The Mind’s the Limit

In previous posts we have discussed fitness in terms of exercise and diet but have not touched on how powerful your mind can be when it comes to fitness. Simply speaking, you are only able to go as far as your mind will let you. I know, I know, this is something we have all heard before, “the mind’s the limit”, “you can do anything if you put your mind to it”, and other similar sayings. However, to an extent it would not be said if it was not true, and, in my experience, the mind really is the limit.

One’s mental state must be one of the most important aspects of fitness, in my opinion. Yes, exercise and diet are very important as well, and balancing all three is ideal. If one’s mental state is not all the way there, then it is rather difficult to follow through and make the necessary changes needed to become healthy and fit (and I have first handedly experienced this more than once).  Therefore, from my own experiences, here are some ways to help encourage your mental state so that you are completely on board with your new fitness journey and able to follow through with the healthy changes you are making.

Positive Thoughts are A Must

A positive outlook will help you go further than you previously thought. If you are negative most of the time (and we all know that the negativity is not a joy ride either) you are perpetuating a path of failure. When you change your way of thinking to become more positive, you are creating a positive outlook on life. This then helps you feel happier and more confident in what you are doing. Oh, and do not forget to laugh either! This helps to make everything more fun and you are not as hard on yourself while learning new things.

“Fake It ‘Till You Make It!”

Confidence is the next huge one, and my boyfriend tells me this all the time. “You have to fake it ’till you make it”, and there is truth in this as well. Acting confident helps you be and feel more confident in general. In turn, this helps you follow through with the new, healthy habits you are working on building. With confidence you will also be able to do more than you previously thought. It is important to listen to your body so that you do not hurt yourself, however you can do more than you initially think. You may just surprise yourself.

Set Yourself Up for Success

First and foremost, you must believe in yourself. Tell yourself that you can, and you will be able to do X, Y, and Z. No matter where you are at in your journey, you need to believe in yourself. One of the easiest ways to do so is to look for the small successes that you can accomplish. Notice yourself getting stronger or going further than you were able to before. The little successes add up so that you can reach big goals. If you are telling yourself that you cannot, then you are setting yourself up for failure. You create a perpetuating path for yourself where you end up back at the beginning. Change is difficult but it is how we grow, therefore setting yourself up for success is vital.

Envision What You Want to Accomplish

This one is a bit more hippy-dippy, but, again, there is something to this. Focus on what you want to do and envision yourself doing those things. This could be living the lifestyle you want to live, the workouts you want to accomplish, or the eating habits you want to have. Imagining what you want to accomplish begins to lead a pathway towards reaching your goals. I do think that imagining what you want to be doing increases the likelihood of following through with them.

So the Bottom Line…

It can be easier to skip-out, not do anything, or think negatively about what you are doing. You do have to actively work at being positive and encouraging with yourself (sometimes more so than not) while you are building healthy habits. Having the right mindset will help make your fitness journey easier.

Check out How to Get Motivated to Work Out When You are not Feeling Motivated for some more fitness inspiration!

Let’s Chat!

What are your thoughts on the power of the mind? Have you noticed a difference with a different mindset? Let me know in the comments down below!