Changing our perspective...

 

In my experience in this industry, it is common practice for people to see their positive lifestyle changes as sacrifices and hardships.... "I have to go to the gym.", "I can't have desserts.", "I have given up alcohol." It seems like it is an either/or situation for so many people.  I NEED to be healthy (go to the gym regularly, eat quality food, limit your alcohol consumption, pay attention to getting your sleep) or I want to be happy (skip the gym, eat shitty food, get drunk or buzzed on a regular basis, not respect sleep needed for our bodies to function at it's best).  There seems to be a disconnect between making better choices and actually feeling better.  It is also my experience that when we view these changes from this perspective, they are harder to sustain, feel like more work, and often don't last.   

How are you viewing your positive behavior changes?  Are they sacrifices for you?  Are you open to viewing them differently?  If we can change our perspective then we can likely change our habits and move toward a more permanent lifestyle of wellness.  Does being healthy seem boring to you?  I wonder if it will seem boring when you are in your latter years and your peers are broken and low functioning and you are living your best life, salsa dancing, climbing mountains, running around with your grand children.  I wonder if we just changed our perspective and gave ourselves a real shot at better choices living (80/20 rule) if we would realize that "shit, feeling good isn't boring at all."  

This is something to think about.  The only way to change our perspective on these things is through changing our own thought pattern.  WE are the only one who can change it. No one can do this for you, in fact many people in our lives, who care deeply for us, will try to steer us in the opposite direction.  They don't mean harm by it, but internally check yourself by asking if THEY are living the life you wish to lead? 😏 More times than not, the answer is no.  So maybe YOU can steer them toward a life of more wellness than harm.  

Our thoughts drive our behaviors.  Change your perspective, change your life.