I’d like to explain one of the top reasons people don’t change…or even try to change (at least in my humble opinion).
Over the years, I’ve heard just about every possible reason why someone refuses to take care of their own health.
When I speak with them, I discover they have all the logical reasons to mover forward one could ever ask for:
- They don’t like how they look
- They have high blood pressure
- They’re pre-diabetic
- Other family members are concerned
- Their quality of life is suffering
.
.
.
Let’s face it, the list of reasons to take action is pretty long…
Here’s the disconnect…
Even though they have all the facts, why do we see such a high level of INACTION?
Here’s one powerful reason.
Because if someone tries to lose weight and FAIL, it just reinforces failure.
People start to think of themselves as failures!
No one…and I mean NO ONE wants to think of themselves as a failure.
Therefore, if they don’t try, they don’t have to feel that sting of failure again.
It makes perfect psychological sense when you think about it.
We’ve all heard the negative self-talk…
“I just can’t stick with this diet.”
“I tried going to the gym and didn’t see any change.”
“Why bother, I just end up gaining all the weight back.”
Look at it this way, if you’ve been told your entire life that you STINK at math, guess what you start to believe?
So, when you fail the math test, you say, “I knew it. I’m terrible at math!”
Here’s the psychological viewpoint And one of my favorite quotes):
“Human beings will always act and feel and perform in accordance with what they imagine to be true about themselves.”
This means that if you fail to lose weight, you shrug your shoulders and say, “See, I knew it. Forget this!”
Yet, all around us in our news feeds and people in our network, we’re bombarded with stories about people achieving success…losing 20, 30, 50 or more pounds.
Are they special?
Do they have some superpower the Marvel comics might make a movie about?
Of course not!
Condemn the approach, not the person!
They are not better than you. They just took a different approach…
Listen, it’s VERY scary to go after a goal and fail!
Heck, it’s scary to even START the process…to take that first step and say, “I’m going to do this.”
Most humans are plagued with self-doubt and misgivings…
But, it’s NOT because they’re weaker than someone else, it’s just because they’re taking the wrong mental approach, not using the proper tools, or haven’t bought in to what they’re doing.
It’s the mental piece that’s missing.
Vince Lombardy said: “The Lord gave us a body that can handle just about anything. It’s our minds we have to convince.”
Completely true.
As we wind down this year, I just wanted to give those who need it a nudge.
Remember this – there is NOTHING on this planet more powerful that a human being with laser focus.
And that includes you!