Lean Into The Hurt A Little. [VIDEO]

I love assisting people reach their health and fitness goals. I teach them how to squat, press, lunge, jump, sprint, and pick things up off the floor without hurting themselves. I love talking about nutrition so they stop gaining weight and feeling like they’ve been hit by a bus.

I teach people the importance of a holistic lifestyle and how to maximize their health. They learn how to stretch, why this or that hurts and we fix it with corrective exercise.

Movement and the physiological aspects of health is what I was put on this earth to share.

Physiological and movement education however, is not the full extent of what my profession entails. During sessions, there lies just under the surface, an unanticipated adaptation. Just under the surface of what seems like chaos; loud music, clanging weights, grunting, spitting, sweating and swearing there is a beneficial change happening.

No, I’m not talking about bigger biceps and tighter glutes (butts do get tighter, and biceps bigger though).

It’s an adaptation between the ears.

Along with their physical progress, I watch as people build more self confidence, do something they thought was impossible, conquer goals, and develop MENTAL FORTITUDE.

Mental fortitude is the ability to tell your brain to shut up when discomfort is presented in any form. It is what makes you sit down and do the work you don’t want to do, it’s what makes you keep running when you want to puke and fall over.

My profession requires I have the skill set to be able to bring out, immediately, the potential I see in my clients and make sure they don’t quit on themselves when it gets tough. I must be able to help them discover their strength when the workouts, and life for that matter get hard.

Being mentally tough allows you to handle anything life throws at you, professionally, personally, and in the gym.

I love this part of my job the most. I didn’t know I was going to get to do that, but it’s a necessary component. My clients become stronger physically AND mentally.They don’t give up when it gets hard.

I teach them to lean into the pain, become friends with it if only for a short while. Don't run away or avid it. It’s ok to be uncomfortable. Remember that.

I’ll state it once more because so many need to hear it. It’s ok to be uncomfortable.

Alright I’m going to share with you a video I found to be a reminder of why leaning in to the hurt is useful. I was sent the following video by a gentleman named Chad through Facebook. He’s a fellow self-improvement fanatic and I couldn’t be more grateful for his kind words and him sending me this video.  

It’s one of the most motivational videos on this very subject that I’ve ever seen. It’s long but for your own sake, watch this instead of another fu*king useless episode of The Bachelor. You’ll thank me once you make that decision.

Upgrade Your Mindset With Gratitude Immediately! [VIDEO]

Just wanted to throw up a quick video about my gratitude practice that I've been engaging in almost daily. In life when you start to feel down, we inevitably begin to dwell on the negative aspects of our lives. It's just the way our brains are wired.

The brain is constantly looking out for potential danger, even when there isn't any threat of real physical danger. 

Being constantly aware of potential danger leads us to unconsciously focus on things that are merely bothering us. So that is why these things become the focus of your attention. Letting your brain run wild will lead you down a dark, slippery road to apathy and depression.

FORGET THAT.

You can rewire your brain to focus on positive aspects of your life. To focus on the situations and circumstances you can be grateful for. Practicing gratitude is the easiest way to change your mental and emotional state in a radical way. Stop letting your mind run freely, out of control with no guidance. You must manage your thoughts, not the other way around.

I've been really ruminating on this phrase I heard from the formidable force that is Jocko Willink.

DISCIPLINE = FREEDOM

You must discipline your mind. You must teach it to focus on the positive. You'll have more energy, exude confidence, be a more effective, husband or wife, father or mother, and a better leader. 

The priming exercise I follow is one I found from Tony Robbins himself. Its a powerful tool to rewire your brain for the better. Here is Tony Robbins taking you through his priming exercise he uses at his events: Priming Exercise