Healthy B.P.M.

The end of yesterday’s piece was positive and negative energy. What good is it to dwell in perpetual doom and gloom? It is so easy to talk yourself into the worse. Every cloud doesn’t mean a thunderstorm and berating yourself for not working out does not burn calories. Practice focusing on positive situations, understand that things will work out. Look for solutions instead of complaining, be more understanding instead of getting angry. Try to look at things from a different perspective, embrace changes and look for opportunities in challenges and dismiss the woe is me attitude. This is a learned behavior, but as you continually change the way you think and see things, you’ll begin to naturally attract more positive situations into your life. You may have heard it before: as you think so shall you be.

During the day observe how you respond to situations, how you react to things you don’t like, or just to situations in general. Focus on the comments you make to friends, colleagues and relatives. Are they positive or negative? Do you always point out the negative? Do you complain or think of the worst? If something goes wrong do you get angry, blame somebody, or have a series of negative thoughts? Or do you focus on a solution, accept responsibility and create the changes that you want? If you find that you have a negative reaction then you’re only creating more negative energy and attracting more negative situations. Start changing how you think. Create positive thoughts and positive beliefs. Focus on finding solutions and you’ll begin attracting more positive situations into your life. Make a list everyday of at least 5 things you are grateful for.

As much as I believe in the law of attraction, and the value of visualization those two are worthless without your belief in yourself and your ability to be motivated to do what you want to do. Indeed that is the key to it all, being motivated to do what you want to do. Case in point; When you were in college you studied, took the exams and prepared for your career path. After graduation you put together a resume, cover letter and started applying for jobs. Along comes the interview process and after one or several you got the job. No one forced you (at least I hope not) but you made deliberate preparations for what you wanted.

When it’s vacation time or Christmas you do the same thing. You plan in anticipation of the event. You often picture yourself with your family or doing the things you want to do, how the tree will look, what clothes you will wear. You get all excited and worked up about it! Approach weight loss and fitness the same way. It’s easy to be motivated to do the things you want to do. Athletes prepare for events the same way; it’s called VMR-visual motor rehearsal. They run the race, hit the ball, or make a slam dunk in their minds and when it’s time to do it in real time-wham, there it is. You can do the same thing in the area of weight loss and fitness. Know I know that right now your subconscious might be saying “umph” or “yeah right”. But this is true. Rehearse eating healthy satisfying foods in healthy portions from the beginning. Don’t see yourself over eating and then correcting for the mistake. Rehearse it the way you want it to be right from the start. Do the same thing with exercise and working out.

Lastly, realize that stress is an inevitable part of life here on planet earth. Prevention and relief of it enable us to enjoy the journey. Do your best to set aside time once a week, for you. Define “me time” as it relates to your lifestyle and budget. Me time is often necessary and sometimes to the exclusion of what others think is best for you. We can give more to others if we first give to ourselves. Don’t lose out on the best life possible by thinking that you can’t have it. That is the quickest way to a self fulfilling prophecy.