Everyone says, “Happy New Year," but what’s so new about it? Nothing - unless
you train yourself to change!
Is this the year you really are going to take off those extra 15 pounds? And
keep them off? In 2007 will you finally stop focusing on everyone else, and
start paying more attention, and taking better care of yourself?
Do you think you actually will save some money this year? It doesn’t matter
what your goals for 2007 are – to accomplish them, you’ll have to put your whole
self to work for you. You’ll need to be in sync – mind and body - thoughts and
behaviors. For a successful new year, one in which you do achieve the goals that
you set out to accomplish, you’ll need all of YOU to be aligned with your
objectives, and your plan. Your thoughts and actions must match.
But this all seems ridiculously obvious doesn’t it? Of course it makes no
sense to say (no matter how emphatically) that you want to/plan to/are committed
to lose the weight, and then you don’t exercise or modify your diet. It’s just
plain senseless to start a savings account and then continue to spend (or
overspend) as you have been all along. And there’s certainly no logic to saying
you are going to take more time for yourself and then continue to pack your
schedule to the brim. But we all do these things – me included.
How long have I been saying that I am going to start meditating, and then I
find myself engaged in everything except meditating in my otherwise free time?
There we all go - setting ourselves up to fail. What we say, and what we do,
just don’t match. What we need to do is create a mind/body synergy so that our
thoughts and actions match (and support one another), in our efforts to succeed.
Well that’s easy to say, too – right?
I suppose if you could say it, and then actually do it, we wouldn’t be having
this discussion - would we? Well, I’d like to propose that in 2007 we all set
out to attain True and Total Fitness. Whoa – that sounds big, I know, but let me
explain. Here’s what I mean by True and Total Fitness, and why I think that this
is not only incredibly helpful and important, but also totally doable. True and
Tota
l Fitness incorporates, well, everything. It’s personal, physical, social,
and financial fitness, and more. Everything in your life needs fitness attention
- your relationships (with others, and with yourself), your career, your home,
and of course the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts that are all
you.
Training for True and Total Fitness is easier than you think, and doing it
will change your life, for the better, and for good. When you look at fitness as
the state of your being, rather than the state of your body, you can enhance,
and take better care of, everything in your life (including your body), all at
once.
The fact is: FITNESS ISN’T JUST PHYSICAL. And our definition of fitness has
to change so we can effectively alter our lives as a whole, and make them
better. I think you’ll agree that probably many (maybe all) aspects of our lives
can be fitter. Once you begin training for True and Total Fitness, you’ll start
a (beneficial) chain reaction so that one new action or thought benefits many
different areas of your life - all at once.
Start thinking of fitness as Training for Life - nothing less. The
conditioning that you (and I) will be doing is more comprehensive than a weight
loss plan or preparing a new resume - though it may include these things.
The conscious mental recognition of what you are about to start doing, while
you are doing it, will make all the difference in the world. So know that (for
example) as you work on your physical fitness, you are enabling a transformation
in self-esteem, which therefore affects you in your personal relationships, your
career, and probably everything else in your life.
Be aware that (for example) as you improve your political, civic or social
fitness (or awareness), you enhance your overall attractiveness as a friend, a
partner and an employee. So we begin by reconditioning our minds. Whatever the
goal, we first make a purposeful, positive, and affirmative mental statement.
Then we extract a line or two – something that is easy to memorize (and repeat
to ourselves) throughout the day.
This then becomes a conditioning thought – like a mantra. You can write it on
a Post-It and put it in your car, on your computer, on the bathroom mirror, at
your desk, etc., so that you will see it, think it, say it, and quickly start to
believe it deep down inside.
Here’s an example: Today is a new day - I have a whole new way of thinking
about me and the way I do things. No more starting and stopping, no bad me or
good me, no beating myself up, creating false fantasies, or crying over what has
happened (or not happened) in the past.
I am now ready to act purposefully - taking full responsibility for what
occurs knowing too, that I can change it if I choose to. I am ready, and I am
willing, and even when I do not feel ready or willing, I will continue to move
forward on my plan - not “judging” my results along the way. I will stay on the
road, focused, committed, and certain that my continuing efforts are my reward,
and success is in taking action, not in expecting specific results. I am
mentally and physically focused, committed and taking action to succeed. Success
is taking action and staying with it.
So, Step 1: Make a mental statement and extract an easy-to-repeat sentence,
then repeat it, as often as you remember.
Next, Step 2; make the plan – one that you really can stick with! For
example, if getting into better shape physically is your immediate desire then
exercising more and eating a healthier diet are your actions.
You can read about a healthy diet online, work with a professional, or simply
apply some of the common sense healthy eating behaviors that I know you know,
like, cutting out sodas, fried, and all junk/fast food, eating less refined
carbohydrates (especially sugar) like cookies, muffins, breads, and candy). Eat
simply. Incorporate more protein (chicken/fish) and fresh vegetables in your
diet and, reduce or take out desserts and packaged foods (like protein/meal bars
and vending machine snacks).
Then – exercise more. Start small, like by adding 60 minutes a week of
walking to your schedule – be it a 15 minute walk at lunch five days a week
or two 30 minute walking workouts each week with a walking partner or a
workout CD, or with your dog. Make your plan. Make it detailed, easy to follow,
and totally reasonable in your busy schedule.
Step 3: Don’t give up. That’s all; just don’t give up on yourself. No matter
how many times you have tried to change something, know that this time could be
the one! And with the mental conditioning that you will be doing (something that
most of us have never incorporated in trying to reach our goals), you truly do
have the key to Training for Life, and True and Total Fitness.
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