Don’t Miss The Mark! – Tips on Accuracy in Fitness and Life

What does it mean to have accuracy in fitness and how does it affect my life?

Accuracy – The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.

Accuracy is a skill that is often under emphasized and overlooked. It’s not as popular as strength and endurance and not as noticeable as balance and coordination. When we think of accuracy, we may think of someone playing darts or trying to bowl a perfect strike. But accuracy shows up in everyday life whether we realize it or not.

Accuracy is the ability to place something or do something exactly how we want it. It requires focus (and dare I say it), a desire to be accurate.

Personally for me, accuracy is the skill most commonly associated with the desire to achieve excellence. It’s the desire to do things perfectly even when you’re halfway thru a workout, your lungs are burning and you feel like you have jelly legs. It’s striving to still do something the right way, even when you don’t feel like it or even have the strength to.

In reality, the pursuit of excellence in anything starts with the pursuit of accuracy. Striving to hit a target or goal not just once but continually builds a habit of pursuing excellence in our decisions, actions and lives. Excellence is therefore not an “ability” but a desire and habit of pushing forward despite mistakes, failures or setbacks.

Think about anything that has recently challenged you or made you uncomfortable. What was your response? After the initial feelings of discomfort, how did you proceed?

Consider wall balls, which many of us have done in class. Standing in front of a wall with a weighted ball, we squat down and then throw the ball to an intended spot or target on the wall itself. Your approach to this exercise can be a great example of how you pursue not only accuracy but excellence. For example, do you seek to hit the intended spot each time? Or are you just struggling and hoping to have it reach a spot that’s just “close enough” to the target?

Don’t get me wrong, whether you hit it perfectly each time is not the goal. But whether you keep striving to hit it perfectly IS the goal. That’s what it takes to build the habits of accuracy and excellence.

Likewise in our faith, we must never forget that we’re striving for excellence in Christ. As Colossians 3:23 encourages us, whatever we do, we must do it well. We are to stay focused on Him, our ultimate target in life. Rest assured, we will miss the mark at times, but the goal is to pick the ball back up and try again.

Get Ready
To be accurate in our Christian walk requires that we have the right focus. When setting goals or plans, check your heart. Is the focus Jesus…or yourself? Don’t aim for the wrong target.

Stay Ready
Once your focus is fixed on the Lord, keep the rest of yourself set on moving properly. If we return to the wall ball example, that would means that our legs are moving and our arms are ready to throw and receive the ball.

• Are you in the habit of “moving  forward” despite setbacks? (Assess your reaction when your plans, big or small, are interrupted)
• What do you have to do to keep yourself moving in the direction of your intended goal and target? (Create a plan)
• How will you feel once you make those choices? (Write down what success will feel like when you hit that goal)
• When will you make those choices? (Set a deadline)

Verses to get you moving and keep you moving:

• Seek God and His Ways First – Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 2:2-5
• Set Your Mind On Heavenly / Spiritual Things – Romans 8:5, Philippians 4:8
• Show Yourself Approved – 2 Timothy 2:15
• Keep Your Mind Stayed on God – Isaiah 26:3
• Press On Toward The Mark – Philippians 3:12-14