No matter how healthy or fit we feel we have become, at some level we are affected by our past conditioning and how we think. I certainly did not start out life as a fit kid naturally into sports. Actually, I was quite the opposite. At the age of 10, I was very overweight. I felt complete embarrassment. I felt immense shame. I felt like a defect.
My health and fitness didn’t really start to thrive until I started modeling my mindset after other truly healthy and fit individuals. This was something I discovered more deeply while completing my master’s in sports psychology. It also helped me to see the lives of my clients and colleagues change dramatically by changing their thoughts. Everything starts in the mind.
Five Mindsets for the Healthy
Mindset #1: Healthy people believe they are in total control of their destiny as opposed to their destiny is predetermined.
The healthy do not allow physical limitations to prevent them from reaching their divine destiny. Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs. His life was not easy. His life is filled with joy and purpose after overcoming adversity. Nick, now 30, has a wife, and they travel the globe sharing inspiring messages of hope, accomplishment, and love. He realized that we all need love and hope and that he was in a unique position to share that with people. He also says “Dream big my friend and never give up. We all make mistakes, but none of us are mistakes.” How can the world elevate from your presence? You did indeed arrive for a divine purpose.
Mindset #2: The healthy get their metabolism to work for them instead of trading time for health.
The healthy metabolism investor has educated themselves on quality nutrition and a sound workout program that works for them. They master the skill of consistency, and long term, their metabolism begins to pay back to them! Because their hormonal system & metabolism are running efficiently, they can be burning fat more efficiently during workouts and even at rest!
Mindset #3: Healthy people influence their friends and family members in positive, inspiring ways and bring them along for the journey.
One of my most inspiring clients, ‘Mark’, had spent years on a downhill addictive path of drugs and alcoholism, & jail time. He could have easily lost the rest of his life. He hired me and we began rebuilding his physique and life. Mark dedicated his entire life to quality nutrition, workouts, and a better life. In addition to helping Mark get to a muscular and shredded 5% body fat, I also helped him accomplish one of his life goals of becoming a certified personal trainer! Today, Mark is sober and continues to help his family, friends, and community by his fitness example and training and has inspired many.
Mentality #4: People who are healthy focus on the opportunities and not the obstacles
Sports psychologists use mental skills training to help enhance athletes’ performance. This training involves looking at the positive side of any situation. This is positive psychology. According to Seligman, ‘seeing obstacles instead of opportunities doesn’t just affect behavior; it also reaches down to the cellular level and makes the immune system more passive. When faced with a challenge, healthy people are more likely to stick to their exercise program and not abandon it altogether. Practicing a daily positive attitude is a source of inner strength and overall health.
Mindset #5: Healthy people see fear differently – they learn to act in spite of it.
Pema Chodron said, “If you never know the nature of fear, then you can never be fearless.” Healthy people are able to recognize fear and move forward regardless of it. They understand that fear is a natural reaction to learning more about the truth or achieving higher goals.
Stefanie Basso
NSCA Certified Trainer, NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist BA Exercise Science, MS Sport Psychology
Ph.D. Holistic Nutrition San Diego, CA 92122
Email: [email protected], www.steffitness.com
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