WHY SHOULD I Change my Approach?

Alternatively: Your Mindset Can Make or Break Your Habits

Hi again! Thanks for coming back for Round 2 of “Why Should I?” In this one, I’ll attempt to convince you that changing your mental approach to healthy habits could mean the difference between success and… “This just sucks.”

Celebration vs. Punishment

I played volleyball for a few years back in middle and high school. The absolute worst punishment (in my opinion) for poor team behavior or just for training in general was running “suicides,” which consisted of a series of sprints from the baseline of the court to a line, and then back, and then to a farther line, and then back, and so on. I loved the game of volleyball, but I hated running suicides, and never felt accomplished or proud of my exerted effort upon completing them. That was not their purpose. My legs and lungs may have gotten stronger, but I was tired and pissed off.

I also ran track for six years. And I was a sprinter. There’s a joke out there for track and cross-country athletes that “My sport is your sport’s punishment.” It’s true, isn’t it? The entire purpose of being a sprinter on the track team was to push yourself to continuously become faster – not only than other competing athletes, but also than your previous PR (that’s personal record.)

What’s the difference here? I hated sprinting in volleyball but loved it in track. It’s entirely about the approach. On the track, I was celebrating what my legs and my body could do. [Side note: I was also a hurdler and enjoyed every minute of learning to improve my form to move more efficiently down the track.] When we approach exercise as a celebration of what our bodies can do and with the intent and encouragement to improve upon it rather than viewing exercise as a punishment for our bodies not being how we think they should be, everything changes.

Give yourself and your body gratitude for being able to do what it currently can, and approach your workout with the mindset that today, you are going to move in order to both celebrate and enhance what it can do – for your health, for your happiness, and for your future.

Opportunity vs. Obligation

How many times have you had a thought like this: “I guess I really should get the salad today; I’ve been eating junk all week.” And then you proceed to begrudgingly order some leafy greens instead of the greasy burger and fries combo. You feel like ordering the salad is an obligation to your health.

This is another mindset funk to flip-flop! Imagine the difference if you said, “I haven’t had a very healthy meal in a while; here I have an opportunity to do something great for my health.” Ordering the salad then becomes like something you have won rather than something you were resentfully given and have to deal with.

The same is true for regular exercise. Feeling like you have to drag yourself to the gym or out the door to run is never going to be satisfying long-term. That’s why it is SO important to find a variety of physically active things you truly enjoy doing, and be willing to try new formats as well. Everybody has days where they just “aren’t feeling it,” but if you find something you enjoy doing, you’ll be much more likely to view exercise sessions as enjoyable opportunities rather than monotonous obligations.

Start Now

My challenge to you is to start viewing your regular healthy habits as opportunities and celebrations of your life and your body’s abilities. I think you’ll be surprised at how this approach will alter your attitude and actions.

Let me know how I can support you – I promise it’s something I am pretty good at.
And if you don’t already, follow me on Instagram to see for yourself.

Cheers & Namaste!

-JMJ