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 was not born a sports-mad kid. 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 begins in the mind.
5 Mindsets of the Healthy –
Mindset #1: People who are healthy believe that they have complete control over their destiny, rather than being predetermined.
The healthy don’t ever allow physical limitations to stop them from achieving their divine destiny. Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs. His life was not easy. He has overcome adversity and his life is now filled with joy and purpose. At 30 years old, Nick has a wife and they travel the world, speaking to the masses with inspiring messages of hope and accomplishment. He understood that everyone needs love and hope, and that he was uniquely positioned to share it with others. He also says “Dream big my friend and never give up. Everyone makes mistakes. But no one is perfect. How can the world rise from your presence? You did indeed arrive for a divine purpose.
Mindset #2: Healthy people put their metabolism to work instead of trading off their health for time.
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 have a positive influence on their family members and friends, and they bring them along on the journey.
Mark, one of my most inspirational clients, had spent many years on a downward spiraling addiction path of drugs, alcoholism, and jail time. He could have easily thrown the rest of his life away. He hired me and we began rebuilding his physique and life. Mark dedicated his whole life to good nutrition and better workouts. 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.
Mindset #4: Healthy people focus on opportunities instead of obstacles.
Sports psychologists use mental skills training to help enhance athletes’ performance. One aspect of this training entails looking at the bright side of a situation. This is a form of 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. Healthy individuals are less likely to give up on their exercise routine when a challenge arises. 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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