Live It, Don't Diet

New Endings to Old Message

We sometimes can get caught in a rut of thinking that there's only one possible ending because it's been true so often in the past. If you don't get stuck in what you already think is true, you'll be free to create new endings.

When asked to finish these proverbs, a group of 6 year olds gave the following answers.

Don't change horses....until they stop running
Strike while the...bug is close.
Don't bite the hand that....looks dirty.
A penny saved is...not much
Two's company, three's....the Muketeers.

I'm sure you recognized the popular proverbs but knew very different endings. The great thing about this example is that the 6 year olds, didn't know what the endings were. They used their current life experiences, imaginations, and creativity to come up with them. While we have years behind us, to teach us the "correct" endings, we need to use this example as a way to see how when we are stuck in what we already think is true, it can sometimes be difficult to see new endings.

Does this sound familiar? I haven't weighed 165 pounds since high school, why would I be able to do that now? The only way to be at a healthy weight is to take pills, or exercise on this fangled device.

Behaviors can begin changes for us that will help for a lifetime. Behaviors have to change deep within the core of who we are, we have to change our beliefs. We have to unlearn what we have learned (thanks Yoda.) Messages from family, friends, and society can influence our beliefs and in turn have an effect on our weight loss.

Oh..all of my family are big people (so, that's ok that I'm big too.) All of these kinds of thoughts could affect our motivation, and our self confidence. Especially if we let these thoughts turn into truths that we strongly believe in. The longer we've held on to a belief, the longer or harder it may take to change.

Use what you have learned from others trying to lose weight. Use what you have heard at your meetings or from your leaders that will help you change your beliefs. Take one behavior and work on that, and little by little you can change what you believe and then what you ultimately are able to accomplish.

I never thought I would be able to run a mile. In grade school when we would all have to participate in the Presidential Fitness test, I dreaded the evil Mile run. For me, it was like the 10ft run and mile walk. I could never finish anything close to that, while all of the athletic boys trotted to the finish line in 10minutes. Now...after I've lost all the weight, I can do just about anything. Cracking off 5 miles in the morning in 50 minutes is nothing. In fact, I've taken it the next step and signed up for a marathon. Talk about getting rid of limiting beliefs.

posted by Snowman @ 7:03 PM