This Thursday is Thanksgiving, the day Americans set aside to celebrate all the things we are grateful for in our lives. For many people this means gatherings with friends, family, and other loved ones. Some people may spend the holiday alone due to work or other reasons. Regardless of how we spend the day, most of us will spend at least a bit of time reflecting and giving thanks.
Although gratitude is an overused word these days, it can still be a powerful tool to help live a more positive, fulfilling life. Practicing gratitude enables us to see the positive in any situation. It teaches us to celebrate the things that enrich our lives even in the face of struggle and hardship. The perpetual optimist who always tries to appreciate the things they do have will be much happier than the person who constantly dwells on the negative, thinking only about the unfair burdens they’ve had to bear or what is lacking in their life.
As you give thanks this week, consider your attitude toward your health and fitness. Are you someone who looks forward to daily movement and loves the way you feel after filling your body with nutritious food? Or are you someone who dreads the gym, eats junk regularly, and constantly feels run-down or lethargic? Do you take ownership of your choices or do you feel like eating right and exercising are impositions placed on you by someone else? If you are struggling to make exercise and healthy eating a regular part of your life, take a step back and use gratitude to reframe your situation. Getting in shape is tough, but being thankful for the things you are able to do goes a long way in helping you push through challenges.
Exercise as a celebration of movement and life
I know how hard it can be to find the motivation to work out. After a long day at work, a poor night’s sleep, or unexpected family stress, putting on your gym clothes to get your sweat on is often the last thing on your mind. Compounding this problem may be a toxic attitude toward exercise. For many people, exercise is a form of punishment for eating poorly, looking a certain way, or feeling lazy and apathetic. There is no joy in their workouts and they dread coming to the gym.
To change this, reframe exercise in a positive light. See exercise as a celebration of all the things your body can do. The human body is an amazingly complex, versatile, and resilient machine. Be thankful for the gift of movement and recognize that if you don’t use it, you lose it.
The human brain and body evolved to be intimately connected. Engaging in regular exercise and physical play enables you to feel more connected to your body, encourages mental sharpness and focus, and improves your mood. This is one reason why mental health practitioners always recommend exercise as a part of a well rounded treatment for mental health issues.
One way to get motivated is to find physical activities you actually enjoy. Too many people force themselves into conventional exercise modalities because they think it’s what they’re supposed to do. The reality is that movement comes in many shapes and sizes: walk, run, climb, throw, jump, kick, crawl, lift, swim, pose, stretch, carry, dance, play, and more. Find a handful of activities you enjoy and engage in them regularly. Ensure you have a good foundation of strength and conditioning so you can safely and effectively perform these other activities.
Another way to make exercise more enjoyable is to find a community of likeminded people to support you along the way. This could be as small as one other person or as large as a group of 100 people or more. If you don’t have access to such a group in person, there are numerous online communities designed to provide support, accountability, and encouragement to people of all ability levels chasing every kind of physical goal. Humans are social animals. Going through challenges with others helps you appreciate your own skills and keeps negativity in check by providing some perspective as to what other people are experiencing.
It only takes one accident or serious ailment to rob you of your ability to move. Don’t take this amazing gift for granted or let it slip away as you age. Be grateful for your good mobility and engage in whatever kinds of movement feel best to you.
Healthy eating as a gift to your body and brain
Dieting is inherently challenging. You have to push your body to an uncomfortable place in order to see changes. Experiencing hunger, practicing self-restraint, resisting temptation, and dealing with pressure from friends and family are all par for the course when you go on a diet. These uncomfortable sensations can compound to make you miserable if you let them.
Instead of getting caught up in negativity or self-pity, reframe dieting as a temporary discomfort that ultimately allows you to live a healthier life. Think of healthy eating as a gift to your body and brain. When you fill your body with nourishing foods, you look, feel, think, and perform better. This makes everything in your life more enjoyable.
Be grateful you live in a place where you are privileged enough to restrict food intake or make healthier choices in order to improve your wellbeing. Many people around the world don’t have access to fresh, healthy foods and still others are suffering from various malnutrition related ailments. If you have the resources to make these changes, you are doing much better than most. Sometimes thinking globally helps put your individual discomfort into perspective.
Another food related reframe centers around holiday eating. Many people experience a great deal of food anxiety over the holidays when they find themselves surrounded by less-than-ideal food choices at parties, gatherings, and family meals. Stress over weight gain can put a huge damper on a time that should otherwise be relaxing and joyous.
Instead of fretting about your diet, take a step back and reconnect with what the holidays are truly about. Take some time to show your appreciation for friends and family. Be grateful for the opportunity to rest, celebrate, and reflect with loved ones. If food is an important part of your holidays, go ahead and relax a bit. Eating has always been a central part of human celebration and you won’t ruin a whole year of hard work with a couple of feasts.
Use gratitude to help you appreciate life more
Nothing worth having comes easily. In all areas of your life – professional, personal, health, and more – you must push yourself through challenges and make sacrifices to move forward and grow. Taking time to be thankful for the gifts we’ve been given goes a long way in making these struggles more bearable. Don’t dwell on the negatives; look for ways to practice gratitude this week and beyond.
If gratitude has you feeling inspired to recommit to your exercise routine, you should check out my 4C System. It’s a totally free five day email course teaching you to become a more consistent exerciser. Sign up using the box below.
I like your post. You need to feed your mind daily. And for exercising it is important to just do an activity you love with the goal of just simply moving!