Time for a check up.
What kind of motivational strategies do you use? How do you go about setting goals?
One of my clients was talking with me last week about her motivational belief in the “Three C’s”. I thought this was a very simple way to think about anything life related, but in this case – weight loss/healthy choice related.
1) Choice – you make a choice. In 99.999% of cases, you have full control (the 2nd C) over your eating and exercise choices. You sometimes can’t choose to skip on a business lunch meeting, but you can choose to skip on the entire bread basket or ordering the cheese cake. You control your choices, good and bad, end of story.
2) Control – you have control over those choices. After making a choice, you have complete control over how well you follow your choice, or how much your stray from your choice. Sometimes we just need to own up and admit when we make mistakes and stop blaming everything else but ourselves. In my short 25 years of life on this earth, I have come to the realization that life isn’t fair and blaming everyone else for your problems doesn’t cut it. You have to take responsibility of your actions and then MOVE ON WITH IT!
3) Consequences – your choices and control of them will all have consequences, good or bad. This is the outcome. This is the end game. Will your choice and control over it have good, or bad consequences? Keep track of this and be aware. Awareness is huge. Yes you may be making a bad choice, but are you even aware that it is a bad idea? After becoming aware, then ask yourself, are you taking action on it, or just shrugging it off? If you are just shrugging it off, then look back to your goals, and WHY you started. What is your why?
Keep the 3 C’s in mind with every choice you make, and hopefully your good choices with good control lead to positive outcomes!
Stay healthy,
Mike