24) 'Being Motivated by Goals vs. Fears'

D

epression has been a national epidemic for more than a decade.  It is usually chemical in nature but affects our mind and spirit.

            Many doctors believe in the body-mind connection, in other words that it's all interrelated.

            I grew up in the YMCA system whose logo is the body, mind, spirit triangle, so I have a strong bent towards developing and balancing all three.

            I have found that the body is often the part least exercised.  And when it is, it is often exercised poorly - everything from incorrect techniques, to intensities that are too low to adequately work the musculoskeletal or the cardiovascular systems.  In turn, this leads to weight gain, depression, anxiety, the inability to breathe well, the inability to lift groceries without back pain, the loss of bone mass/density, and the development, often in women, of osteoporosis.  An exercise regimen also has three components: strength training, cardiovascular exercise and stretching.

            When one learns how to exercise, one can also learn to enjoy it, if only marginally.  Then, the body enjoys it independently, building things like muscle memory, increased metabolism, better sleep, and, then, when ignored, cries  for exercise.  You feel good when the endorphins secrete, and the blood pumps, and you feel alive when your muscles and organs are exercised.

            I have also found that the mind needs exercise - not just mental exercise to prevent dementia, but repetitive training in healthy thought.  It’s not ‘practice makes perfect’, because you might be practicing wrong; it’s ‘perfect practice makes perfect’.

            Being a retired Aquatics Director, I have always been aware of how many swimmers exhibit poor technique that prevent them from achieving a healthy workout.  While performing any long-distance sport, you generally analyze your technique and correct or improve it; you’re constantly monitoring the system and the plan.  Like the body, the brain must be constantly taught and reminded to think healthily.

            If you put garbage into a computer, the human body or the mind, you get garbage out.  If you remember from the 1980s with the advent of personal computers: GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out).

            Whatever you focus on, good or bad, will be what you attract.

            So don't you want to attract good things?  Goals are usually good things.  Some may argue, that if you have no goals, you lower the chances of disappointment.  But how then, can you ever achieve anything you want, much less, on purpose, versus by accident.  Most people have goals, or at least dreams.

            We must focus on goals for our happiness.

            If we focus on fears, like losing a job, getting arrested, never finding love, not losing weight, the computer breaking, or never getting ahead, then that's what you'll probably achieve.

            If we focus on running a mile, or eating better (less, more healthy, the right time of the day), or saving money, or learning a skill, or getting a new job, then that’s what you’ll probably accomplish.

            You must remind yourself daily, if not more often, of your goals.  It will help you rise above your fears.  If not, you could become scared to cross a street, or sleep with the lights off, or have trouble swallowing because you think others are looking at you.

            Keep pictures of your goals, share your dreams with supportive others - dreams are free - so dream big.  Develop objectives, the bite-size pieces that help you to achieve a goal.  Use affirmations, where you repeat to yourself your state of being in the present  as if you have already attained them (e.g. I feel so happy and healthy about my thin, strong body!’).

            Financial Planning can help you organize and prioritize your goals & objectives, identify your values, establish target dates, and then make a life plan for systematically achieving your life goals - just like a workout regiment - but maybe easier because you can delegate part of it!

            We help people set goals & objectives, analyze their values, make plans and then implement, monitor and manage their plans.  We're there when the going gets tough.  (And we're there to help celebrate.)

            Where are you?