Are You Aware of What’s Preventing Your Optimal Fitness?
“The chief characteristic of the volitional act is the existence of a purpose to be achieved; the clear vision of an aim.”
– Robert Assagioli, The Act of Will
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I recently suggested that one core factor keeping you from optimal health and fitness is that you’re ‘alive, but not living.’
What typically underlies that and proves to be an initial stumbling block for most (and, perhaps, is creating a stumbling block for you)?
Lack of Awareness.
Not lack of drive.
Not lack of success.
Not lack of passion.
Definitely not lack of intelligence.
Lack of Awareness.
Quite simply, you don’t know what you really want.
And when you don’t know what you want, you don’t have direction.
And when you don’t have direction, it’s not very easy to live.
(How could it be? You don’t really know where you’re going!)
I realize that this may come across as a far-fetched idea to you, being that you’ve probably created one heck of a life for yourself over the years. But the truth is, this ‘lack of awareness’ happens all the time, especially when the speed of the world around you and the 10,000 things you’re juggling get you (almost) continuously trapped in your head.
With that being the case, it’s no wonder you begin the journey of ‘getting healthy and fit’ on auto-pilot — doing it ‘because it’s something you’re supposed to do’ or because ‘everybody else is doing it’ . . . without really giving it deeper thought and becoming truly aware of the reasons behind your decision.
And this kills your progress — if not immediately, then soon down the road. Because without awareness – without PURPOSE behind your actions – you’ll have little to carry you forward when the initial excitement of your ‘fitness journey’ wears off. . .
The good news is that this is simple to fix. You, just need to ask yourself two questions:
1. What do I want? (Better said, What do you Choose to Have?)
Answer this as clearly as possible. Do you want to lose 25 lbs of fat in 12 weeks? Do you want to be able to ’see your six pack’ in the mirror every morning? Is there a beach vacation you’re preparing for in 6 weeks.? A class reunion in 6 months? Do you want to prepare for your fast-approaching softball season? Whatever it is you want, specify it, and hang it in front of you to give you a target to strive for.
2. Why do I want it?
This essential question – WHY? – is the one responsible for illuminating your purpose, which, in turn . . .
. . . gives you a frame of reference which you can use to measure the quality of your decisions and actions. (read: “Is what I’m doing right now helping me to fulfill my purpose, or is it taking me away from it?)
. . . gives you the intrinsic motivation to keep moving forward, no matter what challenges you’re asked to overcome between now and the completion of your mission.
Why? Gets you out of bed and into exercise when you’re tired, sore, aching, brain-fried, (insert symptom here) . . .
Why? Helps you make healthy food choices — despite the junk food sitting on the table in front of you . . .
Why? Pulls you out of your slump when you’re emotionally drained and can’t remember the goals you’ve written down for yourself (or find where you placed them).
Asking ‘WHY?’ is as important (and possibly more powerful) as asking ‘WHAT?’ — the key, of course, is that you stop long enough to ask . . . and then listen.
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In the end, getting the most out of your health and fitness (and your life), will always come down to your commitment cultivating awareness. This may be hard to hear. This may be hard to face . . . but it doesn’t make it any less of a reality.
Awareness = Ability to Know what you want = Direction = Ability to truly live.
Deepen your level of awareness and you’ll not only get closer to optimal health and fitness . . . you’ll live the life of your dreams.
