No matter how fit or healthy we may feel, we all have some influence on how we think and what our past experiences have done to us. I was not born a sports-mad kid. In fact, I was the complete 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 begins 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. Born without arms & legs, Nick Vujicic’s life was certainly never 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 understood that everyone needs love and hope, and that he was uniquely positioned to share it with others. He said, “Dream big, my friend, and don’t give up.” Everyone makes mistakes. But no one is perfect. How can the world rise from your presence? After all, you did arrive for a divine purpose.
Mindset #2: Healthy people put their metabolism to work instead of trading off their health for time.
A healthy metabolism investor is well-informed on nutrition and a workout program that works. They master the skill of consistency, and long term, their metabolism begins to pay back to them! Their metabolism and hormonal system are working efficiently so they can burn fat more effectively during workouts or at rest.
Mindset #3: Healthy people have a positive influence on their family members and friends, and they bring them along on 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 to rebuild his body 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! Mark is now sober, continues to support his family, friends and community through his fitness training, and has inspired many.
Mentality #4: People who are healthy focus on the opportunities and not the obstacles
To improve athletes’ performance, sports psychologists employ mental skills training. This training involves looking at the positive side of any situation. This is a form of positive psychology. Seligman states that’seeing obstacles rather than opportunities’ doesn’t only affect behavior, but also affects the cellular level, making the immune system less passive. When faced with a challenge, healthy people are more likely to stick to their exercise program and not abandon it altogether. A positive outlook is an important part of your inner strength and overall well-being.
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 recognize the presence of fear and trek forward regardless because they understand that fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth, or higher accomplishments.
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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