No matter how fit or healthy we may feel, we all have some influence on how we think and what our past experiences have done to us. I was not born a sports-mad kid. Actually, I was quite the opposite. At 10 years old, I was a very overweight little girl. I felt complete embarrassment. I felt immense shame. I felt like a defect.
My health and fitness did not start to flourish until I began modeling my mentality after truly fit and healthy people. I learned this at a deeper level while attaining my master’s degree in sports psychology and seeing my colleagues’ and clients’ lives changing phenomenally by upgrading specific thoughts. Everything starts 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 realized that we all need love and hope and that he was in a unique position to share that with people. 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? After all, you did arrive for a divine purpose.
Mindset #2: The healthy get their metabolism to work for them instead of trading time for health.
The healthy metabolism investor has educated themselves on quality nutrition and a sound workout program that works for them. Their metabolism starts to pay off long-term when they master the art of consistency. Their metabolism and hormonal system are working efficiently so they can burn fat more effectively during workouts or 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! Mark is now sober, continues to support his family, friends and community through his fitness training, and has inspired many.
Mindset #4: Healthy people focus on opportunities instead of obstacles.
To improve athletes’ performance, sports psychologists employ mental skills training. This training involves looking at the positive side of any situation. This is a form of positive psychology. Seligman states that’seeing obstacles rather than opportunities’ doesn’t only affect behavior, but also affects the cellular level, making the immune system less passive. When faced with a challenge, healthy people are more likely to stick to their exercise program and not abandon it altogether. 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 stated, “If fear is not understood, you will 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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