December 04, 2020
Welcome to this Mindset Training video!
Mindset is one of my favorite things to talk about, because I truly believe that it impacts every area of your life.
If you are brand new to this and you've never heard the concept of your thoughts and beliefs creating who you are and what shows up in your reality, this entire process and this information is going to be eye-opening. I hope it will allow you to feel empowered and back in control of your life.
Years ago I was going through a really rough time. I was going through a divorce, quit my job, moved away… I was going through big transformations, and felt like I had hit rock bottom. On top of that, I had low self-esteem and a deep sense of being less than everyone else or just not good enough. This was when I was 20 - 21. And it was also when I had my first panic attack.
I remember I was sitting in church. (I’m currently a spiritual person rather than a religious person, but that’s a story for another time!) Suddenly, I felt like my breath got short, my palm got clammy and sweaty, my head started spinning, and a pit in my stomach. Just straight fear. I remember thinking "Something is seriously wrong. I need to get out of here". I went straight out the door thinking I was going to die. When I told my family about it, my dad told me to consider that what happened to me was actually a panic attack. He had gone through it before because he has a fear of flying, and he is claustrophobic. When he suggested that to me, I felt lost and confused. How was it possible? How could I fix it?
I felt so embarrassed, and I started associating this panic attack, this anxiety to places. I thought “Ok, if church makes me have panic attacks, I’ll stop going to church”. I thought that I solved it and continued with my life. But it happened again while I was in a fitting room trying on some clothes. I immediately left the store and went home, and just felt exhausted and totally defeated. I also stopped going, thinking that it was something outside of myself. I had to drop out of college, quit my job, move back to my parent’s house… I hit rock bottom and thought that that was going to be my life from now on.
At some point, my father gave me the book "From panic to Power", and I connected with it. The author shared her experience with anxiety and panic attacks, low self-esteem, and dealing with problems overeating. After reading the book, my mind was opened so much. I understood what was going on with me and where it was coming from.
Mindfulness and understanding your inner self can help you go over problems, and not only anxiety. Stress, low self-esteem, feeling lost… it will help you go over it and live up to your full potential.
We all have thoughts that a lot of times we're on autopilot. You're not even aware of them, but things like "I hate my job", "I'm so tired”, "Why do I have to do this?", "There's not enough money”, "I'm living paycheck to paycheck", “I hate the way I look”, "I'll never look like that person"... run through our head. And well, our amazing body reacts to them accordingly. So there's the saying "Thoughts become things".
I'm sure you've heard of fight or flight. Fight or flight is the anxiety response, what produces adrenaline in the body. So, if you’re being chased by someone, under attack, or someone wants to hurt someone you love, here’s what happens. A thought is produced in your mind that signals danger, fear, defense. Adrenaline runs through your body so you can stay alert and react to the situation. Just like getting on a roller coaster. You know you’ll drop at some point, so you stay alert, excited. But… what happens when you get this sensation while sitting in your living room, at work, or at church?
As you can see, getting over anxiety isn’t something that you can fix changing your surroundings. It’s a transformation from the inside out. Understanding the mind and body connection, I promise you, will open your eyes.
What does all of this have to do with fitness? Imagine you are in the gym, and about to lift a weight you’ve never lifted before. Your mind immediately creates thoughts, which produce a reaction in your body. If you think "I've never done that weight, I can't do it”... remember that your body is in partnership with your mind, so therefore your body is gonna produce... not enough strength! As in you won’t have enough strength to pick up the weight, and you told your body to not be able to.
For now, all I want you to do is become aware. Whenever you catch thoughts running around your mind, ask yourself: “Does this thought serve me in moving towards what I want, or is this a repetitive and blocking thought from my childhood or society?” Keep doing what you're doing, but be aware. I promise you, you will find yourself questioning certain actions. “I really am just doing this out of habit, not because I actually want this. What I want is to be healthy, and fit, and to feel good, and to look good, and to be confident.” Practice being aware when you eat meals, when you exercise, and anytime.
Try to keep track of these thoughts by taking notes. Next time, we will understand more of where these thoughts come from, how to get rid of them, how to establish new ones. Learn mindfulness to be fully empowered with the tools you need to change your body, your mindset, and your life. You’ve got this!
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