Outlook. After having done something, then meditate and visualize how you feel afterwards. Chances are that having come fresh off of taking action, you will want to do it again.
Remember this Mantra: You can’t change the body unless you first change your mind. This is the difference between people who lose weight quickly in the short term and people who make long-term, sustainable transformations. For the first group, it’s just about weight. For the second group, it’s about self-transformative change, on the inside and the outside.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced”
James Baldwin, author, playwright, poet and activist.
What’s the skinny?
- You have an extraordinary mind. That’s why you rose to the top.
- Being a successful #fitrprofessional is all in the mindset.
- The art of acting “as if” will help you see yourself where you want to be, even before you get there. It’s the law of attraction that will help you walk by faith, and not by sight.
You have an extraordinary mind – just not the right mindset
As a professional, at the top of your game, you have an extraordinary mind. Your mind can strategize, problem-solve, challenge, persuade, analyze, dissect, and keep working all day.
The problem is, the same complex, intelligent, creative, analytical, astute, and discerning mind can hoodwink you into sabotaging your own success as a #fitprofessional. Without resolving to change your outlook, you will always fall victim to circumstances that are bound to arise in this crazy, hectic life. Stressful 14-hour workdays. Demanding supervisors. Endless meetings and interruptions. Burnout.
We were taught so much complexity in our professional education. Science, law, mathematics, statistics, finance, psychology, engineering, IT. Why weren’t we taught how to take care of our bodies, the most important vessel of the mind?
Without resolving to change your outlook, you will always fall victim to circumstances that are bound to arise in this crazy, hectic life.
Stressful 14-hour workdays. Demanding supervisors. Endless meetings and interruptions. Burnout.
We were taught so much complexity in our professional education. Science, law, mathematics, statistics, finance, psychology, engineering, IT. Why weren’t we taught how to take care of our bodies, the most important vessel of the mind?
Not a pep talk – a path
I promise, this post will not personify an overly peppy workout instructor telling you to find your spirit animal. The truth is, you never just end up on a path -something leads you to it. And that is usually a willingness to challenge your status quo – which is composed of both body and mind.
Unless there is a deep shift in your perspective – one that categorically changes you – there will never be a meaningful body change. New results come from new habits. And new habits arise from new thinking. But we can’t “think” ourselves into a different mental state. Stop trying to “figure it out”.
Unless there is a deep shift in your perspective – one that categorically changes you – there will never be a meaningful body change.
Stop trying to “figure it out”.
Believe it before you see it
As I have previously hinted, this is a long road. You won’t “see” any results for a while. You may not look how you want to look today. But you never will, if you let these repetitive thought patterns influence your action, or more likely, inaction. Like these ones:
“I am over 40 and my metabolism has slowed down, so matter what I do I won’t lose weight.”
“The pandemic made things so impossible to handle – I have too much on my plate to focus on anything else.”
“I won’t ever fit into those jeans again, so I am just going to donate them.”
DECIDE, then ACT, then ACT AS IF
DECIDE what being in shape means for you. Visualize it in your mind. This may be a vision of yourself when you remember feeling great about the way that you looked. Or it may be of one of your friends / acquaintances whose physique you admire, or someone in the gym that you see often.
ACT like you are in shape you want to be in NOW. It doesn’t mean go to the gym and spend two hours running on the treadmill- these are the shortsighted actions that only feed vague goals. Your outlook starts in your mouth. Not what you eat, but what you say to yourself inevitably shapes your reality.
Then say to yourself, “I weigh what I am supposed to weigh.” “I look great.” “I have energy to take on today and look forward to waking up even more fit tomorrow.”
This is the art of acting “as if.”
I am not talking about “fake it till you make it” – that involves chicanery and facade. I am talking about the art of acting “as if.” The “act as if” skill is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique that implements the “law of attraction” principle (if you want to find out more about the law of attraction, click here). This strategy worked for you in your career, whether you realized it or not – as you moved up the corporate ladder, weren’t you taking on the responsibilities of a position over your head before you actually got it?
Acting “as if” for a #fitprofessional means changing your daily habits, like the way you dress, the way you communicate, and the way you carry yourself. And it has been applied successfully ever since the 1880s, starting from a theory by Harvard University professor William James. It also works for relationships – if you want to be in love, then act like you are in love, even if there is no love in sight.
We will explore in this blog these daily habits and how you can most efficiently incorporate them into your daily, crazy busy life.
What is holding you back?
It’s probably one of two things. The wreckage of the past, or the uncertainty of the future. Neither are happening right now. But both need to be faced. You can’t change either. The past has already happened. With the future, you really have no control over the circumstances. Admitting that alone will free you.
The only thing you can change is yourself. And that requires facing yourself.
Go stand in front of the mirror right now. Are you standing up straight? Are your shoulders by your ears? Is your back arched, your chest proud? Are you wearing real clothes, or sweats?
You can change yourself once you face yourself
Are you the person you want to be right now? It’s not just about the outside. Do you feel confident? Are you comfortable in your own skin? Could you walk out the door with no makeup on, and still feel amazing?
We all have things about ourselves that we want to change. If your approach to fitness is on that list, I am here to guide you.
Try this for 30 seconds
Now try one thing really quickly. You can even close your eyes. Spread your feet shoulder width apart, arch your back, lift your chin, and put your hands on your hips. Now hold this for 30 seconds. No really, 30 seconds. I will still be here when you get back.
How do you feel? Do you feel just a little more confident, powerful, strong? More assertive? Less down? That is known as the “wonder woman” exercise – it is what Tony Robbins recommends to instantly change the way you feel. This isn’t unique to him though – this video by Amy Cuddy on how your body language changes everything (also super entertaining with famous political body language mishaps).
Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.
Henry ford
Now that we have established the “DAO,” it’s time to begin.
More on acting “as if”
Mood follows action – Medium.com
The law of attraction: how can I stop trying to control outcomes?
