There are countless books written on mindset, and the power our mind has over every decision we make in our lives – from where we live, to the relationships we choose, what we do for a living, and of course our health, how we eat and whether we exercise.
It’s crazy to think that limiting thoughts are often in charge of our lives, and not us! Even when you know you want to get healthier, you repeat defeating thoughts like:
“exercise is just too hard for me,” “I’ll never be able to do a pushup”, “I’m too weak”, “I have no willpower”, “I’ve never been athletic so going to the gym is just not for me”, “eating healthy is just too hard, I don’t have the time for that”, “being fit is not in my genes” – you get my drift. Maybe it’s not just fitness, maybe in most aspects of your life you lack drive and determination because of the limits you’ve placed on yourself.
This is a fantastic analogy that I think many of you will be able to relate to, not sure where it comes from, but I loved it!
“As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.”
Like the elephants, perhaps you have been limiting yourself all your life. Maybe you’ve always been overweight, so you can’t imagine yourself slimmer. Maybe you’ve always been really skinny and frail, so the thought of getting strong seems impossible. Maybe you feel that you’re addicted to junk food and couldn’t even get through one day without it.
Take a step back and really dig deep…it’s all in your head! You can do whatever you set your mind to! Cliché, but true!
Many amazing people throughout history, many which we look up to, were once told that they were not good enough, fast enough, strong enough, smart enough, but that didn’t stop them. Emily Stowe, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Manon Rheaume, Michael Jordan, David Beckam, Albert Einstein, just to name a few that came to my head, achieved what they did because they were persistent and they did not let limiting thoughts take over. If you read up on any of these people, you’ll be amazed that they were all told that they were not good enough, but they refused to let limiting ideas and opinions stop them from achieving their dreams.
What if you could cut all that negative mind chatter? What if you could learn to control the negative thoughts that get repeatedly played in your head? The truth is that there are very ordinary people doing extraordinary things everyday, because they have a positive mindset. That alone tells you that it is possible.
What if every single day you told yourself the opposite of what you’ve been telling yourself for months, or years: “I can and I will! and I will not blame heredity, my situation, my shortcomings, etc…”.
Practice is key! No one changes their mindset overnight. Here are some great techniques that have helped me and will help you too:
- Incorporate quiet mediation into your life. 10 minutes daily is all it takes to make an impact in your life. This is not easy, so resist the urge to quit. Mind chatter is powerful and if you can control it for a mere few minutes, it is powerful. Focus on your breath and the rhythm of your belly as it contracts and expands.
- If quieting your mind seems too difficult right now, then repeat positive mantras that personify what you want to achieve: I release myself of worry, stress.., I am calm, I am worthy, I am strong, etc…
- Read! There are countless books out there about mindset and about the power of controlling the mind and taking control of our lives. These are two of my favorites: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. No time to read? Get the audio version and listen to it while you commute, make dinner or wash dishes. Who knows? This may actually make these ‘chores’ more enjoyable!
- Begin a yoga practice, either on your own or by joining a class. Yoga can be a great way to relieve stress, by focusing on breathing techniques, and relaxing the body. But don’t go for power yoga class – you want to aim for a calm practice, such as Ananda, Hatha and Restorative yoga.
So what does this have to do with fitness? Everything! Getting in shape when you’re not, eating healthy when you’re used to eating junk food, and most aspects of health and fitness can be a real challenge without a positive mindset. Change your limiting thoughts and replace them with positive ones and you’re on your way to a healthier you!
Wishing all of you a more positive mindset!
Daniela Nahas
