What three motivational words can you say to yourself that will kick-start your exercise program into overdrive and make your fitness dreams come true?
“I want!”
Too often we approach our fitness routines with the thought “I have to,” and produces a self-defeating attitude toward our fitness program. Say both phrases out loud (if you’re in a public place you can wait until you get home… or not) and pay attention to how it feels inside your body. “I have to” produces dread and a feeling of “heaviness”. “Desire to“ it produces an extra pep in your step and a joy associated with whatever you want to do.
How I used this phrase to help me.
I’ll be honest, exercising is not difficult at all. I just set a plan, stick to it, and adapt along the way. It’s one of the reasons I became a personal trainer; It has been quite easy for me. But there are goals I’ve had that have really challenged me mentally and emotionally. In fact, I’m going through one right now.
In February, I put precautions aside and hired a French teacher to teach me French. I knew French when I was little, but I lost it when we moved to the United States. And for as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to relearn it. So I started researching, looking for a teacher, and I found Sabine. She was born in France, she has a PhD in French studies and is a teacher… DING DING DING! I stalked her and got her to meet me, and after a nice chat she knew she would work. So even though I was still trying to build my business, take care of a baby, and learn a new city, I committed. I told her that I would be with her during at least a year, and we started.
(PS: There are a lot of really good teaching points in this last paragraph about achieving your goals. You might want to go back and reread it.)
This French teacher is kicking my ass!
I was so excited about those first classes, and I was very excited about finally be able to speak French. And then he hit me in the face with reality. I remember it very clearly, that feeling of being overwhelmed and all the negative thoughts flooding my head. “There’s no way I can learn all of this.” “You will never get this.” Etcetera etcetera. I continued because I don’t like to quit, but I was trying to get over these thoughts and feelings. I had to do this! Push Push Push!
Then the thought came to me: “I want do this”, and I felt the calm that came with it. Done. I don’t question things when they are so clear. So I started to approach learning French in this way, and it has helped me tremendously. Am I still frustrated and impatient? I bet so! But I don’t let that become me. Because I “want to,” I can now relax, have fun, and consequently learn more efficiently.
What is going on in your head?
Do you “have to” go exercise? Or do you want? If you “have to” you are fighting yourself and it will make achieving your goals exponentially more difficult. If you “want to”, you are enjoying the process and it will allow you to get to where you want to go faster. So add a little”want” in your life.