Becoming a New Years Revolutionist!

It’s January, and you know what that means. New Year’s Resolutions! I have always been humored over the years as I have seen the “revolutionists” come and go. There is a pattern that is very distinct and predictable for the vast majority of us:

1-We get pumped, motivated, and excited about our resolution

2-We act on our resolution for brief period

3-“Life happens,” and we get busy

4-We tell ourselves that we don’t have time to work out or eat well anymore

5-We resort to our previous lifestyle

Sound familiar? This pattern is typical to those who do not take time to condition the part of the body that is responsible for habit change. This part of the body behaves like a muscle, becoming stronger with conditioning and weaker with negligence. This “muscle” must be conditioned for success because without it, your chances of success become dismal.
This muscle is your brain, and, in particular, your subconscious mind. This is the part of the brain that houses all of your habits and behaviors that either please you or drive you crazy! Say, for example, that you are very scheduled about your house cleaning, never missing a day and always completing the same tasks on the same day if possible. This “behavior pattern” is coming straight from your subconscious mind, whether you know it consciously or not.
By way of a personal example, I am often asked, “How do you refrain from all of the treats and food available during the holidays?” In short, I have conditioned my mind to believe that I do not consume unhealthy food, and, therefore, I do not. It truly is that simple. What the mind truly believes, it acts upon!
Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Let’s say, for example, that you always find yourself using the excuse that you are “too busy” to exercise. Is it true that you are really too busy? In short, the answer is NO! The real problem comes because you have told yourself that “you are too busy” so many times that your subconscious mind has come to believe that excuse to be a fact. Your subconscious mind acts based on the way you have programmed it, and it has no choice but to back you in your self-limiting belief.
The problem is that there is a big difference between an excuse and a fact. The vast majority of your so-called “facts” are really excuses clothed as facts. The defining difference is that excuses are not reflective of reality. Rather we make them to justify our own shortcomings. In essence, we are trying to create a “reality” that only exists in our minds and is at odds with actuality.
So what is the solution to help change your self-limiting subconscious beliefs? The answer is not as complicated as you might think, although many books (including one of mine) have been written on the subject. For the purpose of this article, I will touch on a couple key things to get you started; however, I would greatly encourage you to delve into the topic of changing your self-limiting beliefs.
First, and, most importantly, you must change the mental picture you hold of yourself. Say, for example, if you picture yourself as overweight with low-self control, then your actions will ALWAYS reflect that belief, period, end of sentence, bar-non, and stale-mate on any further conversation on the topic! This means that you must take time to “inject” a new picture of what you desire to become! If you want lean and sexy arms, then envision yourself with them! Sound silly? That’s because your currently held beliefs are the ones speaking right now! It is up to you, through repetition, to impress a new mental picture of what you wish to become.
Second, you must begin to eliminate any and all negative thinking from your life. Know that negative thinking is what forms your subconscious beliefs by default if you do not take the initiative to impose positive thoughts. This is a conscious effort that takes work and care. You must catch yourself allowing useless negative thoughts to pervade your brain and then take the initiative to change them!
Again, there is much more on this subject, but this should help to get you started on becoming a New Year’s Revolutionist! Yes revolutionist! Remember that you are not merely “resolving” yourself to a new habit; you are creating a revolution in the way that you think and see yourself!
You guys are awesome, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of Lifelong Fitness. Happy New Year, and remember: Life is Good!