“Motivating Yourself to do the Unimaginable-Something”

Maybe it isn’t my fault. It isn’t the right time. I don’t have enough money. I’ll do it tomorrow. These are examples of “excu-sease”-or the disease of excuses. I don’t suffer from this disease because I prefer to call my excuses “reasons”-making my excuses “legitimate excuses”. This is a true confession of a personal trainer that doesn’t feel a dire love for fitness 24 hours a day or an insatiable need to eat the driest whole grains or celebrate the absence of pesticide on my green apple.

 

Although I have these faults as a personal trainer, I motivate myself to exercise six days a week, eat whole grains -at least four servings a day, and value the least chemically processed foods -we don’t know the long term effects on our body-though.

 

Why do I complete these tasks but am resilient to others? Why do I preach healthy living, but am unwilling to floss each night? Ironically, the simplest tasks in life take years before they are habit. These are my steps:

 

Step One:  People remind me of my responsibility for action. These people include, but are not limited to, my fiancé, my doctor, my father, my accountant and others who share their unsolicited opinions.

Step Two:  I find justification to continue not doing what I need to do (insert excuse here______________). Usually, the excuses begin with the following exaggerated statements: “I am too .....” or “I am very ...”.

Step Three:  I complete the task, but in short spurts. This step is an example of the “not completely giving in” or “I’ll try just a little and see what happens” syndromes.

Step Four:  I a.) realize the importance of this action and institute it as part of my foundation of daily living or b.) return to Step One.

 

Note 1: These steps take 1 day to 113 years to complete.

Note 2: The oldest man in the world, age 113, passed in late 2007. Considering the length of his life, I hope he completed the steps for at least 1 task.

 

With this being said, I began seeing my new dentist, Dr. Gamalinda, three years ago. He explains the need to floss on each visit. In fact, his suggestions are pleads. In the first 3 visits, Dr. Gamalinda asks me to floss once or twice a week ( a modest request). Although I understand the health benefits of flossing, I am unmotivated to floss. When I finally buy floss, place it in the medicine cabinet, and look in the mirror, I think about flossing, but I still haven’t. I think “I’ll just do it later”-which isn’t realistic since jump in bed after brushing my teeth-or “I don’t have enough time”- even though flossing takes approximately 2 out of the 1440 minutes in a day. 

I am a health professional and I can’t complete this healthy task for my body. Am I the only one with this problem?

 

Finally, I begin to floss-after a year. I don’t know why I begin flossing but have ever since. It doesn’t make sense though. Why can’t I motivate myself to floss before that point? The answer may help me complete other tasks in my life too. This story, for instance, should have been written four months ago.

 

If we knew what it takes to make this “mental click”, would we achieve greater things every day? The “mental click” is different for everyone and requires observation and reflection. You must observe your faults and their effects. What are your innate and fostered tendencies? Why are you impulsive? Why do we turn right when we tell ourselves to turn left?

 

Our mind is our friend and also our greatest enemy. Take the time to understand your motivational triggers-intrinsic or extrinsic. Find ways to successfully motivate yourself to achieve what you want. Ultimately, you seek a sense of empowerment over the vessel-your body-you may or may not know well. You always have the most control over your body in any natural environment. Take advantage of this right.

 

Now, I need to figure out why I never listen to my wife.

Author Bio:   

Tired of jumping trainer to trainer without seeing results! Sign up with author and personal trainer Michael Moody from Revival Fitness and finally lose weight in 2010. Michael has trained 70% of his clients for over 3 years and specializes in weight loss and motivation. Do not waste any more time! Michael turns his sessions into a science. From life coaching to injury rehabilitation, he helps you achieve your goals faster than ever. Every weight loss package includes the Revival Fit Guide and the 2010 Slimplicity Nutritional Guide and personal training sessions in Michael's 6800 square foot personal training studio (only trainers and their clients....no outside members). There's plenty of free parking too! Visit www.revivalfitness.com to learn more about Michael and Revival Fitness. While you're there, read his articles on weight loss (start using his tips today) and success stories from his clients.