Change your mindset, change your behavior, change your life!
I consider the following principle to be one of the non-negotiable elements of a person taking charge of and making lasting changes to his/her own health and well-being:
Behavior modification is the key to physical, mental, and emotional reset (all components of wellness) and the on-ramp to that is the proper mindset.
It all starts in the internal world of our thoughts. Before taking the first step you have to decide to do something, which is an active move of your will. Not willpower as in having the iron resolve to get after it with reckless and relentless abandon, whatever it is and no matter what the costs and how much it hurts. There will be blood, so no pain no gain, right?
Well... It's great to be a hardcore, don't-stop-till-you-drop kind of person, and some among us are wired for that but most are decidedly not. I am speaking of will in the sense of what you will do. What are you willing to do and what will you do to make the changes you have decided are worth making? And don't miss the critical issue of you deciding what is worth doing. Only you can decide what is worth getting after and sacrificing for and it should be anchored to what and who you value most. Your values and vision for your best and most impactful life must serve as the foundation for your most involved and important missions, which should include tending to your own health and well-being.
As I said above, it begins within the realm of our thoughts and deepest desires. I think the apostle Paul captured it well when in a letter written to a group of Christians living in Rome around AD 57 he writes: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2a)." The context of that portion of the letter was in reference to how best to go about living in the manner Jesus taught and modeled as the human ideal but these can also have to do with behaviors, so the principle does apply. A wonderful takeaway from this particular thought is that mind renewal is the key to transformation.
The causative chain can be drawn out like this: Think well to act well to then be well.
Renewed thinking sets the stage for the behavior modification that is the on-ramp to resetting all the components of well-being, which are physical health, mental health, and emotional health. And what needs to be modified is going to differ for each one of us but the underlying principles and concepts for how best to go about that apply to everyone. Not only do they apply to everyone, they can be applied by everyone!
Whether you're male or female, 18 or 80, an elite athlete or someone who's never set foot in a gym, a business titan, or a student grinding it out to get through exams, the evidence-based ideas and concepts are rather straightforward. If you are willing to take the time and expend some energy to look into taking control of your overall health and well-being you'll discover that it isn't overly complicated. It's not easy, but it doesn't have to be so complicated.
By deciding to prioritize your well-being and then seek out some information and coaching from trustworthy sources (i.e., board-certified physicians, registered nutritionists, certified coaches and trainers, etc.) you'll make a move toward upgrading your physical health, mental health, and emotional health. This can greatly enhance strength, mobility, energy levels, resilience, mood, and almost all health markers while lowering susceptibility to the development of chronic disease and metabolic dysfunction. You'll make a legitimate move toward becoming harder to kill, easier to love! And it's not easier to love in the sense of being more lovable because you are now this jacked-up, high-energy alpha champion but love in the verb sense. A healthier, stronger, more vibrant you is better able to be there for and help those you love most. That's the win!
My hope is that you're at least a bit encouraged to get on the path taking ownership of your overall health and well-being. After all, you have much to experience and offer in this life, and tending to your wellness levels up your capacities to make the most of it and have the most impact. You can take a few steps on that journey starting today, so let's get on with it!