Make Up Your Mind - Change Your Life

I purposely delayed sending out a New Year message. Everyone sends out the Holiday messages. You see, it's easy the first week or so after the New Year to stay on target. We just made our resolutions. Did you resolve to walk closer with God this year? Finally lose the unwanted pounds? Start exercising?

We all do but what happens after the first week? We lose momentum and go right back to the same old lifestyle. You know why? We're not fixing the problem. We haven't created enough pain in no longer doing those things that are hurting us, or we haven't created enough pleasure in accomplishing our goals.

Until we figure out why we are stagnant in or growth (or lack of), going on another diet or writing out resolutions simply isn't going to cut it.

Let's go with a goal of losing 20 pounds. Why is it that you want to lose 20 pounds? I'm sure it's not just because that seems like a reasonable thing to do. It's likely because of some other goal such as; how you would feel if you lost that weight. What's the pay off?

Do this quick exercise. Think about the bad habit you are holding on to and think about if you don't change it what your life will look like in the future. Close your eyes and visualize exactly what could happen.

Think 6 months ahead of now: Think about how you will feel, look, lack of energy. What does your face look like when you see yourself in the mirror? What does your body look like? How's your self esteem?

Now look 1 year into the future: Have you gained an additional 20 pounds and feel worse than ever? Do you look tired? Are you completely lacking any energy and don't even know where to start to change.

Look 5 years in the future:

Where have the years gone? What happened to all my plans and goals? How did I get this way?

OK...this hasn't happened yet but if you truly took the time to go through this exercise I think you will find that you were drained of energy and might have even felt a little hopeless. I don't think any of us want to feel like that.

What if you lost the 20 pounds you've been fighting for years? Let's take a look at how that might play out.

6 months from now: Wow....I haven't had a waistline for years. I can't believe how much energy I have. I feel so much more comfortable in my clothes. What a babe-or what a hunk!

1 year from now: I can't believe I ever let myself lose control. I feel great. I never thought I could have run a 5K let alone a half-marathon. I haven't had the confidence to wear a swim suit for years. I am lean, fit, healthy and strong....I am God's Temple.

Do the same with 5 years.

Picture how your life could really be and don't place any limits on your imagination.

Does losing 20 pounds do all that? Yes and no. The extra weight is about how we are feeling. Think about when you were in the best shape of your life; were you confident? Did you feel a sense of accomplishment? Were you more productive in other areas of your life as well? Sure you were. The extra weight is almost always a result of something in our lives that's lacking and we replace it with too much food. We place a band aid on the problem. We don't fix it.

We can liken accomplishing a goal to our prayer life. When God answers a prayer, no matter how small, we can believe in Him for a bigger prayer. It's a faith builder. Attaining our goals is the same principle.

What is it that's holding you back? Or, what could you gain by losing the extra weight?

That's the first thing you will need to figure out before starting an exercise or nutrition program. If it's only for the sake of losing a few pounds you will lose and gain the same few pounds over and over again. Knowing the "why" is what will anchor your goals.

I go over this exercise and many more principles in my book; God's Temple-40 Days to Total Transformation.

Fitness is not just about looking good. It's also about feeling good....coming full circle with your health; proper nutrition, moderate exercise and spiritual fitness.

Take the time to figure it out and move forward-you're worth it!
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