I am a healthy person, I am a healthy person...

Dear Community,

Almost all worthwhile pursuits in life - mastering a musical instrument, nurturing a thriving relationship, honing culinary skills - take considerable time and effort. Progress is seldom a straight line. Often times great rewards are just beyond the next steep hill to climb and staying motivated proves to be a challenge.

This principle holds true for our favourite topic: personal fitness and health. Regardless of our efforts, calendars filled with other priorities are inevitable, setbacks like injuries a possibility. Simply put: Life gets in the way. This is where simply failing becomes an attractive proposition. Taking the easy way out because factors beyond our control have impeded our progress. Thinking our goal was too ambitious to begin with and promising to try again in the future...

Having lived through this endless cycle at times ourselves, we recognise this struggle. It's time to adopt a different perspective; let's try a different approach.

Instead of setting a specific goal like ”I want to get fit”, what if we reframe the problem to: ”What would a healthy person do?”. The phrasing of this idea can take various forms, such as “What would X do?” where X represents someone we admire for the traits we aspire to.

We suggest taking this to an even higher level. By stepping into the shoes of the person we wish to become, we adopt the mantra, "I am a healthy person, so…". By embracing the behaviors we wish to incorporate into our routine, our aspirations become more tangible.

Let's look at some examples of how this mindset shift can be put into practice:

Consistent Exercise

→ Goal: I need to hit the gym 3 days a week this month to achieve my fitness target.

→ Being fit is part of who I am, so I ensure I dedicate time every day to some form of physical movement simply because it makes me feel good.

Workout Consistency

→ Goal: If I miss today's training session, I can still achieve X by catching up tomorrow or pushing harder in the next one. → Healthy Perspective: As someone committed to health, I don't skip my workouts. Even if time is tight, I'll ensure to put in at least 10 minutes of effort.

Nutritious Eating

→ Goal: I've achieved X this week, so I've earned this bag of chips I'm about to enjoy in front of the TV. → Healthy Perspective: Being a health-conscious individual, I won't diminish my workout efforts with food that's less nutritious and satisfying than what I imagine.

Healthy Habits

→ Goal: Two weekends ago, I took a long walk, so I don't need to concern myself with outdoor activity today. → Healthy Perspective: As a healthy person, I aim for consistent walking routines and try to spend time outside appreciating nature's beauty.

Sound Sleep

→ Goal: If I just finish this episode, I'll still get at least 5 hours of sleep tonight.

→ I am a health-conscious individual, hence, I ensure I prioritize quality sleep every night to maintain optimal health and productivity.

Words are extremely powerful. Changing the wording, the message we tell ourselves can lead to enormous positive changes. Making health an intrinsic attribute of yourself, helps to minimize the need for decision-making, turning our fitness and health habits into non-negotiables. Skipping a workout is no longer an option because it's not just a task to be ticked off a to-do list - it’s simply the way you live your life.

While goals have their importance, embodying the persona of the healthier you is a potent strategy. This transformation helps you keep moving forward, even when the path ahead appears steep.

Let's not just aspire to our goals; let's embody them. By embracing our role as "healthy individuals", we don't just change our habits; we transform our identity, and in the process, invite long-lasting changes into our lives.

Here's to your health, not as a goal, but a lifestyle. Onward and upward!

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As always, thanks for reading,