This isn’t breaking news. If we want to be healthy or at least improve our chronic illness challenge, we know we need to exercise. We need to move our bodies in some effective way. But knowing we need it and doing it are two different things. Do you think you have to exercise? That may be the problem!
The key words here are, HAVE TO.
Here’s something I often share with clients and workshop attendees:
Action Follows Thought
When we think about doing something, the odds of us acting on that thought are greater than if we didn’t think it at all.
So, it stands to reason, that it matters HOW we think of it. Is it a have-to or a want-to?
Here’s a tip on determining how you feel about exercise. When you think of starting, creating, or maintaining an exercise program, do you feel any of the following emotions?
- Frustration
- Anger
- Dislike
- Resentment
- Annoyance
- Aggravation
- Fatigue (from feeling futile)
In other words, do you think of your fitness program as drudgery?
How we think matters!
Making a decision to move your body in healthy ways is a first step. Pay close attention to your thoughts. If you find yourself saying, “I have to exercise…” change the channel. Change your inner dialogue to “I want a healthier body and I want to move it today.”
Following up “I want” with action is a lot easier than following up “I have to.”
Focus your thoughts on what you want and who you are. You’re a person who is putting one foot in front of the other and doing your best. Remember that any words that follow “I am” are super powerful, so make ’em count.
Frequently repeat (and focus on) what you want, after the words “I am,” rather than on what you don’t want. The following are just a few examples, but I’m sure you can come up with dozens of your own.
- I am doing my best
- I am stronger today than I was yesterday
- I am grateful for this body that’s doing its best for me
To learn more about WHY you want to move your body, here’s a list of 17 benefits of creating a simple walking program. This article also lists 6 success tips to keep you going.
Steps to Better Energy, Clarity, and Stability
What are your favorite ways to think about exercise? Share them with the rest of us in the comments below 😉
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