Death twitches my ear.  “Live,” he says, “I am coming.” ~Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Minor Poems, Copa

Greetings!  How have you been since my last entry?  Hopefully great!  Last time we looked at my list of 20 reasons why I was going to do what it takes to get back into great shape in 2009.  I also talked briefly about towards motivation and away from motivation.  For many goals, for many of my clients, I will have them only look at towards (positive) motivations.  I do this for good reason, negative motivators are by nature stress inducing and one thing most of my clients tend to already have enough of is stress.  When you focus just on moving away from something, then you will feel stress.

Is negative motivation always bad then?  No.  Negative motivation is often, even commonly, more powerful than positive motivation.  Given that, when you really need to get something done, and especially if you have tried to make a change in the past and it did not happen, then it becomes a good idea to use negative and positive motivation.

For me, I have been trying to get back into shape since I became a non-smoker.  I have gotten most of the way there and gotten out of shape again.  I have lost weight again and again only to gain it back.  I have lost, conservatively, 500 pounds in the past 12 years and yet here I am, still virtually the same weight.  I could be depressed about this; I could even give up, but I am not going to.  This time things will be very different and you will see why as this series of articles progresses and the year goes on!

My Vision for Optimal Health

(Here is the first draft of my personal vision that I will use to help me get back in shape.  It is a work in progress, I will update it whenever I find a way to make it feel even better, work even better, motivate me even more fully.)

I wake up in the morning feeling great – feeling completely rested and energized.  I weigh 195 pounds and I maintain this weight by running and tennis and biking and lifting weights 4 times per week.  It feels great to exercise – to know that I am doing the right things every day to keep myself in optimal condition.  I don’t have to make myself exercise – I am just naturally drawn to it and I love it!

I have learned the foods that support me and energize me and I have learned the foods that I must eat only in limited amounts.  I naturally and effortlessly choose the right kinds and quantities of food to stay in optimal athletic condition.

My body is lean and strong and I look and feel great.  My family and friends are proud of me and I am proud of myself – I have won my own life back.

(Does this vision incorporate everything that I had in my list?  No, it doesn’t.  It does however motivate me and it also includes some changes, some new habits and beliefs that I want incorporated into my future self.)  Next time, I’ll enhance this vision, add a bit of away from motivation, and talk about some of it’s other features before we move on and continue the process of “Planning for Success.”

Benjamin Franklin

When I was reading, really absorbing, the book that I mentioned from Frank Bettger, I came across Benjamin Franklin.  I of course knew a little bit about him, but I had no idea what a self-development genius he has been.  I began to study Benjamin and incorporate some of his ideas into my personal and business life.  I read his autobiography.  I read about his MasterMind Groups: “The Junta”.  (This concept of a MasterMind Group was going to totally transform my life again.  We will talk about this in another entry.)  Eventually, I was fortunate to meet and befriend one of Benjamin Franklin’s descendants – what fun that was and is!  For now, consider buying and reading Mr. Bettger’s book: How I Raised Myself… .  It changed my life.

How I am doing on my optimal health quest so far

Just fair so far.  I have lost some weight.  I have gotten myself to the point that I can walk for hours each day without a break – a key component of my evolving weight loss plan.  I have – no wait.  I am getting ahead of myself.  I haven’t really even finished putting the plan together yet.  We will go over it together – step by step.

Homework

Create a vision for yourself around your great goal.  Make it motivating.  Incorporate some of the new habits that you will need to get there and maintain that goal.  Have fun!

“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.  Live your life in such a manner that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.” ~Indian Saying