{"id":20436,"date":"2022-11-30T14:38:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T22:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicalfitnessnetwork.org\/public\/?p=20436"},"modified":"2022-11-18T08:54:38","modified_gmt":"2022-11-18T16:54:38","slug":"fear-can-sabotage-fitness-goals-programming-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/all-mfn\/fear-can-sabotage-fitness-goals-programming-success\/","title":{"rendered":"How Fear Can Sabotage Your Fitness Goals: Programming for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Fear can do many things to us and they are almost never positive in their outcome. Being dominated by our fears is no way to live \u2013 especially when it comes to our efforts to become healthy and fit. I have sabotaged many goals and choices over the years because of my fears. Most of the time I have never been clear on just what \u201cit\u201d was I was afraid of but somehow fear took hold of me and I did not step boldly into a successful outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n
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I believe we are inherently capable of being great and doing great things but we can \u2013 and do \u2013 sabotage our greater \u201cyet to be\u201d by letting our fears control our behavior \u2013 and our choices. This is no way to live! In this article I would like to highlight of the 4 keys to overcoming our fears and become bold and tied to our successes \u2013 not our failures!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 4 Keys To Successfully Overcoming Our Fears<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
VISUALIZATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I find that when we have a clear picture in mind when setting our goals we can more easily identify with a successful outcome because we can \u201cout-picture\u201d not only a positive process \u2013 but a successful conclusion as well. Fear is often described as \u201cfalse evidence appearing real\u201d and it is this \u201creality\u201d that our minds and hearts can be \u201ctricked\u201d into giving up before we can experience a result that we desire. I have felt the power of visualization when it came to many aspects of my life \u2013 especially when it concerned my running \u2013 and weightlifting \u2013 program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prior to beginning my training sessions I spend time in my mind \u201cpicturing\u201d myself doing what it is I want to accomplish during that session. If I want to run a specific time I put myself in this \u201cmental place\u201d by running at a particular pace at a specific speed. I attach my feelings of joy to this picture and visualize me smiling and happy enjoying the process of running free and without fear. It is in my mind that I create success and I do this before I take any action in the \u201creal world\u201d. How long you choose to visualize your own session is up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a discipline well worth creating and employing every time you start to address your health and fitness needs. The feeling in conjunction with the \u201cpicture\u201d is crucial for a successful outcome. Remember to give yourself a break and start slowly. I tend to spend 10-15 minutes in support of my visual \u201ccues\u201d so that the session goes as smoothly as I envisioned it. Walt Disney is one of my idols when it comes to visualization (and imagination of course) because he did not see orange groves in Anaheim \u2013 he saw Disneyland! Look how that turned out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IMAGINATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is said that the true measure of intelligence is not intellect but imagination. Steve Jobs imagined a world connected by phone and in his mind he set in motion the development of the \u201csmart phone\u201d and he changed the world as we know it. He passed away from cancer but before he died he had the opportunity to see his vision come to life. Walt Disney died in 1966 before many of his most creative ideas were born but he did live long enough to know that his vision of a family oriented adventure and experience would eventually be fully realized. The company that bears his name is still creating in the manner he began some 80 years ago!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I believe in the power of the imagination to aid us in all manner of accomplishment in life. I imagine myself speaking and teaching all over the world as an advocate of the principles of healthy aging and living a life of purpose \u2013 on purpose \u2013 every day. I know at 70 my time is not unlimited but I do have faith in the principle \u201cthat the mind of man is unlimited in its potential \u2013 and DOES respond to specific demands made upon it\u201d. This principle works every time we use IF we also BELIEVE not only in ourselves \u2013 but our potential to accomplish great things as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is it that you want to accomplish and can this be the key to your success in developing and maintaining an active and complete fitness program? I believe the main reason we need to engage in an active and ongoing fitness program is because we are each here to accomplish something unique that only we can accomplish. I see me speaking and excited about my message because I am filled with the energy of excellent health and also because I am strong mentally and physically as a result of my successful training program. You too can do this! Just believe and do it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AFFIRMATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
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What we say \u2013 and think \u2013 we become. Never allow yourself to use \u201cdefeatist\u201d language that signifies you are NOT capable of achieving whatever it is you have set out to do. Words have power \u2013 choose yours wisely. NEVER say what you DON\u2019T want in your life \u2013 always affirm what you DO want in your life! If you want to increase your strength affirm: \u201cI am strong and powerful \u2013 and grateful for every muscle in my body\u201d. Here is another affirmation:\u201dI am dynamic, energized, open and receptive right here and now and act in support of this instruction\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always place your affirmation in the present tense and never allow for anything but a positive outcome. Give yourself credit for being who you ARE and always look forward to becoming your BEST version of yourself. I say everyday: \u201cI powerful, successful and excited to be who I am today and I KNOW I am becoming more of what I want to be with each thought I think and every action I take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Affirmations give us the opportunity to \u201cre-program\u201d our subconscious minds by replacing outworn beliefs about ourselves with new and powerful thoughts and ideas that help us create the new person we want to become \u2013 mentally, physically, and spiritually. NEVER allow your words to create what you DON\u201dT want in your life \u2013 always use them to help you become who you want to BE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ACTIONS \u2013 BEHAVIOR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActions speak louder than words\u201d. If you want someone to know you value them \u2013 even love them \u2013 it through your actions and NOT your words that the truth will eventually come out. When it comes to fitness and developing your program \u2013 actions are everything! You can\u2019t burn calories or create muscle without taking action \u2013 you MUST move first! Everyday I KNOW I will be training because my mind and body EXPECT to do this for my health and well being. I am always aware of the idea that tomorrow is NEVER guaranteed and that TODAY is all I have so I never want to waste even one day of training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being FIT is a habit with me that I cultivated over decades of my life. I act in support of my fitness goals every day because I never wanted to grow old \u2013 just older. It is not the number of years we are alive that matters \u2013 it is the life in our years that counts the most. I work on speed, power, strength, balance, endurance, flexibility and strength because I want my body to be able to hold up for whatever years I have left in my life. I also want to be able to accomplish my mission by contributing my message and voice to life before it ends. I need a fit body to serve as an example of what is possible through hard work and dedication to my purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Take time to reflect on your journey to date and ask yourself one simple question: \u201cHave I come close to reaching my potential or am I letting fear sabotage my ability to create a life of meaning and purpose?\u201d Take time to answer this question and address the needs you need to fulfill physically, mentally and spiritually in order to set in motion your journey to success \u2013 and fulfillment. Life is always lived from the \u201cinner to the outer\u201d \u2013 not the other way around. We can never access our \u201cgreater good\u201d by FOLLOWING others. We CAN serve as examples of what is possible but each of us must find our own path to pursue and this path is not mine \u2013 it is YOURS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Love your uniqueness and praise your gifts and never allow yourself to stay in negative thinking. \u201cGet over yourself\u201d and remember we are here to accomplish something great for others. We are here to SERVE and we cannot do our part if we are weak and scared. I can say I am 70 but I am 30 in my mind \u2013 and in body and spirit as well \u2013 because I have trained without failure. I started running in 1964 at Syracuse University as a freshman and am in my 53rd year \u2013 and counting, Over that time I have accumulated over 60,000 miles and am going to run as long as I can maintain my current level of fitness. When it comes to being fit I will ALWAYS want to serve as an example of what is possible because it is all that matters to me! It should also matter to you too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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