Joe Average Gets Fit

Wayne Dyer is credited with saying, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Do you remember stereograms? The crazy, abstract-looking patterns of nonsense that have hidden in them a 3D picture if you look at them right? If that doesn’t ring a bell, click here to see some examples on Google Images.

When we first look at stereograms, we focus on the surface of the picture. We see the repetitious patterns and wonder what the fuss is about. Not until we allow our eyes to relax and look past the surface towards the horizon can our brain latch onto the hidden 3D image. We had to stop doing that which was so natural — looking at the surface of the page — and make a decision to look at the image differently. Relax. Look past the ordinary. See things in a new way. It’s tough at first, but with practice it becomes a natural process, and we can see the hidden picture right away.

We look at ourselves, our lives, those we have an emotional connection to, etc. in a certain way. Day in and day out we carry pictures of them in our heads. They are so familiar that we never give a thought to how we look at them. We assume that they’re true.

When we want to effect change in our lives, we continue to see ourselves, our lives, etc. the same way. We’re just fat. Fighting weight is a losing game. We don’t have time. There’s no time for exercise. We suddenly realize we’ve eaten a whole box of cupcakes. The last fifty diets didn’t work. I have some bad news. Forget about getting fit. You’re screwed and will never break the cycle.

Unless…

Unless we make a decision to look at ourselves, our lives, others in a new way. This change of perspective allows us to see things that were there all along — things which will literally alter our brains, breathing new life into us, renewing, re-energising, re-creating everything anew. Please do not confuse this with New Age mumbo-jumbo. This is one of the places where real science, real philosophy, real religion intersect harmoniously.

You become what you think about most. If you focus on fat, you’ll be fat. If you focus on fit, you’ve opened the door to being fit. Note that I didn’t say you’ll be fit… yet. It is, however, possible to have that which you desire. It’s possible.

So, before you, I, or anybody can effect meaningful, lasting change in our lives — including their physical fitness — we have to first condition our minds; mind fitness precedes body fitness.

This enables my success. The tally to date: 18 pounds lighter, a stronger body, a more peaceful heart.

To be continued…

Thanks to Dr. Paul Jenkins for his presentation on paradigm during his “brown bag lunch” series. This was an excellent, re-inforcing refresher.