When our attitude or belief about a particular behavior is not consistent with that behavior we engage in, we then experience a state of anxiety. We have to make one of two choices. Either change our behavior to be in alignment or consistent with our belief system/thoughts about that behavior or we can change our Belief System/thoughts about the behavior in order to bring them both into alignment or consistency. Either of these approaches will reduce feelings of guilt or anxiety about a behavior, however one is unhealthy and not conducive to changing behavior and the other is. People often try to rationalize behavior with irrational thinking. This may result in a temporary state of forgetting about taking responsibility for change, however you will only continue to fail at reaching your fitness and health goals if you refuse to confront those behaviors that prevent you from reaching optimal health. Whether it's making excuses not to exercise, making excuses as to why you can't eat healthy food or making excuses for smoking cigarettes etc., you will not achieve lasting change in your life if you don't first gain control over your attitudes and belief system about your behavior by calling it for what it "is" and not what you want to "believe it is." Faulty attitudes and beliefs will sabotage you time and time again.

Examples:

Belief System/Attitude = Smoking Cigarettes can be harmful to one’s health and has many adverse side affects on the body
Behavior = Despite the belief system about smoking you continue to smoke cigarettes.
Resulting Affect = A state of feeling guilty or anxious every time you smoke a cigarette not to mention the harmful affects to your health. Rationally you know this is wrong based on rational thinking and therefore a state of anxiety results.

Two Interventions on the part of the individual to reduce feelings of guilt or anxiety:

1. I can change my attitude or belief system about the behavior of smoking

Cigarettes to reduce my feelings of guilt and anxiety about the behavior.

Examples of trying to rationalize your unhealthy or unproductive behavior:

“My uncle smoked all his life since he was 12 years old and lived to be 100 years old.”

“Everybody is going to die of something anyway.”

“Lots of people smoke cigarettes and live a long time”

“I only smoke on the weekends and I deserve to treat myself.”

Resulting Outcome = A reduction in the feeling of guilt or anxiety about the behavior of smoking and thus a continuation of the behavior of smoking cigarettes and the subsequent health affects.

2. The ideal choice is to examine your belief system about a behavior and challenge the validity of it. Ultimately you must change your attitude to a realistic belief system that is truly representative of the behavior in question and therefore your only option is to “change or quit the behavior.”

Examples of confronting your unhealthy counter-productive behavior:

“The exception is the not the rule; Smoking cigarettes kills thousands every year.”

“Smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer emphysema and other health problems.”

“Smoking cigarettes stains your teeth”

“Smoking cigarettes destroys lung tissue and impacts lung capacity.”

“Smoking cigarettes shortens your lifespan.”

Resulting Outcome = By maintaining a truly representative and rationale belief system about the behavior of smoking cigarettes, the only other choice will be to quit the behavior of smoking in order to reduce feelings of guilt and or anxiety. Your behavior of being a “nonsmoker” will now be in line or consistent with your new belief system that “Smoking is bad.” *

This is an example of how our beliefs and attitudes can perpetuate or drive a behavior. In order to truly change behavior including developing and maintaining a healthy life style, one must begin with their belief system and attitudes about their behaviors.

* Our beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes are the steering wheel and key to reaching our goals in life. I can help you with cognitive & Behavioral Counseling to address any barriers you may have that are  setting you up for failure. I can coach you and teach you healthier thinkng tools to examine and monitor yourself.                   

 Total Fitness Philosophy: 

The Whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. Collectively we as living, breathing, and thinking individuals need to function as an organized whole in our experiences. The Principle of Totality - The conscious experience must be considered globally (by taking into account all the physical and mental aspects of the individual simultaneously) because the nature of the mind demands that each component be considered as part of a system of dynamic relationships. This applies to physical fitness and overall wellness and fitness as a person. Your physical health alone does not complete a healthy person if your mind does not follow in suit.