With that simple phrase, I’ve assured myself that I will exercise every day in May.

The first step in each GRIT session is to announce your commitment to the work, and it’s done by writing that phrase.

It’s not, “Maybe.”

It’s not, “I’ll try.”

It’s not, “We’ll see how it goes.”

It’s “ALL IN.”

And it’s in writing for a reason. Just like the stories we tell ourselves shape the person we become, so do the stories we tell others about ourselves shape us.

Imagine two people.

One says to their friends and family, “OMG I’m so out of shape, I can’t believe I let myself go this far. I’m in pain all the time, I can barely carry in the groceries, and all I want to do is sit on the couch.”

The other says, “OMG, I’m so out of shape. I should have never let it go this far, but I’m glad I stopped it when I did. My back is so sore from exercising today that I can hardly stand up, but man, I’m going to sleep good tonight and be ready for tomorrow’s workout.”

Which person, six months later, do you think will be in better physical and mental shape?

The second, of course, while the first will likely have declined even further.

It’s well known that writing down your goals increases the likelihood that you will achieve them, and there’s good science to explain why. Writing down your goals is nothing more than a way of telling yourself a story.

Telling others the story amplifies that power because it adds external accountability, and we know it’s harder to quit on a team than it is to quit on ourselves.

Writing the words “ALL IN” serves two purposes. One, it becomes the story I've told myself about my intent. Two, it becomes the story I've told our friends and family about what I'm doing.

For the longest time, I told myself a story about a mountain bike accident that jacked up my shoulder and prevented me from being able to exercise. That story led me down a path of rapid physical decline.

When I started telling myself a story about a guy who learned to live with his injuries and refused to let one accident affect the rest of his life, things began to change for the better.

And when I started telling you, things began to improve rapidly.

Because we are the stories we tell ourselves and those around us.

What story are you writing?

P.S. - two days left to join us for the next round of GRIT for free. We've already picked up another Monroe peep, it would be cool to have some more. PM me for more info.