When you think about health, several different associations probably pop into your
head. Maybe you think of green smoothies, vigorous spin classes, or perfectly
coordinated athletic wear. Perhaps you envision a heavy barbell, boxing gloves, or
macronutrients. The concept of a “health journey” is vast and unique to each individual, making it almost impossible to truly define. In fact, I’d argue that ambiguity is largely
responsible for the low success rate of these journeys. While important to make it your
own, failure to acknowledge what goes on behind the curtain, and furthermore, within
the mind during the process, can leave a person paralyzed by what they find when that
initial jolt of motivation inevitably slows down.
This is because a health journey is so much more than what you eat, how you
train, and what you want to achieve. At the core, a health journey is a deeply-rooted
belief system that lives in your consciousness. Whether you’re venturing on the road to
build strength, change your physique, or simply keep up with your dog, the voices of
your hopes, dreams, fears, and negative thoughts will pay you a visit. The challenge
lies in knowing how to push forward when the devil on your shoulder tries to block your
way.
Road Blocks
The start of a health journey sends a rush of joy. I’m finally doing it, I’m gonna
rock this! You set alarms for your training sessions, stock up on fueling foods and
daydream about reaching that big, beautiful goal. The first few days, maybe even
weeks, feel incredible. You’re kicking ass, taking names, and nothing is going to stop
you. Only, now the fun is beginning to wear off. Nobody is handing you a prize at the
end of your workouts, the scale has not dramatically shifted, and you don’t see any
physical gains yet. You find that you are getting to the gym later and later if at all, telling
yourself things like, “Just do it later,” “I can take today off, it’s not a big deal,” and
“Wouldn’t you rather be binging the latest Netflix series than going to the gym?”
So how do you push past this roadblock? How do you keep the momentum
when these thoughts arise? The answer is simple. You have got to start training before your
brain knows what you’re doing. Do it before you have the chance to talk yourself out of
it because you will talk yourself out of it. Think of it like this. When you go to the pool,
you have two choices: you can either dip your toes or dive in. If you dip, you’ll never
get in because the water feels cold in comparison to the rest of your body. If you jump,
it may be a little chilly at first, but you also know you’ll acclimate much faster than if
you tried to ease yourself in, limb after limb. The same applies here. Rush in before the
devil on your shoulder has had it’s morning coffee, before it’s juiced up and ready to fill
your brain with whispers.
Inner Critics
Understanding the internal challenges that may arise during your journey is a
vital part of long-term success. As a professional in this industry for years, I have
identified two inner critic monologues that most individuals find themselves up against
at some point in their process.
We will call the first one, “the hater.” This inner critic is loud and ready to shake
you up, especially during your training sessions. It will say things like, “Why am I doing
this? I’m not worth it. I should have come later, I’m way too busy. Just stop now.” To
combat the hater, try personifying it. Give it a name and attach a face to it if you can.
Picture it wanting you to fail, practically begging you to throw in the towel, and then tell
it to sit down and watch you succeed. There is empowerment in detaching these
thoughts from yourself and putting them in their place.
The second inner critic is “the protector.” Unlike the hater, this one is not
necessarily trying to be mean. Instead, it is trying to save you from disappointment. It
will say, “Come on, you’ve tried a million times, and it’s never worked. Quit now while
you’re ahead. Don’t put all of this work in, it’s not going to happen anyway.” The voice means
well, so you can say, “Thank you. I know you’re trying to protect me, and I hear you, but
I can do this. Take a seat and stay as long as you’d like. You don’t need to be afraid for me.”
Recognize these critics and come to anticipate them at times. Remember, you
don’t need to avoid or run from them. Let them sit in that space and do what you’ve
got to do for you even when they act up.
The Journey Ahead
On your road, you are going to be faced with a lot of negative self-talk. It is
going to challenge you, change you, and at times, make you doubt yourself. You’ve got
to look yourself in the mirror and say, “I won’t let you down. I’m going to mess up, it
won’t always be pretty, but I won’t let you down.” Train your self-talk and your body at
the same time. Remember why you started and don’t ever give up on yourself. You are
worth the journey.