Can you really truly put a price on life changing knowledge?

A free consultation I had with a lovely person who enquired about our services this arvo got me thinking about my life and how much the things I’ve learnt over the past 10 years have changed my life for the better.

Life changing knowledge. The term seems somewhat watered down these days. Everywhere we turn, people and organisations are flogging products, services or solutions that are “life changing” yet not always is this the case. Whether its because we’ve fallen for false evidence that appeared real (an acronym for FEAR) or whether it was because of lack of commitment on our behalf (which most people hold back from giving, due to FEAR).

Yesterday I was chatting to a past client who did a 12 week challenge with us a couple of years ago and it was truly music to my ears when he turned around and said “you know, I still apply the things you guys taught me back when I used to train here. I can’t even explain to people how life changing it was, I just find myself telling them they just need to come to Assist PT to do it”.

Today I caught up with an old friend of mine, it was actually also a consult to discuss a personal training package she had enquired about.

We got talking about health, lifestyle and habits. I get quite passionate when I see someone who really could benefit with our help as I know the pain and frustration that comes when change is needed.

Conversation carried on after the consult and we began reminiscing on how times had changed for us both since we met in our early 20’s.

You see, this friend of mine and I met under very different lifestyle circumstances. I was an unhealthy 24 year old, a pot smoker, I drank heavily, I partied hard. I didn’t care about having a career or what I did for work as long as it allowed me to do the things I loved most. We met through our boyfriends and although our lives were somewhat different but kind of the same, one thing that connected us both though was this sisterly type bond, it was strange, like we had known each other our whole lives but as we began talking that first time, it turned out we were both raised in the same religion, a religion that had a firm grip on my belief systems.

Which brings me to this topic of life changing information. You see, I grew up being taught and believing “truths” taught by this cult about mankind, the universe, the future and our past. Deeply ingrained beliefs.

I realised at 29 years of age that I was truly miserable, as miserable as I was as a teenager and also in my mid 20’s. Each of those times I was trying to live a life that I believed was the best life for me now and for my future. I had been forcing myself to live a life that tested me socially, where I chose to associate more with those who followed my faith, more than I did with my own family and friends who I loved so dearly. My beliefs had a good hard grip on my life, suffocating me in a misery that had me believing I was truly a bad hearted person for suddenly not finding joy in anything that “should” have been bringing me joy. I had disowned myself, I hated the walls I had built up that were holding me back from true happiness.

I hid my troubles well. No one really knew just how much I struggled with this all behind closed doors but looking back at my late teens and early 20’s I see was seeking love and acceptance from the world around me. In those years I sought it by doing things I loved like attending festivals, seeing bands as many nights of the week that I could with friends who enjoyed music like I did…and riding myself off to escape the pain of my life. I would escape until I felt the freedom of my mind, body and soul deeply soothed. I had so many great days and nights out but the pain never went away.

Fast forward to actually turning 30 when I had quite a melt down about where my life was at because of the choices I had made that I thought were right. I joined the gym, made friends with a new type of bar, the barbell, and weights, and suddenly I began learning more about what it actually meant to be happy.

Life changing lessons came to me simply through training. I found my calling and my true journey of transformation began.

I was all for learning how to train correctly as I had been raised with an interest in fitness, my Mum was an aerobics instructor for over 10 years of my childhood. I got myself a personal trainer who now also happens to be my husband but that was 9 years ago now and maybe a story for another time.

I became addicted to the gym. No surprises, as I had an addictive personality, probably still do but I channel my addiction right now. I was going to the gym before work and after work, actually I remember one afternoon walking into the gym and the receptionist and a PT there pulling me up to tell me they had ran a report and I was the most frequent member at the gym with 48 visits that month. They thought it was impressive, I didn’t see it as impressive. Why? Because it was where I went to escape.

I realise now that if you escape using the right devices, you can heal and you truly can transform your life.

My association began to change. From those who loved me most when I was able to go door to door with a bible in my hand (shitting my pants, that stuff was never easy) to those who loved me because I began loving myself and doing what made me truly happy.

I decided to enrol into my cert 3 and 4 in fitness as a hobby, purely because my office job made me feel like my brain had stopped working. I needed some stimulation and I was fascinated with movement, the human body and getting healthy.

During this time I broke away from my faith which also saw me lose my “friends” in the faith, one being a 20 year friendship, even some Aunties of mine. I was gutted, like a stab wound to heart. At times it felt like I was starting life all over again, trying to find my place in the world at the age of 30. However, this was a good thing as there were many things I needed to accept and work on, in order to rebuild myself.

This is where my life changed for the better. The good times and bad times I’ve experienced in my past have never been forgotten. I am grateful for every single experience and I am grateful for every wonderful human that has crossed my path, even the ones that disowned me or broke my heart. I had lessons to learn from everything and every one of them. Even better, they all helped me find my true calling in this life. No longer was I going to spend another year existing in this body of mine. When I turned 30, I began living again, but living in the best way I now knew.

I find it interesting that I am bringing this all up now as I am approaching my 40^th birthday in September because this time 10 years ago, I was truly torn and in emotional pain but there’s something more I want to share which I came to realise earlier this year when I started looking into all the courses, workshops and seminars I’ve attended since turning 30. I’ve invested north of $75K in further education….more if you include all my therapy from my 20’s and personal training sessions with my coach lol! I have no regrets for the high price I have paid to receive the best help possible.

Today I realise the true value of the money I have invested in my physical and mental health. It’s worth a hell of a lot more than $75K. The value of life changing information and support is priceless! My life has truly taken a different course because of it and the lives of many others too as I pass on the tools necessary to help others empower themselves toward a healthier and happier life. Our time, and our health, are up there as the most valuable assets we have. I can’t even put a price on the value I’ve got from the money spent over the past 10 years. Funniest part is, I never had the money sitting there either but when I saw something I needed, I worked harder to make it happen for me.

This brings me to the future! In September this year we are re-launching our newly designed 12 week challenge program. The way we have ran 12 week challenges over the past 8 years has changed dramatically. They were good, we got great results but we saw too many clients fall back into old habits. Something was missing. What was missing were the tools I had used to transform my own life, the tools I used to gain control over my addictive behaviours and habits, the tools I used to let go of pain and anger, the tools I used to overcome depression and an eating disorder. Of course not everyone needs all of these tools but getting a better understanding of who you are and who you want to be is what our new 12 week challenge program, Overhaul, is all about. This challenge includes working one on one with one of our personal trainers to make sure everyone learns how powerful training with weights can be. It means turning up to our group coaching sessions, it means putting aside all excuses and being honest with yourself so you can be the best version of you. The lucky clients who have committed to the program and had a taste of what we’ve created have seen first hand how valuable it has been for them but I can not wait to bring it back with a new improved plan for our first timers!

If you want to be first to hear when we will be opening up spots for this truly life changing program, contact us today and we’ll be in touch.

Life is to precious and to short to be existing behind excuses and FEAR! You are totally worth it!

Train smart, nourish with foods and breathe deeply!

Annette Shepherd

ASSIST PERSONAL TRAINING