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How you speak to yourself, the script in your mind (or the beliefs you have about yourself) significantly impact many elements of your life, including your ability to manage relationships, achieve your career goals, and have self-confidence. Your thoughts cause your feelings! This is something that surprises many people; after all, we tend to think that our circumstances cause our feelings and thus the results in our life! This is a common belief but it causes us a lot of unnecessary suffering. The reason we suffer is because we fall into the belief the circumstances just happen to us and we can’t do anything about this. We have learned from childhood that other people are responsible for our emotions. However when does someone ever pull us aside as an adult to let us know it is now time to start taking responsibility for how we feel? THEY DON’T! It’s not the circumstance but what we THINK about the circumstance that causes our feelings.
The good news is that there are things you can do to change your mind, which in turn can change your body. Once you’ve begun that journey, you’ll be on your way towards a positive feedback loop. Healthy thoughts result in more exercise, which in turn promotes healthy thoughts. They say that developing a regular exercise routine is one of the most profound gifts you can give yourself. And once you begin feeling the benefits, you’ll begin to see why.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the common negative thoughts people have in relation to exercise. And then, we’ll suggest a different, more positive thought that you can tell yourself instead. Give them a try — your body might just thank you!
Bad Thought: “I Have No Time To Exercise”
Better Thought:
“I may not have one hour for an entire gym workout, but I have twenty minutes to go for a short run around the neighborhood. Plus, there could be one or two buffering activities I could get rid of. It’s better to work up a sweat than scroll through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.”
Bad Thought: “I Hate Exercise”
Better Thought:
I don’t hate exercise; I hate the idea of going to the gym. There are other activities I can do that’ll help to keep me healthy, such as cycling or running in a nearby nature area. I might even enjoy those activities, but at worst, I’ll tolerate them — I know that the benefits of doing them, which include having more energy and being happier, are much stronger than my low-level dislike.
Bad Thought: “The Weather is too Bad to Exercise.”
Better Thought:
“Just because the rain is too heavy to go on a long bike ride, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing I can do. I could do thirty minutes on a stationary bike at the gym or put on my waterproof clothing and run around the block. If I only exercise when the weather is perfect, then I probably won’t end up exercising all that much.”
Bad Thought: “What’s the Point? I’ll Never Get in Shape”
Better Thought
“That’s just a negative thought entering my head. It’s not reasonable to expect overnight success in any aspect of life, including fitness. The main thing is to focus on making exercise a regular part of my life. If I keep doing what I’m doing, then the results will come — and when they do, I’ll be proud that I put in so much effort.”
Bad Thought: “Exercise is too Hard for Me.”
Better Thought
“Exercise seems difficult right now, but that makes sense because I’ve only just started. It’ll be easier — and I will feel better — when I’ve gotten used to this level of exercise. Plus, if getting fit was a complete walk in the park, then everyone would do it. It’s good to push yourself sometimes. In any case, there are elements of exercise that I enjoy, and I’m proud that I’m improving myself.”
Bad Thought: “I Fell Out of the Routine; I Guess Exercise Isn’t For Me”
Better Thought
“Life will always cause me to miss a few workout sessions from time to time. Is there anything I can do to prevent this situation from arising in the future? In any case, I’ve done the hard work to make exercise a part of my life once before, and that means I can do it again.”
Conclusion
The process of improving the way you speak to yourself can take time. But eventually with practice, it’ll just be part of who you are! As we said at the beginning of this article, there’s a lot of value in looking at your relationship with exercise and seeing how you can change it. It might just have a profound impact on your life.
