We are cerebral beings who need purpose, direction and aim. Without the Why, we drown in the complexity of the What. What to eat, what to do, what to believe and on and on. The mind is the most important element in the triad. If you set sail without it, you may drift in any direction and eventually be overwhelmed by the noise with no real signal.
Answer a few questions: Why are you unhealthy? No, not just the obvious superficial stuff. The pandoras box of personal crisis stuff. Where did it all begin? Who facilitated it? What were the stressors? Getting to the root cause can be emotionaly complicated. For many people there needs to be a psychological connection that changes the mindset for lasting results. Taking personal responsibility when charting a new course and creating different behavioral patterns are difficult steps, especially while trying to pave over unresolved issues. Think through it. Go deep. The process may take time, but when change occurs it can be instantaneous.
One thing we can control from the very first moment of this process is our mind set. Keeping perspective on what we can control is truly a lost art. This Stoic concept should be developed into a mantra of sorts as one reminds oneself of our personal discipline and self reliance as it relates to healthy choices. Each day we are inundated by ads and ideas that distract with noise (lots of needless information) that mislead us. We are impressionable creatures that have been influenced at every turn in the modern world. Comparing ourselves to other people makes acceptance difficult, because we desire what they have, or we want how things could have be been, not what we have.
Through the years of working with people in the health & fitness world, I have gravitated more towards the psychological component. Working to get the mind in a clear place where the aim is more precise. We are all unique and are motivated by different factors, however there are fundamental roots that we all grow from. To love, respect, and believe in oneself as simple as it sounds is often the heaviest lift one can make.
I lean towards a more comprehensive approach to becoming a healthier human, viewing the way I think, eat, live as art. Subjective as a whole with fact based objectiveness added to the parts to creates a balance. Each day I try to reflect on how I feel and listen to my body knowing it’s not always going to feel great. Avoiding the oversteer mentally on days I’m not as strong, fast, flexible, agile, durable or disciplined as I wanted to be. With the randomness and unpredictability of life, our mindset must develop a robustness so that we are not easily discouraged. It is important to apply discipline to the areas in life that truly demand our attention. Essentially it boils down to what matters the most in life and what you’re truly willing to give your time to. Caring for yourself and setting the example for family and friends can have a far deeper impact than one might expect. Find the path and the mental framework that facilitates the best version of you.
The following are points of focus that have helped me:
Focusing on what I can control. –
Not being Fragile to stressors.
Simplifying the process.
Have a simple plan for precise aim.
Not reading/learning a lot at one time but really digesting smaller pieces of information and putting them into action.
We are beautiful dynamic pieces of art that need a sharp disciplined blade to cut away the excess and reveal a pure simplistic approach that transforms us into a solution. Be the answer.
Some circuit routes at the end of a fun climb day
