When it comes to your health and fitness, what is your approach to creating a goal? Many people have it backwards. They start with the tactics. For instance, their goal is to “run 3 times per week, lift weights 2 times per week, and go to yoga once a week”. This “goal” is usually fueled by something greater. That greater ‘something’ may have been that they saw a picture of a ridiculously toned and fit magazine cover model and their inner perfectionist wants to be just like that. So, fueled by their inner motivator, they set up this goal, which really is a plan of action. This motivator voice may also say “I’m going to eat healthier and abstain from sugar.” It’s very easy to sit down and create a “plan” because it gives us a sense of control. This is all good and well—as long as we stick to the plan. Often there’s a third voice, the inner critic voice, which may come up with reasons why you probably won’t reach that goal, and when you DON’T end up running 3 times every week, it calls you lazy and beats you up, usually leaving you less than motivated and certainly not feeling good about yourself. So you give up, eat some cake and call it good….until next week when you see another glossy air-brushed picture of ‘perfection’ (or whatever your impetus might be) and again comes another plan of action, followed by a relapse. And the cycle continues.
There is another way.
What I have learned with working with people as well as on my own self-development journey is that in order for significant change to take place in our lives, and more importantly, for it to feel rewarding and pleasant along the way, we MUST take a good look at the compelling, honest and realistic reason for WHY we want that change. What if before you sit down to create the tactical plan, you took a good hard look at WHY you want to reach that goal, and make sure you separate the “goal” from the “tactics towards reaching the goal”. For instance, instead of the goal being to “run 3 times per week”, you examine the desire is to “increase cardiovascular fitness”. Then you ask yourself “why do I want this?” Stop. Picture yourself increasing your cardiovascular fitness level. How would you feel? What would your energy levels be like? How would your life change? How would you look? How would you BE?
Whatever image or feeling comes up for you: THIS IS THE ACTUAL GOAL.
When we then focus on this feeling, this state of being, this level of fit– THEN the tactics (i.e. to run, or dance, or what the heck, maybe to hopscotch) will fall into place intuitively, which also means that they happen more easily, requiring less willpower.
I am going to pose a question. After you read it, close your eyes and let your imagination take over. Sit with this question for a few minutes. If the inner critic voice shows up, ask it to kindly leave, and come back to the question. Then write down what comes up. Here it is:
What is your ideal vision for your health and fitness?
After you’ve spent a few minutes with this, take this vision and really feel what it’s going to be like when you reach it. Then, when you are in this feeling-state, ask yourself what one small step is that you can take right now towards that vision. Whatever is the very first thing that comes up, THIS is your first tactic.
Now ask if there’s another small step.
Maybe now you have a second tactic. Start with these small steps. Every day commit to rehearsing your ideal vision. Perhaps write in on a note card and put in on your mirror as a daily reminder. Then let this vision be the goal that fuels your tactics.
If you try this and find that it works for you, I would LOVE to hear your stories. Also, if you find this to be confusing and you want some guidance, I would also LOVE to talk to you. You can reach me here!
