EXERCISE GRATITUDE

One of Life’s Great Lessons by motivational speaker Jim Rohn is "Learn to be thankful for what you already have, while you pursue all that you want."  With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’d like to apply being thankful to fitness and health. 

As a personal trainer, I hear current clients and potential clients groan, whine, mope and complain about all they despise about their body on a daily basis.  When I consult with a new client, I am given a laundry list of their worst body parts, what is sagging, droopy, flabby, jiggly, dimply and disgusting.  A majority of the time, the folks I meet with are depressed and disappointed with themselves.  (Usually, people contact me when they can no longer tolerate their current condition or state of mind for another minute.)

These same individuals are taking positive action towards improving their body and health - which is fantastic.  However, after weeks of hard physical training, profound lifestyle changes resulting in better health, fewer aches and pains, looser clothing and inches lost, most of my clients are still extremely critical of themselves and their perceived imperfections. 

I must admit, I am not much different from my clients, and tend to be extremely critical of myself, dwelling on my flaws.  Physically, I wish I could be leaner, stronger, and more muscular.  I have parts that jiggle more than I would like.  But if I was five pounds leaner and a size smaller, I would still be hung up on the same things - or find alternate imperfections to obsess over.  Heck, when I have been 5 pounds leaner, I still wanted to be 5 pounds leaner.  It’s a vicious cycle!

This month, I would like to propose that we all stop and focus on our fabulous features.  Let’s be thankful for what is right with each of us; for the positive steps we are taking to better our health and fitness; for the things we have accomplished thus far.  Let’s express gratitude for the health and fitness we DO have.  One day, in a blink of an eye, it can all change for you - or me - and we may look back and wonder why we made such a big deal out of petty things; why we didn’t appreciate what we had.  Of course you know the cliché:  you never appreciate what you have until it’s gone. 

Think of all those struggling with illness or injury who would kill to trade places with you, imperfections and all.  Focus on what you appreciate about yourself.  Consider how lucky you are now.  Today.  As you are.  One freak accident can steal everything from you.  And all the things you complain about, you would beg to have back.

Maybe your situation is not perfect but I guarantee you have many things to be grateful for.  I am not saying accept everything as it is, however.  If you are unhealthy or unfit, you must strive to improve.  If there are parts of you you’re not satisfied with, get off your butt and do something about it.  Complacency is unacceptable. 

Keep in mind, thoughts are things. The more you focus on and think about something, the more likely you're going to get that. If you have watched 'The Secret' or “What The Bleep Do We Know’ before, you will remember that the Law of Attraction states that people experience physical and mental manifestations that correspond to their predominant thoughts, feelings, words, and actions and that people, therefore, have direct control over reality and their lives through thought alone. When we focus our mind on positive things, we polarize our mind with empowering thoughts and we end up attracting even more positive thoughts or events into our lives. 

How can you expect to become fit and trim if you constantly complain about being 10 pounds overweight?  How can you become healthy and energetic if you frequently whine about how much you hate your own body? 

According to proponents of quantum physics, thoughts have an energy that attracts like energy.  In order to control this energy, proponents state that people must practice four things:

1.  Know what one desires and ask the universe for it. (The "universe" is mentioned broadly, stating that it can be anything from God to an unknown source of energy.)

2.  Focus one's thought upon the thing desired with great feeling such as enthusiasm or gratitude.

3.  Feel and behave as if the object of one's desire is already acquired.

4.  Be open to receiving it.

There are always things to improve, but in the meantime, let’s learn to be thankful for what we already have, while we pursue all that we want to change.  Practicing gratitude, by focusing on the traits and things you are blessed with, naturally creates a positive frame of mind.  This positive mental outlook will attract to you more blessings. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kristi Larsen, has a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, and a former figure competitor.  Kristi owns ChandlerPersonalTraining.com, a private training studio and EastValleyBootCamp.com, outdoor group fitness training classes.  She can be reached at 602.692.3242.