Two years ago, I set a goal to do a handstand push-up! ???? It seemed impossible, but I took these five steps and made it happen. Watch the video or keep on reading...

Two years ago, I thought it would be cool if I could do a handstand push-up. Why not? I had seen my friend Emma Barry do it about 15 years ago. We were waiting in the gym, and she was bored. She just put her hands down, flipped her feet up against the wall, and started doing push-ups! I was so impressed. A normal person wouldn't be able to do that, and I was definitely not that person.

So, two years ago, I thought maybe I should try to do a handstand—just a handstand. But in my mind, it was impossible. I had never done that. I was not really gymnast kind of kid. I danced a lot, and I was a fitness instructor who had been fit all my life, but this was something I had never been able to do.

Step 1: Get Rid of Limiting Beliefs

The first step was to get rid of my own limiting belief that it was impossible.

Step 2: Get Rid of Emotions

The second step was to control the powerful emotion that surged through my prefrontal cortex every time I thought about putting my hands on the ground and flipping my feet up. There was that fear I needed to control. I had to use my cognitive inhibition system to manage that fear and say, "Okay, I'm going to try it."

Step 3: Get Help

The third step was to get some help. I asked my husband to be beside me and catch my feet as I tried. At the beginning, it was just giving a little swing. I wasn't even able to do a handstand. It took a while before I could lift my feet up against the wall and come right back down.

Step 4: Get Better Gradually

Step number four was to improve gradually. Little by little, I was able to stay in the handstand position. I thought, "Okay, I'm going to try to count to five." I was so proud the day I even counted to ten in my head. Eventually, I thought, "Maybe I can try one push-up." I started with a slight bend of my elbows, and it worked—slightly.

Step 5: Get Going on a Regular Basis

As I kept practicing regularly, I was able to go a little deeper each time. This has been a one- or two-year journey, and I'm still not at the stage where I can do a full 90-degree angle push-up. But I can do 100 handstand push-ups. Do I do them all in a row? No. I do about 45, then another 35, and finally another 15. My goal is to be able to do 100 in a row and then to get deeper and deeper. I haven't reached the full goal yet, but little by little, using these five steps, I am making progress.

Applying the Steps to Other Goals

1. Get Rid of Limiting Beliefs: Maybe you want to apply for a promotion. Get rid of the limiting belief that you're not good enough for the role. Don't think it's only for someone else who seems stronger or more capable.
2. Get Rid of Emotions: You need to manage emotions like fear, anger, frustration, or stress that might hold you back.
3. Get Help: Find someone who has achieved the goal before and can help you realize it.
4. Get Better Gradually: Make consistent progress. Improve little by little.
5. Get Going on a Regular Basis: With regular practice and persistence, you will eventually reach your goal even if you thought it was impossible!

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