Focusing just on the physical exercise part of a weight loss program leaves out an essential part of the equation = diet (what you eat). But lets look at these two components exercise and diet. We know what to do in terms of exercise (burn more calories) and we know what to eat (watch my calories and make “good” food choices). So we have a handle on the what to do and what to eat, but what about the why, when and what for questions?

Why? After you have made a statement to yourself or develop a new weight loss program and break it up into tasks to do, ask yourself after each component or task: So that ______________ and then complete the sentence. For example, “I chose not to eat red meat as a part of my dieting program… so that … I reduce my intake of saturated fats and force me to eat other forms of protein including fish…”

“I want to lose weight so that I can fit into my prom dress that I already paid for and so people won’t laugh at me for looking out of shape…”

“I am jogging 2 miles a day and getting bored, but I really need to keep this up so that my cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels go down, so that these risk factors for heart disease don’t get the better of me, so that I can still be alive when my daughter graduates from college…

Setting goals and having a reason “Why?” that is not simply a mundane reason such as “Because I should” is important to the mind, body, spirit integration. We intellectually know what to do about exercising, but the mental decision to carry it out is more difficult. Mental discipline, will power, courage, persistence and belief usually need a crutch because if the mind senses that what you are doing is temporary, and as otherwise uncomfortable for you or is painful (both physically and emotionally), it will plan out a method to self destruct, sabotage or simply change your mind about the whole thing with some lame excuse.

Getting a grip on these psychological triggers to self sabotage is key. You must listen to that little voice in your head and know that it is not the voice that set your goals, arrived at your reasons “Why” you are doing these new activitiies, rather, it is a part of you that wants to stay in a routine, a comfortable box that it is used to. Simply put, there is a part of your mind that is afraid of the changes you are embarking upon.

Various techniques can help you deal with these behavioral issues. I consider this mental exericising to be in the category of spiritual. It seems when I examine mentally what I am thinking and why I am making choices, my higher consciousness seems to step in and give me the answers. You may have a different experience, but incorporate some form of spiritual practice so that you can balance the mind and the body and not just focus on the exercise and diet part of being healthy.

10 Tips That Integrate Mind, Body and Spirit for a Balanced, Safe and Successful Physical Activity Program

• Check with your health care provider. If you have a chronic health problem, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, ask your health care provider about what type and amount of physical activity is right for you.(MIND)
• Start slowly. Incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine and gradually work up to 30 minutes per day to improve health, 60 minutes per day to lose weight, or 60 to 90 minutes per day to manage weight.(MIND-BODY)
• Set goals. Set both short-term and long-term goals to keep motivated. (MIND)
• Set rewards. Celebrate every success—you earned it! (MIND)
• Track progress. Keep an activity log to track your progress. Note when you worked out, what activity you did, how long you did the activity, and how you felt during your workout. Also, record the days that you did not workout and what may have caused you to change your routine.(MIND)
• Think variety. Choose a variety of physical activities to help you meet your goals, prevent boredom, and keep your mind and body challenged.(MIND-BODY)
• Be comfortable. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that are appropriate to the activity you will be doing. (BODY)
• Listen to your body. Stop exercising and consult your health care provider if you experience chest discomfort or pain, dizziness, severe headache, or other unusual symptoms while you work out. If pain does not go away, get medical help right away. If you are feeling fatigued or sick, take time off from your routine to rest. You can ease back into your program when you start feeling better (BODY).
• Eat nutritious foods. Choose a variety of nutritious foods every day. Remember that your health and weight depend on both your eating plan and physical activity level. Healthful foods will give you the energy you need to be active.(BODY)
• Use a Trainer or Counselor. Join a class or other stuctured program where you will have accountability to an authority figure such as a meditation instructor, fitness trainer or therapist.(SPIRIT)
• Balance Your Activities. Try Yoga, Tai Chi, or Meditation that balance the mind and body as part of their systems. Be aware of breath, movement and the flow of energy around your body. Turn off your mind and focus on the physical sensations of movement of your physical body, its strength, flexibility and endurance.
• Get support. Encourage your family and friends to support you and join you in your activity. Form walking groups with coworkers, play with your children outside, or take a dance class with friends.(MIND-SPIRIT)

Look at yourself as a whole person. What you think, what you do, what you eat, and what you say all affect the state you are in. They are all interrelated, so give them equal time and balance your mind, body and spiritual aspects of your self.

People have a hard time relying on their own gumption. It comes and goes. its hard to stay excited, motivated, enthused all the time, especially when you encounter a roadblock. Sometimes, you need a real deep moment to spark a fire in your belly that creates almost a spiritual form of inspiration and motivation.

I ran across this video excerpt from Jim Rohn, a well known motivational speaker who tells a story of a woman who one day asked her husband for $10 to which he responded: “What for?”.  She was so affected by this event, that she reached deep into her soul, sort of “hit bottom” so to speak and decided to change her life.

In this video, Jim Rohn mention four keys that surround this life changing event and what goes on in your mind that allows you to do something to change things around:

disgust, decision, desire and resolve.

Have you ever had such an experience? Share your thoughts on this blog. This is powerful stuff and you can’t buy this sort of advice in a book. You have to experience it first hand and therefore it cannot be bought or sold.

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Is repeating something 3 times/day, while spinning clockwise and jumping up and down on one foot for 21 days really going to manifest your hearts desires?  Sometimes that’s what it seems like the message is when I read all these e-courses and e-books on Law of Attraction and Manifesting.  I heard someone say he doesn’t believe in dream boards, because it just reminds him of what he doesn’t have!  If you have the wrong mind-set and are full of doubt and sit around in the same muck every day, then I strongly, pretty much guarantee, that your sitch is not going to make any dramatic changes any time soon!

Yes, it is true one MUST have VISION.  The thought truly does come first.  But, is that enough?  One must see it, feel it, taste it, touch it, and own it, in your mind’s eye to bring it into being.  And, even though I was making fun, I take it back and actually think it would be helpful to spin and jump up and down to develop the higher motion and emotion which is a key element to creating something out of nothing.  But is it something out of nothing?   Hmm…have you read Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles?  I had loaded a free mp3 version into one of my players one day and had chance to listen to it on a trip down to Scottsdale and back.  I just loved it.  That is exactly what this guy was explaining.  That all things come from this ‘stuff’, like mana, where all things are created from, out of thought using this ‘stuff’.  I must admit I was so amused, not laughing at him, but totally intrigued.

I was just watching some old Napoleon Hill tapes, which are now available to all on YouTube, gotta love it.  I stopped and started the video and wrote down his ‘Secret’ to LOA, which is 3 steps and I will share it with you:

1. Clear description of major desire in life, circumstance, position that represents your description of success.  (The only limitations are those set up in your own mind or allowing others to set up for you.)
2. Clear statement of what you intend to give in return for what you desire from life, and then begin giving it, immediately.
3. Memorize both, repeat at least a dozen times daily and always end with a statement of expression of gratitude, such as:  “Oh, Divine Providence, I ask not Divine Providence of more riches, but of more wisdom with which to accept and use wisely the riches I received at birth in the form of power to control and direct my mind to whatever ends I desire.”

Now, when Napoleon Hill and Wallace Wattles both say there is something to repeating your heart’s desire, then OK, I concede, there is.   Afterall, in all things, the thought comes first.  Even with the bible, it says first came the Word…no it didn’t, first came the Thought!  Then GOD (whatever that means to you) spoke into existence (this part is also very important), by using the Word.  Then, out of seemingly nothing, God brought something, tying us right back to old Science of Getting Rich and that all things come from this etheric “stuff”, or mana, for another word.  I picture this white fluffy, misty, essence, energy, like etheric foam, from which all things come and are possible.  I just love this whole concept.  I was floored as I was listening to this.

So, to tie this all up in a neat bow, yes, you must think something with all your heart and soul as if it already exists.  Then speak it into existence and ‘jump around’ (or similar) while doing it to really rev up the energy around the thought and the word.  Then, there comes action.  You must take action toward your goal; peeps say God (whatever that means to you) helps those who help themselves.  I am of the spiritual tendency as opposed to the religious, but I believe this concept to be true.  The Universe helps those who help themselves. 

I will speak more of action and mind-set in another blog.  For now, let’s focus back in on Napoleon Hill, and sum it all up with if you conceive it, believe it, you can achieve it; think it, speak it and charge it up with positive energy and dreams with timeframes do come true.

What is the secret behind success that is talked about in so many books?

The number one reason people are successful is how they think and what they believe. Really – its that simple. This may sound overly simplistic. Certainly a secret cannot be revealed in just two words you say! Well, if you think about it. Secrets are often very simple “nuggets of truth” or “gems of wisdom”.

I could probably write a whole book about the “secret” of this or that. In fact, writing a whole book creates the perception that the secret to be revealed is so incredibly valuable that is certainly must take a whole book to explain.

In fact, the actual secret may not even be revealed as in the case with Napolean Hill’s classic best seller Think and Grow Rich. In the beginning of his book, he alludes to the fact that there is an underlying secret revealed dozens of times throughout the book, but never labels any of his concepts as being one of “the secrets”.

He perhaps titled his book Think and Grow Rich instead of “secrets of growing rich” because there was already another book written before him in 1910, “The Secrets of Growing Rich” by (William Wattles ?)  Of course, Napolean Hill didn’t want to be a copycat so he left “secret” out of the title, but alluded to it at the beginning of his book. So in his own way, he is saying that his book also reveals a secret to wealth and riches.

“The starting point of all achievement is desire” – Napolean Hill

There are many other secrets contained in the book. Faith for instance, is a state of mind, a belief that gives rise to greater action than merely the thought itself.  Other concepts are persistence, having an organized plan, a mastermind group, the power of the subconscious mind, decision, imagination and others.

What I find interesting is that the recent revival of many of these ideas was resurrected in the movie “the Secret” which is based on the term “Law of Attraction” which actually can be traced back to the late 19^thcentury.  Napolean Hill touches upon the concept of law of attraction when discussing the subconscious mind, the power of autosuggestion, desire and the mastermind principles.

In fact anyone who is an avid follower of the Law of Attraction “movement” should indeed read Think and Grow Rich and be amazed that many of the so called “secrets” are not really new or newly revealed as in the movie.

I find the term definiteness of purpose to be similar to the “power of intention” which is another term based on these principles, just packaged differently. Thought plays a key role here. Faith in circumstances beyond your apparent control gives rise to the “magic” of manifesting your intentions. Merely having good intentions do not guarantee results.

I hear a lot of people stating that the Law of Attraction “doesn’t work” (for them). They should read Think and Grow Rich and then fully understand the theory behind the Power of Intention, (perhaps read Wayne Dywer’s book, The Power of Intention).

It all starts with the mind, the thoughts and desire which creates the catalyst for manifestation. Of course it doesn’t hurt to having a “burning” desire. Do you see the difference between simply having a desire (a form of wanting) and a burning desire? The burning denotes an emotional reason behind the purpose which gives rise to a higher vibration associated with the thought of desire.

I encourage everyone to add these principles to their arsenal of self improvement, be persistent in your path to success and most of all, have faith.