A Positive Mental Attitude is Key to a Stay Healthy Life

Aug. 11, 2010 - PRLog -- We all have a choice to make with our life and where we are right now is the result of the choices we have made. It takes a choice to live a healthy life or a choice to live an unhealthy one. It is our understanding of the POWER we possess to make personal choices that will make the dreams that we all have become reality. It is having a positive attitude about life and the goals that you are striving to achieve that will enable you to be successful in your fitness goals and living a Stay Healthy Life.

Regarding your fitness program, it is important not to give up and avoid the “guilt cycle” that comes from self sabotage. The story of “I ate a piece of cake and ruined my nutrition for the day so I might as well just go ahead and eat more” is an example that just does not lead to success in your fitness and nutrition program. In fact, it is this downward spiral of thinking of “I ate badly so what is the use”, self guilt, that will absolutely destroy your ability to reach your fitness goals.

It is important to have a POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE because it is the most important key to choosing actions that will lead you to what you want in life. Your mental outlook determines how you feel about yourself, how you view your life, and how you experience life. Our positive mental attitude makes it possible to persevere even when life seems overwhelming. Another component to a positive mental attitude is a sense of humor and laughter. It places you in a position of power to be able to find the humor or absurdity in a situation. This is part of the not sweating the small stuff mentality and letting go of those scenarios in life that we have no control over. Keeping a positive mental attitude, especially when faced with rejection or setbacks, will boost your self confidence. Whenever you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, it is important to stop, refocus, and replace those thoughts immediately with positive affirmations. Also, taking a break or mental vacation when things feel overwhelming to regroup can liberate your mind and emotions and help you return to your tasks with renewed concentration and energy. Although it may take some time to adapt the habit of having a positive attitude, the long range impact of your success in life will not be determined by what happens to you but what you THINK about what happens to you and what you CHOOSE to do about it. This follows the philosophy of my favorite quote by Charles Swindoll “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you….we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

Included in a Positive Mental Attitude are the three Ps, PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, and PERSEVERANCE. Adapting a Stay Healthy Life does not happen overnight and it is important not to get discouraged. It may seem like you are working and the goal is too far off, but today is always a NEW day and the day to accomplish and feel good about what you have done for yourself this day. Believe me when I say that you are never wasting your time! You are accomplishing your goal with each NEW day, always learning, progressing, becoming more confident, and with each step building momentum toward your health filled future that will be for a lifetime. After a while you will begin to notice that the work is a little easier, that you are accomplishing more with less effort, that situations do not frustrate you like they used to, and all this comes from having the courage to keep plugging away and refusing to give up.

Having a plan and working the plan will help you define your goals, stay focused and keep a positive mental attitude. Most of us are visual and seeing our goals and what it will take to get there is stress free, positive, and productive to getting where we want in life. You will get there….BELIEVE THAT….but just remember that having a great attitude that includes the three Ps is the key that will unlock that door. Start by setting small and simple goals for yourself like packing your meals for that day, and feel the success of that accomplishment. It is truly the small and simple things in life that matter in the BIG scheme. Try one thing at a time by changing up your nutrition first before adding a full fitness program. Eat healthy foods and go for walks, and make sure to applaud that accomplishment. Get motivated by journaling your successes, and even write down the new foods that you are trying and how good it makes you feel. Strive to be better than yesterday and know that the BEST is yet to come, but that we are all ALWAYS fabulous works in progress. YOU are all you need to succeed with your fitness goals. Yes, you WILL get there but remember that it is not the destination that provides the happiness, success, and fun in life….it is the journey.


Stay Healthy!!!


Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT

www.stayhealthyfitness.com

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Stay Healthy Fitness provides Personal Training Services, Consulting, Coaching, Workshops, and Events. A Private Studio owned and operated by Darla Benfield, Published International Fitness Expert with over 20 years experience in the field.