On a previous post, I asked the question, “Who do you want to be?” Many of my clients say they have an idea of how they want to be in the world but they don’t know how to get there. It’s funny, isn’t it? We spend so much time and energy in getting there. But the question remains where is “there?”
Here is a little secret: There is no THERE. There is only HERE. Mystery solved!
So now what? With respect to active living, now is the time to do something. As I have always said, “anything is better than nothing.” We sometimes think more about physical activity than we actually DO physical activity. One of the most common reasons for inactivity is that we are not in the mood. We wait until the right mood strikes us – sometime in the future.
The statistics support this. According to the CDC, less than 50% of adults get the recommended amount of aerobic exercise. And only 24% get the recommended amount of muscle strengthening exercise. If you look at the combination of aerobic and strength activity levels, only 20.6% of adults meet the physical activity guidelines. Oh my.
So when you say that you want to live an active life yet you don’t make choices to support your desire, bad vibes happen, man. I always tell my clients to make one goal that will help move them toward their picture of an active life. Just one. It could be as simple as reading three articles about health and exercise in one week. For someone else it could be a goal of walking for 15 minutes two times over the next week. Goals must meet where you are in the change process. Magic just dosesn’t happen. We have to put forth some effort. That is the hard part.
So what is your one thing? Paint your own picture of an active life.
Over and out.
PS. I am going to go out for a walk – and I am NOT in the mood!!