Get in the Game

If you have been around sport or even watched a little bit of sport in your time you would be very familiar with the saying, 'get in the game'. If you aren't familiar with the saying just think of it as prompting you to get involved; do something or in true Aussie slang, have a go mate. I'm going to use the term a little differently but with the end result hopefully being that you start getting involved in your own game of life. Now life can be serious and we can take life pretty serious at times but I think to achieve more from our efforts we need to lighten up.

If you are having difficulty getting into the exercise/activity thing well don't fret you're not alone. But it doesn't mean it's OK, you need activity I'm sorry. Without it you play Russian roulette with your health and well being. What I suggest is, make up games or scenarios that juice you to take action. Create a game that compels you to try and win. This will motivate you to take consistent action to win the game. It may be a few of you having a distance running comp. It may be a weight loss game. It could be a race or a competitive shoot out at a certain date. It doesn't matter what it is just as long as you are keen to win or at least have a damn good shot at it.

A recent conversation with a body builder highlighted this point to me. He has a body fat percentage of 8% which is phenomenal. But for his competitions he gets down to a body fat percentage level of 2 or 3%. But he even admits he could never ever possibly get down that low except for competitions. That is his game, his motivating force. That is an extreme example of motivation but the principle stays the same.

To get in the game I've put together these four steps to guide you.
1. Create - Find something that captures you and you would love to commit to for 8 or 12 weeks. It must excite you and set a reward or a prize at the end of the game for you to strive for.
2. Enjoy - Have fun doing it. If it isn't fun your enthusiasm and motivation will not be high enough.
3. Want - You must want success. Be hungry and desperate to succeed or win. Bring your competitive side out. Again this will keep you motivated.
4. Reward - Claim the prize and reward yourself for the great effort you have put in. We move towards pleasure and away from pain so it is important to feel the pleasure of the reward.

Don't be Scared, Just get Uncomfortable

Not knowing what to do. Not knowing how many sets and reps you need to do. Where I need to keep my heart rate. When should I eat? What should I eat? Do some of these questions or all of them stop you from partaking in a structured exercise program? If the answer is yes then follow on and see if this will assist. If you have other questions than the ones quoted and they are restricting your motivation via lack of perceived knowledge this also applies to you; hopefully.

It isn't necessarily your lack of drive or willpower that is holding you back from activity, nor is it your fear of perceived hot, sweaty and stinky aftermath. It is your mindset. You aren't happy to get out of a comfortable place and enter an uncomfortable area. Because certain questions appear and you aren't sure of the answer, your immediate response is;'I don't know', 'It's too hard, or simply 'not for me'. In other words get back to your comfort zone. Life is easier there and I am prepared to under achieve as long as I don't have to feel so uncomfortable. Sorry if I seem to be picking on you, but sometimes the truth needs to be told.

I should know more than anyone. I haven't had so much fun in my life as I have done for the last two years, give or take a few months. But I would be lying if I told you it was plain sailing. I have never been more challenged by mentors and myself, sometimes to the point where I have really had to gather up all of my internal belongings and check myself in again. A couple of times I felt like I was a stranger in my own body and needed to get to know myself again. I disputed myself and my mindset's beliefs. It was hard but it was revolutionary because I survived the ordeal and grew from the experiences.

Getting back to the activity or exercise theme, the principle is the same. Think abundant and not scared. What can I do or who can help me. People like to help and all you have to do is ask. After the initial setback and ego denting activity of asking for help you begin to realise it is the only way you are going to prosper. You and me both only know what we know until we discover something different. My advice is get out into the unknown and make sure you abundafy your attitude to capitalise on all of the opportunities to learn from what's always around us. Start with your activity levels first. The rest will be history.

Employing a Mental Gatekeeper Makes Good Sense

In carrying out my work as a restrictionator I need to introduce to you how hard it should be for your thoughts to qualify. This is timely with the Olympics starting as I put this piece together. I recently wrote on how you would be well served to investigate the kind of thoughts we allow into our heads which you can read here. Progressing on from playing investigator or gatekeeper you now need to transform your mind into the official selector. Focusing on qualifying the right kind of messages your brain needs to hear for you to grow and develop as an individual.

Take our Olympic athletes for example. These individuals have to go through a rigorous qualification process to get in to the Aussie squad. However for years leading up to that selection or qualification process they are visualising themselves successfully competing in the games. Do you think they would even get to Olympic trials if there thoughts were restrictive in any way. These aspiring Olympians train their minds to be their most valuable tool and if they aren't aware of the quality of their thoughts and only qualifying the beneficial ones they will fail in their quest for optimal performance. This is foundational not something they pick up along the way. Without this quality they are wasting their time even training physically to get to the selection trials.

Although you probably aren't aspiring to be a competing Olympic athlete it doesn't mean your mind doesn't have to qualify your thoughts for you to succeed in achieving outcomes. To aspire to a richly rewarding relationship with your wife, to get the promotion you want, to lose a certain amount of kilos or to just keep your bedroom tidy; (don't laugh I set this goal for myself years ago) you still need to qualify the right messages to have success. So my parting advice for all you budding successful restrictionees, make it hard for your messages to qualify before allowing them in. It may mean saying no more than you say yes to your thoughts. You still have to think so why not train yourself to do it for your benefit. Think qualification not damnation to get progression and stop stagnation.

Don't Leave It for Another Year

After chatting with a mate recently who for the record is a highly regarded keynote speaker over east. I discovered another reason why Winter is a great time to hibernate. The winter social calender drops off for obvious reasons. But also two of our main energy paths (called meridians in traditional chinese medicine) are very active in winter. And they are responsible for governing body temp, motivation, nervous system and sexual energy.

So with all of the above in mind it makes sense to tap into this inner energy and start relating what you want to do in the next 6 months to what you are currently focussing on. Because I can guarantee once the warmer, sunny weather appears in another month or so your social calender rises and if you aren't organised not a lot of personal development, achievement or whatever you want to call it will happen. You must have your actions and plans already mapped out to guide you through summer to allow progress whilst making the most of this fun and festive period.

Putting these four steps into play now will ensure you get the most out of the warmer months this year otherwise you may miss the boat so to speak for another year.
1. Think. Think about your direction and focus, not so hard that you start worrying or panicking about it and procrastinate.
2. Plan. Put your thinking into a plan so you now have a map of where you are going when summer hits. Visualise the end result first and then fit the steps in along the way that will get you there.
3. Act. Time to convert your plan into action. Getting motivation comes from working on the things you like and gives you the most reward. Don't forget to review your progress.
4. Identify. Identify and evaluate what is stressing you and how you are handling them. Are you reactive, inactive or proactive to these 'stressors'?

In a nutshell you only have a month or so left to make sure you get yourself planned on track and acting before spring and summer take hold. Wherever you would like to direct your energy, follow the above steps and go for it. Follow the map and you will find the destination. If it's health, career, hobbies or relationships get onto it now. After the chat with my mate I now know why New Year's resolutiuons are hugely unsuccesful. Beat the crowd and plan your resolutions now, you will probably have achieved them by the time others attempt to plan theirs!