By: Sam Ibraham
I have a powerful saying and it goes something like this: “Passion endures, even when everyone stops looking”.
We are creatures of habit as well as community beings. No matter who we are we are affected by our environment and in many ways influenced and are products of it…in many cases we like and in some we do not.
My series of questions that I often get in the clinical environment during health screening or health maintenance is “How do I keep pushing forward when people stop looking”. This was a young lady commenting on how motivated she was to maintain an excellent exercise routine and diet when in public and when being watched. As a product of our environment she dared not to stop cycling and dared not to order what she should while making smart choices at restaurants. Why you may ask? and in the same instance you correct yourself and understand that it is the same reasons that motivates you to do the same….that fear of being judged, looking foolish or better yet failure.
So what is the remedy, we cannot combat our environment, and in many ways cannot change it, so now what?
The answer is simple, do not conform! Use the very environment that inhibits you to help you. Notice how you perform when you are being watched either with food choices you make, the exercise you do, the presentations at work. These can be what I call positive stressors, although uncomfortable at times it drives you to succeed as to put your best foot forward.
So what does this look like? As the New Year comes million of gym memberships are purchased many of which will never have a single visit! This is not a ploy to boycott gym memberships but rather an opportunity to make your resolution come true. If an environment of strangers in a gym keeps you working hard of fear of looking foolish or failure try taking your friend to ease your environmental factors. Studies show we are more motivated and push through tasks when accompanied by another. By making each other accountable you succeed together. As your confidence builds the “stranger phenomenon” will still work but now you have built yourself intrinsic motivation, sort of like building up your credit score to qualify for that big purchase. The payout here is your health and wellness, and I know you can do it!
samibraham 