Do you look at yourself and say, "I'm fat"? We look in the mirror and
immediately compare ourselves to those 'perfect' human specimens we see
on TV, in magazines and newspapers. Often we make excuses like "It's my
genes", "I'm too busy to get fit", and as a way of protecting ourselves
from the way we see ourselves now and the way we want to be. The good
news is that you CAN achieve your desired body shape with the right
thinking about yourself, healthy eating habits and incorporating
physical activity into your lifestyle. Above all, you need a daily
mental workout to keep your self-image in shape, which is closely
connected to the success of any goal you want to achieve. Your goal is
to become fit and healthy. You can strengthen your self-image with these
effective daily mental exercises :-
Exercise 1:- Self Examination
Start making a list of all the negative thoughts you have about
yourself, for example, "I can't diet", "I can't succeed in losing
weight", "I don't exercise enough"…etc. Next, make a second list of
everything you LIKE about yourself. This list should be LONGER than the
first list, for example, "I have good control over temptations", "I have
a good willpower for losing weight", "I am able to learn from my
dieting mistakes"…etc. Then, take your 'negatives' list and turn it into
your 'potentials' list. Create a positive self-image for every
'negative' you listed. Instead of "I can't succeed in losing weight",
write a counter belief, "I will succeed in losing weight". Ceremonially
throw out the 'negatives' list forever in the dustbin! This is no longer
going to be a part of your thinking about yourself. Now, keep your
'potentials' list in a prominent place like on your refrigerator door or
your mirror and read it daily so that you are reprogramming your daily
thoughts.
Exercise 2:- You Can Be What You Want To Be
Now that you have your list of 'potentials'... run your own
visualization stories to 'see' yourself in a new light. For example, if
your list of potential includes "I eat just the right portions of food",
visualize yourself with a moderate portion on your plate, and feeling
completely satisfied at the end of your meal. Read your list of
'potentials' daily to reflect strongly on your visualizations-first
thing in the morning and the last thing at night with visualizing
yourself being the person on your list, and doing the things you want to
do.
Exercise 3:- Keep a Diary of Your Daily Success
Record all the positive changes in thoughts you have about yourself.
We all have successes and failures. You must record and remind yourself
of the positive changes because our human nature will replay the
negatives - sometimes blowing them out of proportion. It's important to
nurture and celebrate the small steps you make every day.
Exercise 4:- Go Easy On Yourself
You Are a Beautiful Work In Progress! - Don't listen to the
criticism...not you're own nor that of others! Remember you are the
creator and designer of your self esteem, do not hand this over to
others. You are way too important to give this away. We learn from our
mistakes. Do not negatively criticize yourself for being human and
making mistakes.
Exercise 5:- Forget About the Past
The only moment you can live is the current one. You can't live in
the future and shouldn't live in the past....the challenge is to take
charge of our thinking. We may be tempted to think about yesterday's
failures. If we concentrate on yesterday’s mistake, our brains replay
our failure and reinforce it. Yesterday is over, today is where you
live....make sure that today you do NOT replay yesterday's failures and
resolve to change TODAY.
Exercise 6:- Resolve To Change Today
Just as you shouldn't live in the past, you can't live in the future.
You can only change today. 'Tomorrow NEVER comes! There is no better
time than now! Do it now, do it today and resolve to make a difference
in your own life before you go to sleep tonight.
Exercise 7:- Write a Plan for Your Life
This is your success plan. It is time for you to create a direction
and purpose in your plan for yourself. Review your list of potentials
and record next to each potential when you want to achieve this by.
Exercise 8:- Carry Affirmation Cards for yourself
This is one of the fastest tools for success. You are what you think.
Strengthen your self-image every day by reviewing your thoughts. The
easiest way to do this is to carry affirmation cards in your wallet and
review them regularly. Affirmation cards are short bursts of words in
business card format that remind your self-image of your intentions. For
example,"I will achieve my ideal body weight and body shape". Try it;
you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Exercise 9:- Change Your Eating Habits
Now that you have set the groundwork in place, you are now ready to
change your physical habits, by adding healthy eating habits, daily
exercise and relaxation.
By using these nine exercises daily to change your thinking habits,
you will be strengthening your self esteem and unlocking your internal
power to make a change in your life. Before you can change lifelong
eating habits, you must first change your life long thinking habits
So, do yourself a favour, liberate your self-image and then see how much more effective your healthy living plan becomes!
