives, and we can get derailed by things or people around us. But we face each day knowing that what we choose to do, what we do in response to a challenge, is most important.
We don’t waste our effort and energy in complaining, we find a way to move forward motivated by what is important to us.
We don’t buy into hype, hacks and quick-fixes. Instead of looking to promotional gimmicks, we aim to improve ourselves through ideas backed by solid science. We take note of the wisdom shared by those who we see as ultimate role models of success and learn from their life lessons.
We schedule and construct our days because today is another opportunity to be better than yesterday.
As we search useful ways to amplify our success, we are patient and know that small wins are powerful. It excites us to dive in and learn, practice and make strides forward. We are not spectators, but instead want to be in the game.
As we see progress in our personal and professional lives, we are driven by the belief that mastery doesn’t happen in a single, life-altering event. We are in this for the long game.
Greatness isn’t created when the lights come on, when the contest is won, or when the crowd cheers during an amazing performance. The extraordinary comes from many hours of pushing ourselves, repetitive effort, and useful feedback.
The skills we hone are shown off when we step into the arena or onto the stage. But we realize it is through the small victories that we become high achievers. It is the grind that creates champions.
When it comes to finding our purpose in life, our top level goal, that single most important thing that motivates us, we don’t simply sit around hoping for the best. The way to find a clear purpose is to jump into action, learn new skills and gain experience. This is how we create, achieve and discover what we truly love to spend our days doing.
#5. This community powerfully supports each of us.
Everyone faces doubt, fear, and insecurity at times. But the people we surround ourselves with can elevate our lives. On this website and in this community, you have people to lean on when things get tough.
You are part of a group that is experiencing similar challenges and those that have persevered through difficult times can help us do the same.
We help each other and understand that when one of us does better, all of us do better. I write and share ideas here to see that you achieve something meaningful in your own life. And I want nothing more than to see you succeed.
Coming from different backgrounds, we are curious and creative professionals. Entrepreneurs and business people, coaches and athletes, educators and students, innovators and artists are all a part of this community. We are connected, all of us finding inspiration in the things we love to do.
We are all united by the belief that we can set the bar higher for our lives. And we all believe that there is a place at the peak for everyone that works relentlessly to create greatness in their lives.
No matter what your passion is, all of us here want each of us to get going and stay on course. Start the project. Write the book. Master the art. Practice your craft. It’s time to begin.
. . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dejan (Dex) Zivkovic writes here at The Pursuit of Healthy about wellbeing and ways to live better. He has appeared on podcasts and as a guest writer. An anesthetist and former research scientist, he is a clinical instructor as a member of the faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.