HEALTHY LIVING DAY BY DAY

Motivational Statements and Affirmations

By Michael George

We live in a society of instant gratification: instant coffee, instant breakfast, instant money from our ATM, instant long distance communication with e-mail & DSL.....it's everywhere we look! No wonder so many of us approach our health and fitness goals looking for the instant answer or quick fix. Lifestyle transformation is a process. It takes time to realize fitness goals both physically and mentally, especially if we have been sedentary for a period of time. Change takes time, healing old behavior patterns takes time; there are no immediate, quick fixes when it comes to changing one's current fitness condition. It is not a simple process, but the journey to better ourselves is often what makes us happier, stronger more confident people. When we stop expecting instant results, we may realize that where we are today is exactly where our Higher Power would have us be.

Am I moving in a positive direction in the way I take care of myself? If not, perhaps I need to make some changes. I can do nothing to change the past except stop repeating it in the present. Life is built upon layers of little everyday accomplishments. By thinking this way, setting goals and taking small risks becomes nothing more than a daily step to make my life a little healthier. Taking some tiny action each day can be much more effective than weeks and months of inactivity followed by a frenzied attempt to make radical changes overnight. This only promotes burn-out and is a self defeating behavior. Taking small daily actions towards a healthier lifestyle encourages serenity and empowerment. When facing a new challenge try to take it from the beginning wherever it may be and start from there. Everyone has to start from the beginning. Even Michael Jordan wasn't dunking basketballs at age 8, but over several years of practice and growth he became the premier player in the NBA. It only takes a slight shift in direction to begin to change a lifestyle.

Consistency is a Power Tool we all need in life. Just for today I will take at least 20 minutes out of my daily schedule to participate in some form of physical activity. How simple it sounds until we actually try to do it. Consistency is one of the most crucial factors in achieving long-term health and fitness goals, yet it is one of the most difficult Power Tools to develop and maintain. There is only one way to be consistent and that is to be actively consistent. I don't have time. I don't feel well. I don't feel like exercising today. I need to spend time with my family or friends. These are all examples of rationalizations or excuses that set us up for failure. When is the right time to start taking care of myself? There will never be a perfect time.....ever! Now, no matter what is going on in your life, is the right time. I need to find at least 20 minutes a day to exercise. If I take the time to take care of myself my higher power will see to it that everything and everyone else is taken care of as well. I care enough about myself to take at least 20 minutes daily to exercise. Even if I only exercise for 15 minutes at least I am consistent. Progress, not perfection.

Lately, I have been very demoralized by leaping into the future and imagining my health spiraling downward. Why, should I even try to exercise I could never get into the shape I want to be in. This is a standard self-defeating thought that provides comfort from change. Recklessly jumping into the future to envision what could happen through our human mind, but negating the fact that these thoughts have not yet materialized is indolent thinking. The past is the past. We can't change it only learn from it. The future has not occurred and we as humans we cannot foresee the future. The present is a gift. Today I will treat it as such. Just for today I will remain in the present and take care of my health by exercising for at least 20 minutes. By doing so I will empower myself to feel better, stronger and will be more apt to stay in the present. Dealing with my health issues in the present is the most empowering motivational self- supportive action I can take. Today, I will give myself a gift my health.

We all strive to be happy, positive and joyful, but many times by practicing old habits and patterns we sabotage these states of being. We all know that daily exercise and living a healthy lifestyle facilitate happiness and a positive attitude towards life. Why then do we choose to follow our negative patterns by not following through with our health and fitness goals? The answer can be highly involved, low self-esteem, fear, addictions, emotional issues, but the solution is simple....exercise daily. Get out of the Why and into the How and What. How can I feel better about myself, and my life today? What can I do to be happier and have a more positive outlook on life? Actively participating in daily exercise will never let me down. If I make a conscious effort to exercise today my life will inevitably look and feel much better. My behavior towards friends and family will be a positive reflection of my joyfulness versus a negative reflection of my unhappiness. I choose to be happy, loving and healthy today and will actively participate in some form of exercise activity daily to guarantee these positive effects.

How often we look outside ourselves for approval! We worry about what others think about us. We worry about what people think of our bodies. Are my hips too wide? Are my thighs too thick? Isn't it time to stop looking outside ourselves for validation especially since it is inconsistent and out of our control. Wouldn't it be great if every day we felt good about ourselves as a complete person because the validation would come from within. The only thing in life we have control over is our attitude towards the cards life chooses to throw our way. Why not focus on our inner sense of self- worth and self-acceptance on a daily basis. Isn't it time to stop comparing our body image with other women's bodies? We have the power to choose how we want to feel about ourselves on a daily basis. Part of that power lies in exercising and eating a healthy diet consistently and not beating ourselves up for not being perfect. If we empower ourselves with a healthy lifestyle internal serenity is much more certain. This is where peace and harmony lie. Just for today I will live a healthy lifestyle by eating small meals through out the day and participating in some form of physical activity.

Far too often we look outside ourselves for approval. We spend much time, money and energy hoping that our efforts to look better on the outside will be acknowledged by others. This is a terrible tragedy since rarely are our efforts noticed and when they are not to our satisfaction. How many times has a new hair style, out fit or the 3 pounds you've been struggling to lose gone unnoticed by the same someone you are attempting to please, unless of course initiated by you first. Then the favorable comment really does not mean very much. How often are the favors you do for your children, friends or partner overlooked. How about the special meal you cooked that was completely ignored. We all need an occasional pat on the back, but when our reasons for certain behaviors are motivated by applause of others we have given them power over us. Isn't it time we take care of ourselves, live a healthy lifestyle and participate in good behavior towards others just because we want too. Because in doing so we feel better about ourselves since we intrinsically know that we are doing the best that we can. Just for today, I will appreciate myself without expectations of approval from others. In this way I empower myself to feel good about who I am and what I stand for.

Worry and fear take up so much of our mental energy and time that if we added up all the minutes associated with this needless stress we would literally add years to our life. We become so accustomed to living with worry and fear that it becomes an integral component of our lives. Succumbing to worry opens up a whole bag of worms: allowing the committee in our head control over our decisions, relentless self-critiscm, lost opportunities and horrifying pictures pop in our head. We worry that we are too fat or too thin, too muscular or too soft, not sexy enough, not confident enough just too mention a few. Comparing ourselves to others or the media's expectations of what we should look/act like is self-defeating behavior that will never produce positive results. Accepting yourself today for the person you really are on the inside and on the outside is the only true path to happiness. All the money in the world cannot buy this happiness. It is only through self-acceptance and the belief that we are a work in progress that we learn the meaning of true love both giving and receiving. To break this cycle of worry focus only on the moment. Place all your attention on each and every moment of each and every day. Because the absolute truth is that all we have in life are a series of moments that end with the last moment. As you shut out the noise you will get closer to truth, happiness and harmony. Live a healthy lifestyle to feel good about yourself and to help shut out worry and stress.

Are you working out for body image or to feel better about yourself and your health? This is a very big distinction. The former is a set-up for failure because you will always be in proces.