What do I mean by “Fitness is a way of life?”
As I have recently become more interested in personal finance and investing, I have come to understand that point of awareness / mindfulness is applicable to all parts of my life, not just with eating. That split second where I used to pick up a DVD because I craved watching the movie, where now I objectively evaluate whether or not I need to own another thing – that is the power of choice, the point of awareness. That split second where before I would have yelled and fumed at a driver who cut me off, where now I choose to laugh it off or ignore it – that is the power of choice, the point of awareness.
I learned many things from may parents, including one of the most poignant self-reflection questions I know: What do you bring to the table? This question prevents me from being a victim to my own bad habits – I was depressed because I looked bad and felt unhealthy, so I would eat to cure the depression, which made me gain more weight. I was a victim to my own eating habits. By using that question as a starting point, I began to objectively evaluate the habits I chose to follow, the food I chose to eat, the times I chose to eat at, all the little choices I made that added up to a large weight-gain. By recognizing I made choices, and taking a hard look at what those choices were, I empowered myself to begin changing those unhealthy choices to healthy ones – I moved to Silk instead of creamer and milk, we began eating in much more often than eating out, I entered a weight-loss program that used stimulus-narrowing to help re-wire my body and mind, I learned what proper portion sizes ought to be, I learned how to tell the difference between satisfied and full.
Now, I see the tools I learned to re-wire my eating habits are applicable to all aspects of life, be it the workplace, family and friend relationships, spending decisions – I am beginning to develop a new framework of evaluating my role in any situation I am in, any habit I have or any decision I make. It starts like this:
1. What do I bring to the table? In any situation, with any habit, I make choices – my coworker that pulls a prank on me doesn’t make me angry, I choose to feel angry in response. Your language affects your body and mind - turn “have to”, “made me”, “can’t help but” and similar language into choices – “I can’t stop smoking” becomes “I choose to continue smoking.” This isn’t a magic wand that suddenly makes it easier to quit, but taking ownership and responsibility of your choices is the first step to empowerment.
2. Ten second rule. Learn to take a few seconds to evaluate decisions and choices – do I really need to spend money on that camera? Do I really need to eat that Twinkie? How do those choices impact other choices and goals – can I afford to continue my savings and debt-reduction goals if I spend money on that DVD? Is it worth the $15 for a movie versus being $15 closer to paying off the credit card?
By practicing and nurturing mindfulness, I turn habits and reactions into choices – I am slowly reclaiming my life from needs, cravings and desires one decision at a time. I may decide to eat that slice of pie, to buy that movie, or to discipline my dog for bad behavior, but this time I have chosen to do so. I have exercised power.
