No matter how healthy or fit we feel we have become, at some level we are affected by our past conditioning and how we think. I certainly did not start out life as a fit kid naturally into sports. In fact, I was the complete 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. This was something I discovered more deeply while completing my master’s in sports psychology. It also helped me to see the lives of my clients and colleagues change dramatically by changing their thoughts. Everything begins in the mind.
Five Mindsets for 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. Born without arms & legs, Nick Vujicic’s life was certainly never easy. His life is filled with joy and purpose after overcoming adversity. 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 said, “Dream big, my friend, and don’t 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.
A healthy metabolism investor is well-informed on nutrition and a workout program that works. Their metabolism starts to pay off long-term when they master the art of consistency. Because their hormonal system & metabolism are running efficiently, they can be burning fat more efficiently during workouts and even at rest!
Mindset #3: Healthy people influence their friends and family members in positive, inspiring ways and bring them along for 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 lost the rest of his life. He hired me to rebuild his body and life. Mark dedicated his whole life to good nutrition and better workouts. Mark became a strong, muscular man and lost 5% of his body fat. I helped him achieve his personal training certification. Today, Mark is sober and continues to help his family, friends, and community by his fitness example and training and has inspired many.
Mentality #4: People who are healthy focus on the opportunities and not the obstacles
Sports psychologists use mental skills training to help enhance athletes’ performance. This training involves looking at the positive side of any situation. This is a form of positive psychology. According to Seligman, ‘seeing obstacles instead of opportunities doesn’t just affect behavior; it also reaches down to the cellular level and makes the immune system more passive. Healthy individuals are less likely to give up on their exercise routine when a challenge arises. 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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