The Power of The Mind
It is not coincidental that the first of the 5 Pillars of Health is the Mind (Mind, Nutrition, Cardio, Weights, Spirit). When the mind is right, the body follows. When the mind is off – because of poor nutrition, alcohol, unchecked stress, or myriad other variables that make our mind less than optimal – it is difficult to have total health including the physical realm. As I told my son when he was young, the mind is the most important muscle in the body.
I was recently asked how to push through moments of being ‘down’, either before or during a workout. In other words, generally speaking you know that being active regularly is good, you have a solid routine in place, but from time to time you lack motivation to get your workout in – or put in a strong effort. While at times it is truly our physical state – injury, sickness, etc. that prevents us from going our hardest, more times than not a simple shift in attitude can light the necessary fire to quickly shift gears. Here are some tips on how to put yourself in a positive mood to move your body forward:
Set meaningful, powerful goals. An important Why (the reason behind your goal to lose weight, etc.) will always beat out some temporary, in the moment, excuse.
Listen to music. Songs have a way of transforming our state of mind. By listening to motivational music – or mixing up what you currently listen to – you can put your mind into a positive, energized state.
Visualize a successful workout earlier that day (or the night before if you work out first thing in the morning). You can train your mind just like you train your body. Taking a few minutes to picture yourself powering through a workout can set the tone for the day.
Chew gum. I know this sounds silly – try it!
Workout with a friend or personal trainer. While most motivation does and should come from ‘within’, external accountability in the form of a workout buddy or PT can make the difference between having a so-so workout or a killer sessions.
Try a new gym or time of day. Environment can affect our moods, so try mixing it up in terms of when or where you work out.
Set meaningful, powerful goals. Yes, I am intentionally repeating this one. Establishing clear, written goals – and reviewing them regularly (including visualizing your future self having accomplished them) is the single most fundamentally powerful way to put your mind in a continuous – or refreshed if need be – state of mind for optimal performance.
Experiment with these simple tricks and see which one or combination serve as a catalyst for you to turn an otherwise poor – or even non – workout into one that moves your progress forward.
Stay Disciplined My Friends!
Song of The Week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqmiT7JJVg
