If COVID-19 has taught me anything over the last 18 months, it’s that life is incredibly short and if something or someone is not adding any value to your life, then it’s time to make a change for good.

If you’re in an unhealthy relationship, end it.

If you hate your job, leave it.

If your current circle of friends are constantly negative and are draining your energy, make new friends.

Okay, I understand that it’s not that easy to just end a relationship. Especially if you’re married and have kids. And I know that everyone has bills to pay. Therefore I’m not suggesting you go out and quit your job tomorrow without any backup plan or savings. And I realize that it’s not easy to put yourself out there and make new friends. Especially if you’re older and have become set in your ways. But with all that said, if you truly want to make a change in your life for the better, then you will do whatever it takes to make that change, regardless of how frightening, awkward and challenging it may be.

Becoming Pandemic Proof

Like many of you, when COVID-19 first hit, I shit my pants. I thought I would lose my business. I was worried that my tenants would not be able to pay their rent on my rental properties. I was concerned that all my social activities that I enjoy doing were going to end. And then after a few days of watching the news and seeing how many people were dying, becoming severely ill, losing their jobs, losing their loved ones, and losing their livelihoods, I felt absolutely disgusted with myself. How could I have been so selfish to only think about myself when there were millions of people across the globe whose lives were changing for the worse by the minute.

So I changed my thought process. Instead of operating on fear, I decided to lead by example by using our Social Media Platforms to voice my support for our Health Care Workers, debunk stupidity with science, and encouraged others to be more kind and empathetic towards one another, while at the same time remain optimistic for the future. Hell, I even dumped a couple of clients who threatened to leave me if I did not stop with my social media posts, because they did not share my same views on the Coronavirus and how to handle this Pandemic. I should note that I didn’t dump my clients because they were COVID Conspirators. On the contrary, I respect each individual’s views and beliefs and would never try to push my own thoughts and opinions onto someone else. I dumped them because I simply don’t and never will respond to threats.

To be honest, changing my thought process on how to approach this Global Pandemic was the best decision I’ve ever made. On a personal note, I became a much more happy and healthier person. I was delighted to see that my daily posts were resonating with so many people. And it made me feel good to be able to contribute positivity and hope to others during times of distress with my weekly blogs that were catered towards remaining healthy and fit (both mentally and physically) while living through COVID-19.

From a business standpoint, rather than try to fight the constant restrictions and regulations that were being placed throughout the Fitness Industry, I made the decision to reinvent both myself and our business by growing our Online Services so that we could remain competitive while at the same time offer a service to our clients that was needed when gyms were closed and people needed to exercise.

A Blessing In Disguise?

Now it would be completely irresponsible and inexcusable of me to give thanks to this deadly virus. The amount of destruction that this Pandemic has caused will take decades to repair. With that said though, I would be lying if I didn’t say that without COVID-19, I would not be the person I am today. And to be completely honest, I like this person MUCH more than the person I was 18 months ago. This person has become much more kind and empathetic towards others. This person feels better about himself when he does something that actually helps other people, rather than just solely benefits him. This person now works less, and plays more.

Make no mistake, I’m just as goal-oriented as I was before. In fact, I’m probably even more goal-oriented then I was before. But my goals have changed. For example, I no longer strive to have the most profitable Personal Training Business. Instead I strive to have a reputable Personal Training Business that is known for helping people transform their physiques and improving their quality of life through diet and exercise. I also no longer have a desire to retire at 40 years old. Not because I can’t, but more because I feel I have so much more of my knowledge and experience to share and offer to others when it comes to losing fat, building muscle, and becoming more overall healthy and fit. As for my concerns with my own aesthetics? I used to care about having the ultimate physique. But after having an emergency appendectomy and a grand mal seizure that almost knocked me out of the game, both within the last year alone, I can honestly say that I’m okay if my biceps aren’t as big and my waist is not as small as it once was.

Could the world have done without COVID-19?

Absolutely!

However I do think a lot of truths were exposed during this Pandemic that many of us would have never seen if we had not been forced to see them. Whether you believe this is a good thing or not, is your viewpoint. At the end of the day, you really only need to answer to yourself. But if you are not truly happy and feel it’s time to make a change within your own life, then my suggestion to you would be to make that change today, instead of sitting around waiting for the next Pandemic to occur in order to make that change for you.

Remember, sometimes painful things can teach us lessons that we didn’t think we needed to know.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance