To do this I want to share a ‘list’ format that I used in my guest post on The Change Blog called ‘The Strongest Desire Always Wins‘.  In the context of the post I was talking about how I’ve leaned to cut down on sweets.  The idea behind it was that in order to go against a strong desire, you have to replace it with a stronger one.  I then shared a kind of list that went through my thought process as I decided against eating the sweets.  Here’s the original list:

1. Eat sweets.
2. Feel good and have a lot of energy.
3. Feel tired and sometimes anxious.
4. Loose all motivation to do anything worthwhile.
5. Feel like CRAP!
6. Try to eat something healthy to bring my blood sugar back to a healthy level.
7. Feel a little better and say “I won’t do that again”.
8. Eat sweets…

As you can see, I became aware of the unhealthy cycle that was keeping me from the level of health I wanted to maintain.  And by seeing the whole process from beginning to end, I was able to foresee the negative affects and therefore had a stronger desire to NOT eat the sweets to begin with.  In other words, I was able to see step #5 before I even did step #1.  I stopped letting the initial craving blind me from the end results.

Following this post, Bonnie, a reader of “Motivate Thyself”, added her own list using the same format, but concerning procrastination:

1. Procrastinate.
2. Feel good doing what I feel like doing.
3. Feel depressed and anxious about what needs to be done.
4. Lose all motivation to do anything worthwhile.
5. Feel like CRAP!
6. Try to reorganize to bring goals to forefront.
7. Feel a little better and say “I won’t do that again”.
8. Procrastinate…

After reading her version I was inspired by the flexibility of this list idea and decided to make a ‘list’ about the act of NOT exercising:

1. Decide NOT to exercise.
2. Feel good doing what I feel like doing.
3. Feel tired and kind of lazy for not exercising.
4. Lose all motivation to do anything worthwhile.
5. Feel like CRAP!
6. Try to get off my Butt and maybe go for a walk.
7. Feel a little better and say “I won’t do that again”.
8. Decide NOT to exercise…

The point is that we need to convince ourselves that we will be happier and all around better off if we exercise.  We need to create a stronger desire TO exercise than the one we have pulling us away from this healthy activity.  By going through the cycle of NOT exercising before you actually come to the fork in the road (“Do I exercise or do I NOT exercise?”), you will be better prepared to make the right decision.

Feel free to create your OWN list and share it with us.

If this list isn’t quite your thought process or you have an idea for one that would cover a different area/habit, please share it with us so we can all benefit from it.  Bonnie’s version has been quite helpful for me when I struggle with procrastination and I’d love to see what you guys can come up with.

This month I am very excited because the theme is ‘Exercise’! I’ve been regularly exercising for the last decade or so.  If you read my ‘About Me‘ page you’ll see how I used to live an unhealthy lifestyle.  This turned out to be a real blessing because it pushed me to do a complete 180.  Now, good health is one of my highest priorities and exercise plays a big part in accomplishing this goal.

I’m not going to teach you what you already know

I don’t think there’s anyone alive that doesn’t know that exercise is a key to good health and well being.  I’m not going to beat a dead horse and go through all the science behind its positive effects.  So the simple comment to make is, “Exercise!  It’s good for you.”

But does this help us get motivated to actually do it?  Of course not.  Most of the things in life that we do on a consistent basis have been proven to be necessary/desirable through experience.  You can scientifically prove the benefits of exercise to a person, but it’s not until they actually ‘feel’ the benefits that they will change their habits.

This month I want us to focus on finding ways to PROVE to our bodies and our minds that regular exercise is what we WANT to do. Not what we need to do, what we WANT to do. It is not enough to know it is good, we need to be convinced that our lives will be better because of it.

The Question?

So at this point it really doesn’t matter if or how much you exercise.  What matters is how you see exercise.  How does the thought of a ‘workout’ make you feel?  Are you convinced that you are actually better off when you exercise?  Have you ever experienced the positive benefits of a consistent exercise routine?

It’s our perception of this healthy activity that makes or breaks our ability to perform it on a regular basis.  So this week it is your asignment to come to terms with how you REALLY feel about this thing that we ‘should’ do.  It is my hope that throughout this month we will be able to paint a positive picture of this wonderful privilege that we often take for granted, as we become more convinced that we really WANT to do it.

For all those who don’t struggle to exercise regularly

I know there are many of you out there who don’t struggle to exercise on a regular basis.  You probably look forward to that time of the day/week when you can get out and get your heart pumping.  We need you involved in this as much as anybody else.

• How do you do it?
• What are the things that work for you?
• At what point in your life did you really start getting fit and what changes occurred that drove you to this decision?