The important effect good nutrition has on our health is so well documented. Yet, the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2017) tells us that diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart disease, all linked to poor diet are the world’s biggest killers.
This is not a discussion on nutrition. Rather it’s an attempt to highlight how knowing information is often not enough when it comes to the choices we make in our life.
So why is it that while we have the knowledge we still find it difficult to make the right choices to get what we want out of life?
How often have you known what to do but found yourself not doing it?
The gap between what we want in life versus what we get from life is often left open and wide. Feelings of frustration and annoyance from our lack of progress can trigger resorting to even more unhelpful lifestyle choices. Instead of our choices narrowing the gap they widen the gap and our dissatisfaction continues.
A life well lived is about expanding our fulfilment and well-being. Achieving our goals and dreams in life builds resilience and supports us in in times of trouble. Key to achieving your goals is the willingness by you to apply effort commensurate to your desired result. In other words you need to do whatever it takes to close the gap between what you want and what you have.
Deepak Chopra (2008) in his book the seven spiritual laws of success describes the concept of “the law of least effort”. This does not mean applying no effort or very little effort. Rather it suggests that acceptance; responsibility and a lack of defensiveness will ensure you achieve success with more ease and less effort.
If your goal is to improve your health and fitness then full acceptance of what is required from you to achieve the desired outcome, is the first step. Examples might include better diet, exercise etc. Recognising and accepting the significance of achieving your goal is also beneficial.
The next step is taking responsibility to get started. Then being accountable to yourself so you stay on track until the goal is achieved.
The final step is to avoid defending why you didn’t take action before or justifying how hard it is for you to achieve the goal because of a, b& c. This is just storytelling and will only prevent progress.
In summary, whatever you dream about achieving is possible but only if you are willing to apply effort commensurate to the result you desire. This requires overcoming resistance and accepting wholeheartedly whatever actions are needed to get the job done. This may require sacrifice and a new focus but what is the alternative and where will that lead?
For a fast way to overcome the obstacles and resistances that stop you from achieving your goals -book a Life Coaching session now.
References
Chopra, D. (2008). The seven spiritual laws of success. New Dehli: Hay House India.
C. Jacob, J. Baird, M. Barker, et al. The importance of a life course approach to health: Chronic disease risk from preconception through adolescence and adulthood. WHO, Geneva (2017)
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