I had a client that spent ten years helping to take care of her elderly mother who lost her vision. While it was time consuming and sad, she noted that it was also a wonderful time. “My mother and I became friends. We talked a lot during the time I spent with her and she was more than just my mom, she was a good friend. We wouldn’t have had that time together had she been healthy, since we both would have gone our separate ways, meeting occasionally to talk.” That attitude switched what might have been a burdensome experience to a pleasant one, which is what staying positive is all about.
Staying positive and fitness.
When people first start a fitness program and fail, they either are extremely positive and upbeat the first week and gradually get more pessimistic as time proceeds or negative right from the start. That’s because real results don’t show overnight. Sure, you’ll feel far better after just a few weeks, but you might not see the difference in your body. People who go into exercising don’t have unrealistic expectations, but they believe it will work and before you know it, it does.
The parable of two towns is a good example of getting what you expect.
A traveler passed a farmer on his way from one town to another. He asked the farmer what the people were like in the next town. The farmer asked him a question before answering. “What were the people like in the last town you visited?” The traveler responded, “They were lovely people with open hearts who shared freely.” The farmer responded, “They are that way in the next town.” A second traveler passed the farmer and asked the same thing. Again the farmer questioned back, “What were the people like in the last town you visited?” The traveler responded, “Horrible people. They were dishonest and unfriendly.” The farmer responded, “They are that way in the next town.” You can see that each person was treated as he expected others to treat him and the farmer knew it. The man who stayed positive got positive results. If you believe you’ll get fitness results, you will
You still have to put in the effort. Even though you have a positive frame of mind, you still have to do the work to get the results. Positive thinking isn’t magic, but a way to enjoy life more.
Once you start your workout regimen, you’ll notice that you feel fantastic after each workout. That’s because exercise burns off the hormones created by stress and replaces them with ones that make you feel great.
The longer you workout, the easier it is to stay positive. Exercise improves your posture so you’ll even look more positive.
As you see results, it’s easy to believe. However, the toughest part is still in the initial phase, when your resolve and positive attitude are all that keeps you going.