What do mindset and habits have to do with our health, fitness level, wellbeing and overall success in life?
The answer is quite simple … EVERYTHING.
While that may seem like a powerful statement, if you stop and think about it, it’s so true! You ARE what you think you are, and that is what you become. It all starts with our mindset. Our mindset determines our attitudes and our habits, and our habits create who we are and can also shape our destiny.
Here’s a question to really think about: What would you attempt if you knew anything was possible? What would you attempt if you knew you would succeed? What if the sky really was the limit?
That opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Your attitude may have changed and you may have thought of something you’d like to do or try. What came to mind for you? Is it something on your “bucket list,” a new adventure, or maybe it’s becoming healthier and being more active?
Whatever it is, chances are those little doubts have also crept in – you know – telling yourself why it won’t work or reasons why you can’t do it – probably out of fear of failing. Maybe you’d like to go back to school, start a new career, move to another city, meet new people, change jobs, achieve your desired weight or train for an athletic event. But suddenly you’re thinking “What if I fail; What will people think of me; I can’t afford that; I don’t know if I have the skills for that.”
THE TRUTH
We are so conditioned to focus on the ‘what if I fail’ thoughts and ‘I can’t do that’ mindset, that many times, we don’t even try or just give up too soon. Much of this can come from experiences from our childhood; things we were told and/or feelings we had that made us think we aren’t good enough. These are all self-defeating thoughts or limiting beliefs that prevent us from reaching our true potential and hold us back from experiencing life to the fullest.
The truth is – You are what you tell yourself you are, not what anyone else tells you.
Only you can decide what’s possible for yourself and for your life.
GET CENTERED
Take a moment right now to slow down and pause.
Take a deep breath in for a count of 5 – then let it out for a count of 5. Do this 2 more times. Just breathe. Doesn’t that feel better?
Get centered – get present – relax.
We know our mindset affects everything, so to get the most out of these next few posts, leave everything else behind for now. Ready?
WHAT IS MINDSET?
So, what exactly is mindset?
The dictionary defines ‘mindset’ as:
1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations. (These are our thoughts and reactions to those thoughts).
2. An inclination or a habit.
Let’s take the first definition. If your mindset determines your response to situations, based on your mental attitude, then it IS true that an ‘attitude adjustment’ might just be what you need. What attitudes are holding you back? What are you thinking about yourself and your life most of the time? Is it mostly positive or negative? Are you even aware of most of your thoughts? Is there a change in attitude you can make about something that may help get you going in the right direction?
YOUR REALITY
For example: maybe your attitude is “I hate to exercise” (yes, I hear this one quite often). I’d like to challenge you to rethink that to possibly “I haven’t found an exercise I enjoy yet, but maybe I can think of something I can do even if I don’t love it…yet.” So you can go from ‘deciding’ you hate to exercise to ‘deciding’ to try something – even something as simple as going for a 15-minute walk to start. (Always check with your doctor if you have any health conditions that may prevent you from being ready for an exercise routine.)
Your mindset = your thoughts and your attitude and changing your attitude can quite literally change your life.
Sometimes, it’s like flipping a light switch.
You may have the thought that you don’t have time to exercise. We all have at least 15 minutes in our day somewhere that we can fit in a little activity. This may mean getting up a few minutes earlier, walking in the evening or something else.
The truth is, if it’s important enough, we’ll find a way.
(By the way, just walking 15 minutes a day, five days a week, would equal 3,900 minutes in 1 year! Wow – it adds up!)
Your thoughts = your reality.
What is a negative thought you tend to dwell on that holds you back from what you really want? What are you telling yourself on a regular basis? Do you realize that this is holding you back? What things are you listening to that other people say that shouldn’t occupy space in your brain?
How can you change it? It can be helpful to visualize a big red ‘stop’ sign, and redirect the negative thought to something more positive. Think of a word or phrase that motivates you or an image of your desired result.
Choose a word to be your motivating force. It can be the theme for the year. This word can get you back on track and refocused when you need it most. The word you choose should be geared to helping you achieve your goals and serve as a constant reminder of what you want to achieve.
Here are some words to help you get started:
- Adventure
- Brave
- Contribution
- Brilliance
- Courage
- Energized
- Family
- Fit
- Fun
- Happy
- Healthy
- Peace
- Service
- Strength
Here’s an example: You want to eat better and feed your family healthier meals but you tell yourself you don’t have the time. How can you make this work? Instead of telling yourself you don’t have the time, ask yourself when can you squeeze in the time? Is there someone that can help you?
With the first statement you’ve already made the decision that you don’t have the time. By asking a different question, you’ve left yourself open to exploring options. There’s a big difference in the two mindsets. One has possibility, the other does not. When you make something a high enough priority, it’s easier to find a solution.
NEXT WEEK: Habits and how to start with small changes to see big results.