Hey there health warriors,
Quick one today: I was doing my morning cardio with the Rocky The Musical/Rocky 4 soundtrack prodding me on, when I realized a few things:
1) The thing you pursue, is usually not what you actually want.
Example: You want to 'lose weight'. But you don't want the unhealthy tag-a-longs that come with a 'weight loss only' mindset. You'll end up compromising your health and developing an unsustainable lifestyle in order to achieve this one thing...and then you'll lose it (no pun intended), and it won't be worth it.
A better way: Pursue a worthy goal, which is a lifestyle that INCLUDES the thing you want. If you pursue health and wellness for the sake of more energy and productivity, you'll end up burning fat, building muscle, becoming more flexible, and having more mental and physical stamina throughout the day.
Health and wellness is the key to bodybuilding. So, as you build your body, remember: Your health habits should drive and support your lifestyle and life purpose, NOT make your every thought to revolve around what you eat or how/when to train, etc.
If you aren't at your best, you cannot give your best. Living healthfully, You'll end up being more valuable to the world because you developed yourself to a higher ideal, and received the benefit of a more complete lifestyle.
Translating to your job, you'll probably end up getting paid more in the long run, as a more proactive, sick-less-often, higher energy and creative employee/business person.
The bonus was weight loss.
2) Affirmations can remind you to act, but they do not in and of themselves change your beliefs or actions. What you truly believe becomes evident in what you actually do, so it is in the doing where you beliefs and emotions change.
Hence, where affirmation comes in: It reminds you of the things you want most, and puts in on the forefront of your consciousness, making you more likely to make choices aligned with that reality, causing it to manifest gradually.
Key point: Make sure what you affirm is actually true and wise.
That's all for today. I'm off to hang out with family and continue to re-charge over this New Year's holiday.
Strength and Honor,
Jason
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Why "Resolutions" are a bad idea
BUT,
Making a list of your "Big 5" is a much better idea. More on that later.
In my last post, I talked about achieving resolutions, and alluded to why many people fail, especially in regards to fitness.
As an in-the-trenches trainer and wellness coach, I see the common misconceptions that people carry around, and the ones that are advocated by supposed 'experts':
The idea that you can 'set some resolutions' and 'make a fresh start' for 2015 is only partly true. You MUST keep in mind that there are both tangible, and intangible resources required to accomplish ANYTHING.
You need internal reserves like faith in the possibilities, inspiration telling you it's worth it, focus to hone what you do have, and physical vitality to give you the stamina and attractiveness to the people around you.
You need external resources like time in your schedule, space in your relationships and commitments, and adequate and continuous finances to take on any new endeavors.
You need supportive people around you. No one makes it alone
You need sage counsel - people who have 'been there, done that' that make their experience available to you.
You need integrity of character. Try to cut corners, 'speed up the process', or being shady, no matter what the reason may be, never ends well.
The only shortcut is to do it right the first time. Be efficient? yes. Simplify? Yes. Will it be easy? No so much.
That's a pretty intensive list, but the good news: Once you start developing a lifestyle that supports and engages these ideas, subsequent goals come faster.
Think of it like the athlete who is simply changing sports...they already have an athletic foundation of strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and now just have to learn the technical specifics of the new goal.
As John Maxwell puts it: "If you reach for a goal, you might grow in the process. If you engage intentional growth, you'll be able to achieve your goals".
I think of it like the child reaching for the cookie jar, sliding the chair, reaching across the corner, and risking peril for a cookie....and they might get it. Or, they could fall really hard.
But, if they grow - they will be able to reach the cookie jar, AND anything else that happens to be 'at that level'.
Now, the "Big 5":
This is the list of 5 things you want to do or work towards in 2015. This is the list that "if nothing else happens, I want to be closer to these 5 things"
It doesn't mean you 'have to achieve it, no matter what, by Dec 31st, 2015". It means, you begin to align your life, so that these 5 things are increasingly manifesting in your life, until the day they actually come into existence.
Common "Big 5"s
-Health goal
-Relationship Goal
-Financial/career/business goal
-Personal 'bucket list' item
-Spiritual growth/passion/purpose discovery goals
Once you have the 'Big 5" identified, start thinking about what they look like. Then, start reverse engineering the steps that will be required to get there...then, establish what you have to do daily/weekly in order to move forward.
If you don't work well under pressure, don't set deadlines per se - just have 'check points' in mind, so you know if you are on the right track (or not).
This is about 'life alignment', organic progress, and sustainability, not so much the "hurry up and achieve" mindset.
Once your intention is set, keep it set, start moving - but don't force it. Do a self-check once a week, and remember, you reap what you sow.
So, the question is not 'if' you are getting better, it is WHERE are you improving? Are you becoming a world-class complainer? Are you getting better at playing video games while your relationship suffers? Are you getting better at mismanaging your finances while your dream vacation slips further away? Are you enhancing your ability to live listlessly, while depression and lethargy take on greater gravity in your life? Are you getting better at drinking beer and watching TV, while your health runs away from you?
WHERE are you putting your time, energy, talent, resources? Drastic change doesn't happen overnight, but it can BEGIN overnight.
To an abundant future,
JG
Making a list of your "Big 5" is a much better idea. More on that later.
In my last post, I talked about achieving resolutions, and alluded to why many people fail, especially in regards to fitness.
As an in-the-trenches trainer and wellness coach, I see the common misconceptions that people carry around, and the ones that are advocated by supposed 'experts':
The idea that you can 'set some resolutions' and 'make a fresh start' for 2015 is only partly true. You MUST keep in mind that there are both tangible, and intangible resources required to accomplish ANYTHING.
You need internal reserves like faith in the possibilities, inspiration telling you it's worth it, focus to hone what you do have, and physical vitality to give you the stamina and attractiveness to the people around you.
You need external resources like time in your schedule, space in your relationships and commitments, and adequate and continuous finances to take on any new endeavors.
You need supportive people around you. No one makes it alone
You need sage counsel - people who have 'been there, done that' that make their experience available to you.
You need integrity of character. Try to cut corners, 'speed up the process', or being shady, no matter what the reason may be, never ends well.
The only shortcut is to do it right the first time. Be efficient? yes. Simplify? Yes. Will it be easy? No so much.
That's a pretty intensive list, but the good news: Once you start developing a lifestyle that supports and engages these ideas, subsequent goals come faster.
Think of it like the athlete who is simply changing sports...they already have an athletic foundation of strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and now just have to learn the technical specifics of the new goal.
As John Maxwell puts it: "If you reach for a goal, you might grow in the process. If you engage intentional growth, you'll be able to achieve your goals".
I think of it like the child reaching for the cookie jar, sliding the chair, reaching across the corner, and risking peril for a cookie....and they might get it. Or, they could fall really hard.
But, if they grow - they will be able to reach the cookie jar, AND anything else that happens to be 'at that level'.
Now, the "Big 5":
This is the list of 5 things you want to do or work towards in 2015. This is the list that "if nothing else happens, I want to be closer to these 5 things"
It doesn't mean you 'have to achieve it, no matter what, by Dec 31st, 2015". It means, you begin to align your life, so that these 5 things are increasingly manifesting in your life, until the day they actually come into existence.
Common "Big 5"s
-Health goal
-Relationship Goal
-Financial/career/business goal
-Personal 'bucket list' item
-Spiritual growth/passion/purpose discovery goals
Once you have the 'Big 5" identified, start thinking about what they look like. Then, start reverse engineering the steps that will be required to get there...then, establish what you have to do daily/weekly in order to move forward.
If you don't work well under pressure, don't set deadlines per se - just have 'check points' in mind, so you know if you are on the right track (or not).
This is about 'life alignment', organic progress, and sustainability, not so much the "hurry up and achieve" mindset.
Once your intention is set, keep it set, start moving - but don't force it. Do a self-check once a week, and remember, you reap what you sow.
So, the question is not 'if' you are getting better, it is WHERE are you improving? Are you becoming a world-class complainer? Are you getting better at playing video games while your relationship suffers? Are you getting better at mismanaging your finances while your dream vacation slips further away? Are you enhancing your ability to live listlessly, while depression and lethargy take on greater gravity in your life? Are you getting better at drinking beer and watching TV, while your health runs away from you?
WHERE are you putting your time, energy, talent, resources? Drastic change doesn't happen overnight, but it can BEGIN overnight.
To an abundant future,
JG
How to Keep New Year's Resolutions
Hey there everyone,
Hopefully you are settling into 2015, and have not lost the excitement the New Year brings.
I wanted to post this on New Years Eve -but alas, I was in disposed enjoying my time with friends and family.
Lets talk resolve:
Unless you have a TON of time, energy, space, and resources at your disposal, AND you have done lifestyle modification with success in the past, I suggest you pick ONE very important resolution (and only one) for 2015. This will more than keep your hands full the entire year.
What do I mean?
The nature of a 'resolution', is the willingness to 'cut out' other things, in order to maintain a resolved mindset to accomplish whatever the resolution happens to be.
It is a "No matter what" kind of attitude. It involves sacrifice of anything that gets in the way, to include non-essential drains on your time, energy and finances - no matter how minor they seem.
This kind of sacrifice FORCES you to get clear on your goals, life-purpose, and passions.
Think about it - if it isn't what you are built to do, that kind of sacrifice will hardly be worth it!
You can't pour activity onto an already busy schedule, and expect significant results. That would be like pouring a bunch of water into a container that has holes in it...it just won't hold anything, and your efforts will be in vain, leading to serious disappointment.
A better way: Start building up your internal reservoirs of health and energy, BEFORE you try to expend energy trying to accomplish something.
Example:
You want to 'get in shape', or 'lose weight' this year? Good. Now, check your sleep. Is it restful? Is it enough? If not, start there. It doesn't do much good to commit to an exercise program that you have to engage consistently when you are ALREADY tired!
Next up: Nutrition. Focus on increasing veggies and lean protein, and let those be the basis of your meals. Add healthy fat and natural, fibrous carbohydrates as activity dictates.
Don't focus on what you 'can't/shouldn't' do, but instead, focus on what you can do, now, with what you do have (motivation, finances, etc.). In time, these will displace the things that don't belong.
TRUST the process, and stay focused on what you want to accomplish, and what helps you do that.
In time, it will become clear as to what really prevents you from being and doing what you want...and then it will be a lot easier to remove it from your life, and replace it with something (or someone...?) supportive.
Why this order?
Sleep is more important than food, and food is more important than exercise. Remember that. The only shortcut is to do it right the first time.
Think of your goals as direction-finders, and not "must accomplish or else" deadlines. The former is a sustainable, gradual, sure approach - the latter is a likely path to failure.
After all, who cares if it takes 17 months instead of 12 to reach your goal...you'll still be making progress all year long, be headed in the right direction, and it will be a sustainable, organic form of achievement!
Strength and honor in 2015,
JG
Hopefully you are settling into 2015, and have not lost the excitement the New Year brings.
I wanted to post this on New Years Eve -but alas, I was in disposed enjoying my time with friends and family.
Lets talk resolve:
Unless you have a TON of time, energy, space, and resources at your disposal, AND you have done lifestyle modification with success in the past, I suggest you pick ONE very important resolution (and only one) for 2015. This will more than keep your hands full the entire year.
What do I mean?
The nature of a 'resolution', is the willingness to 'cut out' other things, in order to maintain a resolved mindset to accomplish whatever the resolution happens to be.
It is a "No matter what" kind of attitude. It involves sacrifice of anything that gets in the way, to include non-essential drains on your time, energy and finances - no matter how minor they seem.
This kind of sacrifice FORCES you to get clear on your goals, life-purpose, and passions.
Think about it - if it isn't what you are built to do, that kind of sacrifice will hardly be worth it!
You can't pour activity onto an already busy schedule, and expect significant results. That would be like pouring a bunch of water into a container that has holes in it...it just won't hold anything, and your efforts will be in vain, leading to serious disappointment.
A better way: Start building up your internal reservoirs of health and energy, BEFORE you try to expend energy trying to accomplish something.
Example:
You want to 'get in shape', or 'lose weight' this year? Good. Now, check your sleep. Is it restful? Is it enough? If not, start there. It doesn't do much good to commit to an exercise program that you have to engage consistently when you are ALREADY tired!
Next up: Nutrition. Focus on increasing veggies and lean protein, and let those be the basis of your meals. Add healthy fat and natural, fibrous carbohydrates as activity dictates.
Don't focus on what you 'can't/shouldn't' do, but instead, focus on what you can do, now, with what you do have (motivation, finances, etc.). In time, these will displace the things that don't belong.
TRUST the process, and stay focused on what you want to accomplish, and what helps you do that.
In time, it will become clear as to what really prevents you from being and doing what you want...and then it will be a lot easier to remove it from your life, and replace it with something (or someone...?) supportive.
Why this order?
Sleep is more important than food, and food is more important than exercise. Remember that. The only shortcut is to do it right the first time.
Think of your goals as direction-finders, and not "must accomplish or else" deadlines. The former is a sustainable, gradual, sure approach - the latter is a likely path to failure.
After all, who cares if it takes 17 months instead of 12 to reach your goal...you'll still be making progress all year long, be headed in the right direction, and it will be a sustainable, organic form of achievement!
Strength and honor in 2015,
JG
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