The shallow believe in luck or circumstance; the strong believe in cause and effect.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
What are your beliefs when you think about your weight? Are you telling yourself, "I just gain weight easily," or "it's my genetics," or "I was always overweight"?
Maybe you're not thinking this way, but you know someone close to you who does.
If you want to achieve your goals, it is so important that you first ask yourself the correct questions.
Why?
If you are not in the correct mental state, is it easy to reach your goals? Your mental focus is so powerful. Understanding the power of your mind, and really believing what you're telling yourself can open doors for you. If you truly believe and have no doubts that you will achieve what you desire, then you are already a huge step closer to getting it.
You may have heard the story of the scorpion and the frog. In this story, a scorpion wants to cross a river, so he asks the frog, "I want to get to the other side of the river, my family is there, can you carry me on your back?"
The frog looks at the scorpion and replies, "How could I even think of it, you're a scorpion, and scorpions sting frogs!"
The scorpion replied, "Are you crazy? Think about it, if I sting you on the river we will both drown and I will die too."
The frog thinks about it for a moment, then agrees. So the scorpion climbs on the frogs back and the frog starts swimming across the river. Half way across, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog is in shock and cries, "Why did you do that, now we will both die!" to which the scorpion replies, "I know, but I am a scorpion -- scorpions sting frogs."
What does this story tell us? That the scorpion is bad and evil? No, the scorpion is just being a scorpion, and doing what it believes it should do.
Now think about yourself. If you're thinking that you're fat, and that you have a hard time losing weight, then that's the identity that you are giving yourself!
We all have the power to change our identity. First, we just need to realize and be aware of what it is that we are saying to ourselves, and what our true beliefs about ourselves really are.
I love the title of Wayne Dyer's book Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life. We all know that this is true. So why is it so hard to actually do? Could the reason be that we keep telling ourselves the same story?
If you want to change something then you need to switch your attention. If you focus on the negative then sooner or later you will see a negative outcome. But every good thing you do, and every positive thought that you have, will have a positive effect.
First, try to really understand the story that you are telling yourself. What are your beliefs about yourself? Belief literally means "an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists." If you can identify your beliefs and be honest about yourself before you start your dieting then you will stay on your diet plan and reach your goals much easier, because deep inside you will already believe that you are achieving what you desire.
You can actually use this same method for almost everything in life, not just for losing weight.
It's also important to be specific about exactly what you want. Studies have shown that specific goals, that you focus your attention on, are much easier to achieve than just a general wish. For example instead of saying "I want to get more exercise," be specific and say "I will walk 20 minutes every day."
When you start asking yourself the correct questions you will realize that it doesn't take long to shift your focus. Self-talk will strengthen your beliefs.
Tell your family and friends that you are making a change, and ask for their support.
Other studies have even shown that optimism may have biological benefits that improve health.
So make sure that you're taking the time to ask yourself better questions that are specific, and not limiting your beliefs. For example, instead of saying "I am fat," try telling yourself "I have 20 pounds excess fat." Then you're setting yourself up with the mindset you need to solve the problem.
I know this sounds so simple, but at the same time it is so effective!
When you start your diet -- or whatever it is that you want to change in your life -- with a correct mindset, you are so much closer to success.
So before you start, ask yourself the question: what are your core beliefs?
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Recommend reading:
Before Happiness by Shawn Achor
Mindset by Carol Dweck