3 Ways to Leverage the Mind-Body Connection for Fitness

by Lisa OberbichlerConfidence, Goals, Habits, Health & Fitness, MindsetPosted on No Comments

LISTEN TO EPISODE 90 HERE -> https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/mzly0QbPRxb

Welcome to Episode 90 of the Inspiration2grow podcast, the show to follow for optimizing your health through mindset, nutrition and exercise.  I like to refer to it as the trifecta of wellness.

In today’s episode I am going talk about the origins of this concept – mind-body connection, how powerful mind-body connection is and how we can leverage this connection in our fitness efforts.  Get ready to be inspired, friends. 

Where the mind goes, the body follows.

Your mind is stronger, much stronger in fact, that your body. All commands must come from your brain before your body responds. Your brain is in charge of your body, not the other way around. If you think in your mind, I am tired, it hurts, or I can’t do it then that is exactly how your body is going to respond.

The mind is a powerful force, capable of dictating our physical actions and influencing our behavior in ways that are both positive and negative.

The concept of the mind determining what the body does is an intriguing one, and it has been studied extensively in recent years. The idea is that our minds can dictate our physical actions, to the point where they can even override our body’s natural desires and needs.

The concept of the mind-body connection has been around for centuries. Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates were some of the first to explore this idea, and they suggested that the mind should be in control of the body. In modern times, the concept has been further studied and developed into what is now known as “mind-body medicine”.

This type of medicine seeks to bridge the gap between the physical and psychological aspects of health, by recognizing that the body and mind are connected and that one can influence the other. In order to understand how the mind determines what the body does, it is important to understand the various ways that the mind can affect the body.

The first way is through direct conscious control. This is when we make conscious choices or decisions that affect our physical actions, such as choosing to exercise or eat healthy food.

Another way that the mind can control the body is through the subconscious. This is when we make choices without even realizing it, such as when we make decisions based on emotions or past experiences.

Finally, the mind can influence the body through the power of suggestion. This is when we are influenced by the beliefs, thoughts, and opinions of those around us, or by the media. It is also important to understand that the mind can have both a positive and negative effect on the body.

On the positive side, the mind can be used to motivate us to take action, to stay focused and motivated, and to achieve our goals.

On the negative side, the mind can be used to create unhealthy habits and negative thought patterns, which can lead to physical ailments such as depression, anxiety, and illness.

The concept of the mind controlling the body has been used in many different areas of medicine, including physical therapy, sports psychology, and addiction treatment. In physical therapy, the mind is used to help patients overcome physical limitations or injuries by using mental imagery and visualization techniques. In sports psychology, the mind is used to help athletes improve their performance by focusing on positive thoughts and visualization.

Finally, in addiction treatment, the mind is used to help individuals break their addiction by teaching them to recognize their triggers and to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Overall, the idea that the mind determines what the body does is an intriguing one and it is something that has been studied extensively in recent years.

There is evidence to suggest that the mind can be used to influence our physical actions and that it can have both positive and negative effects on our health and wellbeing.
 
The mind body connection is a powerful tool for achieving fitness goals as well.

By leveraging the power of the mind to influence the body, you can reach a new level of fitness and become the best version of yourself.

Today I am just going to scratch the surface of this topic and I intend to go into it in more detail in future episodes, but I will briefly explain how to leverage the mind body connection for fitness and how it can be used to achieve lasting results. The mind body connection is the idea that the mind and body are connected in a way that can influence each other.

This means that when the mind is in a healthy state, the body can achieve its maximum potential.

On the other hand, when the mind is in an unhealthy state, the body can suffer as a result. The key to leveraging the mind body connection for fitness is to understand how the mind and body interact and use that knowledge to create a positive experience for both. The first step to leveraging the mind body connection for fitness is to understand the different components of physical fitness.

Physical fitness can be broken down into four key components: strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. Each component of physical fitness has its own set of mental and physical challenges.

Once you understand the components of physical fitness, you can begin to identify areas where you can focus on improving your mental and physical fitness. The next step is to create a mental fitness plan. This plan should include activities that are designed to help you develop a healthy mental state. Examples of activities include yoga, meditation, journaling, and visualization.  All of these activities help to create a relaxed environment in which the mind can work to improve physical fitness. Once you have created a mental fitness plan, the next step is to start implementing it. This will involve making changes to your lifestyle and diet. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly are all important components of physical fitness.

Making these changes will help you to create an environment that is conducive to achieving physical fitness goals. Finally, you should focus on developing a positive attitude towards physical fitness. This means cultivating a sense of self-confidence, self-discipline, and self-esteem.

Through this, you will be able to stay motivated and continue to push yourself towards your fitness goals. In conclusion, the mind body connection is a powerful tool for achieving fitness goals. By understanding the different components of physical fitness, creating a mental fitness plan, and cultivating a positive attitude towards physical fitness, you can take advantage of this powerful connection and reach a new level of fitness.

By leveraging the power of the mind body connection, you can become the best version of yourself. By understanding the various ways that the mind can affect the body, it is possible to use this knowledge to our advantage and to make positive changes in our lives.

I’d like to wrap up today’s podcast with a quote from Ryan Holiday, “Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.”

My hope is that you start to implement some of the ideas, tips and strategies that I talk about and I would love to know which ones have been beneficial for you personally.

I would also like to invite you to become part of the Inspiration2grow community on Facebook.  The group name is: Inspiration2grow for Female Goal-getters.  It is meant to be a community of like-minded women who want to grow strong from the inside out.  There will be journalling prompts, nutrition and fitness tips, exercises to try, encouraging conversations among the community and lots more.  So, be sure to join this group for support, new ideas and the necessary rocket fuel to propel your health and wellness to new heights.

But before you look up today’s show notes or before you join us on Facebook, I would be very grateful if you could leave a review of my podcast.  A favourable one, I hope!  This way it will be shown to more listeners and the messages shared on this show could possibly reach more people who need it – with your help.

And remember…

You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself, show up for yourself and become the best version of YOU.

In case you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to tell you…

You are incredible, capable and your potential is limitless.  Never forget that I believe in you 100%.  Now, go out there and show the world what you are truly made of.

I hope to have inspired you to grow.

Til next time,
Lisa  xoxo
 

5 Reasons Why You Should Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

by Lisa OberbichlerConfidence, Goals, Habits, Health & Fitness, MindsetPosted on No Comments

LISTEN TO EPISODE 89 HERE -> https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/xFqTFBDORxb


Welcome to Episode 89 of the Inspiration2grow podcast, the show to follow for optimizing your health through mindset, nutrition and exercise.  I like to refer to it as the trifecta of wellness. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a beat.

In today’s episode I am going talk about the 4 zones within your Comfort Zone Map, give you a recent example of how I was literally pushed out of my comfort zone and then I will provide 5 solid reasons why getting out of your own comfort zone is important as well as very advantageous.  Get ready to be inspired, friends. 

So, you have probably heard the saying, “Change only happens when you get out of your comfort zone.”

We all love feeling comfortable, safe and totally in control of everything we do, right.  But if we don’t challenge ourselves, we are unable to grow, experience new things, feel accomplished and proud after doing the thing that scares or worries you, find our purpose perhaps, live out our dreams and achieve our goals.

You might not be aware of this, but there are four clear zones within what I like to call the Comfort Zone Map that I am going to explain now.

Since we are talking about this in audio form, I need you to picture an onion with its layers that can get peeled back one at a time to get to the core of the onion.  This is exactly how I want you to envision this map I am about to walk you through. 

At the core we have your “Comfort Zone”. This is where you feel safe and in control.  There is no fear or discomfort and you feel at home, very comfortable or settled and always safe.  You might lead a very routined life, everything planned and everything happens as predicted. 

Let me just read a quote about the beloved Comfort Zone:

A comfort zone is a psychological state in which things feel familiar to a person, and they are at ease, and in control of their environment, experiencing low levels of anxiety and stress.
 
Inside the comfort zone, people don’t typically engage in new experiences or take on any challenges. They only participate in activities that are familiar, making them feel “in control” of their environment.
 
This describes it perfectly, right?  Does this sound like you?  It likely does, because we all love and cherish our comfort zones.
 
Next we have the layer surrounding your comfort zone.  I refer to it as the “Fear Zone”. 

Once (or if) you have made the decision to leave your comfort zone peeling back another layer of the metaphorical onion, you will reach an unknown zone. This is the fear zone. To reach this zone of fear and evolve successfully, you must learn to see failure as a stepping stone to success. In the fear zone, you will probably lack self-confidence, which is normal by the way because you are entering (as I mentioned) an unknown, unfamiliar zone.  You might not have the skills or knowledge YET to be any good at what you want to do, whatever that is.

People who enter the Fear Zone complain to others, make and find excuses to quit and they listen to others’ opinions instead of their own. There is moaning and procrastination overload in this zone.

Three steps to keep in mind when moving ever so cautiously out of your zone of fear:

First off, you need to identify the fear.  What is it that is holding you back?  What exactly are you afraid of?  Fear is like a huge giant wall preventing us from growth.  We need to face it head on and acknowledge it. 

Next, you need to seek solutions.  If something is not working, you need to try something different. It’s crazy to think you can change, grow and learn by constantly doing the same things all the time yet expecting change. 

The third step is to seek comfort in change.  If you shift your thinking and view change as something good and beneficial for you and your growth, then you will welcome the change with open arms. 

If you’re changing, you’re developing.  If you’re developing, you’re growing.  If you’re growing, you’re moving in the right direction.  Keep it up, friends.
Provided you can move toward your fears and give up control over every situation, hope begins to grow. You start to focus on using problems or setbacks as learning opportunities and you improve because of them.  Then you know you’re on the right track moving out of the Fear Zone and into…

The next layer called the “Learning Zone”.  Essentially you are expanding your comfort zone, by stretching it.  You are acquiring new skills; you’re problem solving as opposed to allowing them to make you give up; you’re facing your challenges head on and coming out a winner.

The final and most exciting layer is known as the “Growth Zone”.  This is where the magic happens, if you ask me.  This zone is where we find out purpose, set new and exciting goals to chase down, live out our dreams because they don’t scare us any more.

We conquer any objectives which might arise.  We embrace uncertainly.  We live our values.

We can easily adapt to change, and the concept of change doesn’t cause anxiety in us any longer.

Those are the four zones or layers of going from your rather small, limited comfort zone all the way to your growth zone that will take you places you’ve never been before, allow you to discover your true potential and create exciting moments each and every day.

So, I guess that is the best segue into the recent experience I had in getting out of my comfort zone.

A few years ago, I finally completed my scuba diving certification.  While I love being in the water, observing beautiful creatures in their own environment, I don’t always feel comfortable diving.  Mainly because of the inherent risks that scuba diving present but also the fact, that I can’t communicate underwater if a problem arises.  Now, before you say, well, you have hand signals you learn during the dive course, and you could buy a small slate to write on underwater – I know all that.  But, I am afraid.  I fear the unknown, unforeseeable issues that could happen while diving. 

So, the sheer fact that I became a scuba diver made me confront my fears and go way out of my comfort zone of snorkelling on the surface where problems are minimal.
However, every time I go scuba diving with my husband, who is a very well-trained, experienced diver, it takes me further steps outside my comfort zone.  Each dive is a new, unknown adventure. 

Which brings me to the recent diving adventure in Florida.  We are here on a road trip and so, we decided to book a dive tour with a local diving operation.  My husband does his due diligence and finds what he thinks to be the best, most reputable company to book with.

On the day of our dive, we arrived and got set up with the tanks and weights needed for our two-tank dive off the shore of the Florida Keys.  I am not an experienced boat captain but even I could tell the water was very choppy and the swells were quite high for a pleasant dive excursion. 

So, here I am, sitting quietly, not uttering a word to anyone, not even my husband.  I could feel this was going to be one of those ‘less-than-perfect’ dive experiences, but I was still game to go and excited to see the breathtaking corals and creatures underwater.

We were given very thorough instructions by the first mate and our dive guide.  Then the captain took over and emphasized a few safety measures we had to follow.  All good, and I somehow made it into the turquoise blue water off the transom at the back of the boat. 

Things were very different during this dive but I was embracing it and not allowing my fear to take over.  Otherwise, I would have been back on that boat in a heartbeat.  We descended and saw some lovely things but due to the roughness of the water, the bottom was churned up quite a bit and visibility was at a minimum.  One thing we did, which I had never dared to do before, was to dive through some caves on the ocean’s floor. 

All went well and after about 30 minutes, it was time to ascend to the surface and get back on the boat.  This was not as easy as it should have been due to the increased swell.  But now the waves were measuring 6 – 8 feet and getting worse by the minute. 

When it was my turn to get close to boat and grab hold of the ladder to climb up and out, a huge wave hit the bow of the boat causing the ladder to swing back violently with me hanging on to it for dear life.  Everyone seemed to be in panic about what was going to happen to me as the waves kept coming and I couldn’t climb up the ladder fast enough in between them.  It was a rather frightening experience, to say the least. 

Finally, I made it up and was able to get out of my gear for a break.  Once everyone was back on board we moved to our next dive location.  But, here I am wondering if I should even attempt a second dive in these conditions. 

I decided not to be a quitter and donned all my gear for round 2.  However, the waves were growing steadily and it’s not easy (for me) to exit off the back of the boat when the boat is rocking so much. 

Hesitantly, I stood up and slowly walked to the swim platform of the boat.  I was considering just staying on board and not participating in this second dive.  So, here I am, still time to back out, standing nervously on the very end of the boat, huge waves coming in.  I have to say that in order to safely enter the water in these conditions, you have to time it absolutely correctly, otherwise…

The captain and first mate are there likely noticing my hesitation.  Then the moment was there when I had to jump or step into the water as divers do.  I swear, I was going to say ‘thanks but I’ll pass this time round.” But before I could, the captain gave me a nudge or pushed me – however you want to look at it and I was in the water for another diving adventure.

Some of you might be wondering why someone would even enter into such a risky situation.  While I felt terribly anxious and fearful in this scenario, I have to say that my husband would never let me enter the water and do a dive that he deemed dangerous.  That would simply not happen.  So, with that in mind, I was able to overcome my fear and do it.

After such an experience, I think you have to reflect and assess what was learned and how did growth happen.  I dove through caves, which was a first.  I got in and out of the water is less-than-ideal circumstances, which was a first. 

I only mentioned this dive experience of mine to show you that we all have moments of fear and times when we have the choice – go for it OR stay comfortable. 
Leaving your comfort zone will always be above and beyond what you have done thus far. And, when you get out of your comfort zone and it works, there’s nothing more satisfying.

It can be easy to stay in a comfort zone and remain in the same situation, but it is important to challenge yourself and step away from your comfort zone.
Getting out of your comfort zone can be a scary thought, but it can also lead to greater opportunities and experiences. Here are five reasons why people should get out of their comfort zone.

1. Increased Confidence: Taking on something that scares you can help to build your confidence in yourself. It can make you realise that you are capable of more than you thought and you can handle new challenges. It can help you to understand that you can achieve your goals and push yourself further.

2. New Opportunities: Stepping out of your comfort zone can open up new opportunities that you would never have thought of or experienced before. It can give you access to new experiences and events that will help you grow and develop in different areas. It can also show you what you are passionate about and lead you to your dream career or hobby.

3. Personal Growth: Taking yourself out of your comfort zone can help you to grow and develop as a person. You can learn new skills, discover new talents and challenge yourself in ways that you never would have thought of before. It can also help you to become more independent and believe in yourself more.

4. New Perspective: Experiencing new things can help you to gain a different perspective on life. It can give you a new outlook on situations and help you to think differently. It can also help you to understand yourself more and appreciate the world around you.

5. Live Life to the Fullest: Getting out of your comfort zone can help you to take advantage of all the opportunities that life has to offer. It can help you to live life to the fullest and make the most of every situation. You can try new things, meet new people and have amazing experiences that you would never have had otherwise.

Getting out of your comfort zone can be a scary and daunting task, but it can lead to so many wonderful and fulfilling experiences. It can help you to become a more confident and independent person, open up new opportunities and help you to gain a new perspective on life.

 It can help you to live life to the fullest and make the most of every situation. So don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges, you never know what amazing experiences await you.

My hope is that you start to implement some of the ideas, tips and strategies that I talk about and I would love to know which ones have been beneficial for you personally.

I would also like to invite you to become part of the Inspiration2grow community on Facebook.  The group name is: Inspiration2grow for Female Goal-getters.  It is meant to be a community of like-minded women who want to grow strong from the inside out.  There will be journalling prompts, nutrition and fitness tips, exercises to try, encouraging conversations among the community and lots more.  So, be sure to join this group for support, new ideas and the necessary rocket fuel to propel your health and wellness to new heights.

But before you look up today’s show notes or before you join us on Facebook, I would be very grateful if you could leave a review of my podcast.  A favourable one, I hope!  This way it will be shown to more listeners and the messages shared on this show could possibly reach more people who need it – with your help.
And remember…

You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself, show up for yourself and become the best version of YOU.

In case you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to tell you…

You are incredible, capable and your potential is limitless.  Never forget that I believe in you 100%.  Now, go out there and show the world what you are truly made of.

I hope to have inspired you to grow.

Til next time,
Lisa  xoxo

The Mindset Shifts for Losing Weight Sustainably – Raw & Real Talk with Christina Hathaway

by Lisa OberbichlerConfidence, Goals, Habits, Health & Fitness, Mindset, Self CarePosted on No Comments

LISTEN TO PODCAST EPISODE 88 HERE -> https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/vlKO1n4tOxb

In today’s episode I have Christina Hathaway on the show talking about the crucial mindset shifts people need to make in order to lose weight sustainably. The audio was less than stellar for the first few minutes of our interview, so I had to read Christina’s answer to the second question myself.  After that point, the interview went smoothly.  

Christina helps high-achieving women rewrite their distorted thinking & acting patterns to find food & body freedom and we talk a lot about what is actually holding people back from losing weight.  Even if you are not on a weight loss journey, there are tons of takeaways anybody can incorporate into their lives to uplevel their health and eating habits.  I hope you enjoy our conversation and get inspired!

Notable Quotes from today:

“Emotions should be felt, not fed.” ~Christina Hathaway
“What you say in the mind, you see in the mirror.” ~ Christina H
“The more we sit with our emotions, the less scary and overwhelming they become.” ~ Christina H


Top 3 Golden Nuggets:

1. Prioritize a protein at each meal.
2. We need to eat above our BMR at all times.  (Christina does an excellent job in explaining why this is necessary.)
3. Confront and take a close look at your relationship with food.  Reframe and recreate patterns in your brain. In doing so, we can make the auto-pilot thoughts quieter and the healthy thoughts louder.


Connect with Christina Hathaway:

Website: mindsetofmatter.com
Facebook Group: StrongHer Mindset Metabolism Reset (a private FB community where she offers free training and Live Q & A’s each week)
Instagram: @fitmrshathaway
Email: christina@mindsetofmatter.com


If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave a review and subscribe for regular updates on how to transform your thoughts and habits to support your goals, tap into the superpower of mindset and become the best version of yourself.

If you’d like to work with me on your personal growth strategies, mastering your mindset and building unwavering confidence to crush your goals, contact: lisaoberbichlercoaching@gmail.com

I would love to welcome you in the Inspiration2grow Facebook Group – join by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1083545765671503

Connect with me on social media:

IG – @lisaoberbichlercoaching
FB – Lisa J. Oberbichler
LinkedIn – Lisa Oberbichler
Website, Blog & Coaching Sessions: www.inspiration2grow.com

Thank you for your support of my podcast and business.
Having YOU as a listener and fellow goal getter lights me up more than you can imagine!

The Practice of Meditation for Newbies and Skeptics

by Lisa OberbichlerGoals, Habits, Health & Fitness, Mindset, Self CarePosted on No Comments

LISTEN TO EPISODE 87 HERE -> https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/1HPHHBUPMxb

In today’s episode I am going to take you on a deeper dive into meditation as a daily practice to de-stress, activate awareness, calm yourself down, re-connect with the present, let your thoughts flow freely, and basically just have some moments of relaxation, calmness and mindfulness, which we all need in our lives – whether we realize it or not.

I’ve mentioned meditation in several of my podcast episodes to date but I have never dedicated one episode just to the practice of meditation.  I hope to inspire you to include this helpful practice in your every day life as a means to start the day off relaxed and mindful OR alternatively, at the end of your day, to settle down and calm your thoughts for a good night’s sleep.

But… you still might be skeptical about meditating, thinking of it as some spiritual, woowoo practice.  I had similar thoughts about it until I actually tried it myself.  If the term ‘meditating’ is not a practice you can wrap your mind around, think of it as ‘de-stressing and calming your mind’.

Meditation is a practice in which the person uses practices such as mindfulness, or on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a feeling of calm.

Meditation provides you with a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health. You can also use it to help regulate your nervous system and cope with stress by refocusing your attention on something calming. Meditation can help you learn to stay centered and provide a deep sense of inner peace.

Meditation is a powerful tool for stress-reduction, and a little bit can go a long way. For many of us, though, it seems like we need to carve out hours in our day to fit it in. What if we told you that meditating for as little as ten minutes a day could make all the difference? In this episode, I’ll give you some simple steps to help you get started with meditation today.
 

Let’s get you started.


-> Intention: Before you begin meditating, be sure to set an intention for the practice. An intention can be anything from wanting to clear your mind so that you can make a decision or find peace and calmness during this busy time in your life, to simply wanting to see how long it takes before you fall asleep on the cushion (that happens). Whatever the reason is for your meditation practice, try to think about what outcome or feeling you hope to carry forward into everyday life after completing this session. If possible, write it down as a reminder of what matters most at this time in your journey toward a new habit of mind.
 
-> Start small: It’s never too late — or too early — to start meditating! If there are days when all you have time for is 3 minutes of mindfulness with yourself each day, then start there and build up from there as time allows. There are no “perfect” conditions for starting out; just do what works best for YOU!
 
Sit Comfortably
The first step to meditation is finding a quiet place where you can sit comfortably. Then, sit on a chair or the floor with your legs crossed in front of you. If you’re sitting on the floor, cross your legs and arms to help create a sense of stability and stillness in your body.

If possible, rest your hands in your lap with palms facing up so that they’re easily accessible later when you begin meditating. This will help keep them from falling asleep during meditation because it’ll give them something interesting to do!

Once you’ve found a comfortable position for yourself (and taken some deep breaths), take note of how relaxed or tense each part of your body feels as well as how heavy or light each part feels compared to other parts. Don’t worry if this doesn’t make sense right now; over time it’ll become easier understand what’s going on inside yourself while meditating!

Focus on your Breath
The next step is to focus on your breath. Whenever you notice that your mind has wandered from the breath, bring it back to what’s going on in your nose and mouth. This can be difficult at first, so don’t take it too seriously if it doesn’t go perfectly. Just try to do the best you can!

Remember not to think about anything else besides the breath: no thoughts about yesterday’s events or tomorrow’s plans, no wondering what you’re doing right now — just keep bringing yourself back to taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Try a Guided Meditation
If you’re new to meditation, a guided meditation can be a great way to get started. Guided meditations are usually shorter than their unguided counterparts — between five and 20 minutes, compared to 30 minutes or more. They also tend to feature soothing voices and relaxing music that can help keep your mind focused, relaxed and in the moment. If you find yourself struggling with distraction or anxiety during longer periods of quiet reflection, guided meditations may be the solution for you!

Start Small
A lot of people find it difficult to meditate for 30 minutes, so don’t worry about that. Start small, with just 5 minutes. If you can do that consistently, then increase the time to 10 minutes and so on until you reach your goal.

The goal doesn’t need to be set in stone — it’s an arbitrary number and doesn’t mean much if you aren’t consistent with your practice. The only thing that matters is how often you sit down and practice meditation.

You can meditate no matter how hectic your schedule is.
You can meditate no matter how busy you are.
You can meditate no matter how many distractions you have.
You can meditate no matter how little time you have!

Maybe you start with five minutes in the morning and then build up to an hour, who knows?

The point is to start where you are right now and take a moment just for yourself.

Meditation is a powerful practice that can help skeptics to reap a range of mental and physical health benefits. It can help to reduce stress, increase mental clarity, and improve emotional intelligence. It can also help to open up our minds and tap into our creative potential.

If you’re a skeptic, give mindful meditation a try and see how it can help you to better understand yourself and the world around you.

That was going to be my conclusion but I just want to end today’s show by outlining the…benefits of meditation for skeptics in summarized form one more time.
Here are some of the most notable benefits of mindful meditation for skeptics:

1. Improved mental clarity: Meditation helps to clear the mind and improve focus. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and increase our ability to think more clearly and logically.

2. Increased emotional intelligence: Meditation can help us to better understand our emotions and the emotions of others. It can also help us to become more aware of our biases and emotional triggers.

3. Enhanced creativity: Meditation can help to open up our minds and tap into our creative potential. It can also help to reduce stress and increase our ability to think outside the box.

4. Improved physical health: Meditation can help to reduce physical pain, improve sleep, and even boost the immune system.

5. Increased resilience: Mindful meditation can help us to become better equipped to handle difficult situations and bounce back from adversity. You have nothing to lose in trying meditation, but boy, you have everything to gain.

I challenge all the skeptics out there to get out of their comfort zones and give it a shot. 

I would also like to invite you to become part of the Inspiration2grow community on Facebook.  The group name is: Inspiration2grow for Female Goal-getters.  It is meant to be a community of like-minded women who want to grow strong from the inside out.  There will be daily journalling prompts, nutrition and fitness tips, exercises to try, encouraging conversations among the community and lots more.  So, be sure to join this group for support, new ideas and the necessary rocket fuel to propel your health and wellness to new heights.

But before you look up today’s show notes or before you join us on Facebook, I would be very grateful if you could leave a review of my podcast.  A favourable one, I hope!  This way it will be shown to more listeners and the messages shared on this show could possibly reach more people who need it – with your help.
And remember…

You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself, show up for yourself and become the best version of YOU.

In case you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to tell you…

You are incredible, capable and your potential is limitless.  Never forget that I believe in you 100%.  Now, go out there and show the world what you are truly made of.

I hope to have inspired you to grow.

Til next time,
Lisa  xoxo

A Vote of Confidence

by ConfidencePosted on No Comments

You may be chipping away at your confidence without even knowing it! 

This revelation came to me today whilst doing my workout and listening to an interview with the well-known speaker.

We are all born with a body full of Vitamin C – known as confidence.  You may not remember this but as a baby you tried to do all sorts of things like crawling to get to the toy that caught your eye across the floor, or you attempted your first steps to follow your pet dog out of the room or to step into the outstretched arms of a loved one.  Did we fall down? YES. Did we try again? YES. Did we fail numerous times without really feeling defeated?  YES.  None of this broke down our confidence in wanting to achieve those simple things in life. 

We go through life experiencing so many ups and downs, successes and defeats, wins and losses, forward propulsion as well as emergency break situations.  All of which shape our minds into believing what we are capable of doing.  As a child, the sky is the limit, and we know no limitations.  However, as adults we are very aware, oftentimes too conscious, of what could go wrong and what might happen that we do not move forward in life full of conviction and confidence toward our dreams.

The point I am trying to make here is that confidence is deep within all of us.  As a child and through your teenage years, your confidence level was influenced by your peers, loved ones, environment and to a large extent school as well as teachers.  These factors either built you up or knocked you down diminishing your confidence each time. 

You may have carried these limiting beliefs into adulthood stemming from those experiences – both in a positive and negative sense.  We have all met people who exude confidence and are willing to go after anything they want.  But there are also people out there who avoid trying something new for fear of failure or not being good enough.  Fear and limiting beliefs will hold you in place and govern your mind if you allow them to. 

In order to create more confidence or ‘restore’ some Vitamin C back in your daily life, I want you to imagine the following:

Picture yourself as a larger-than-life, breathtaking statue made of exquisite marble standing on a pedestal.  Your pose is one of self-assurance, confidence and courage beautifully presented in your most elegant robe. An impressive sight.

Confidence. If you have it, you can make anything look good.

Diane von Furstenberg

You are that woman.  Now and forever.

But what I realized today…

Every time we “cheat” on ourselves, we chip away at this amazing sculpture.  Every time we give in to the belief that we are not worthy, we chip away some more.  Every time we believe the voice in our heads telling us we can’t do it, another small piece of marble falls to the ground.

You, I, we all have dreams and goals we would love to achieve.  And, we all know that in order to move closer to the end goal, there are action steps involved.  These steps make or break our progress, motivation and ultimately our success.  But, how are these steps related to confidence?

I strongly believe that confidence is closely linked to trust in ourselves.  We instill and restore the trust factor by following through on our action steps.  Every little step taken towards our goal demonstrates to us that we are staying true to ourselves.  It’s like a vote of confidence. 

In other words, if you follow the plan and do the tasks required to move the needle forward in attaining your goal, you’re voting for yourself, your self-esteem and confidence. YOU WIN!

However, if you fall short of the intended actions that are necessary to make progress, for what reasons, you are voting for your comfort zone, possibly your limiting beliefs, your fear and ego trying to keep you in the “safe zone” of your mind.  In this case, you not only lose but you take a hammer and chip away a chunk of marble representing your confidence. 

Your confidence in yourself gets crushed bit by bit if you fail to follow through on the actions you set for yourself.  Your trust in yourself crumbles away each and every time you quit on your goals, give up or fall short of the planned action, cheat on yourself, don’t follow through.

It’s not hurting anyone else when I don’t do the full workout I had planned on executing.

It’s not affecting anyone else when I indulge in the dessert, I had planned on skipping after dinner.

It’s not hurting anyone else when I watch TV instead of working on my business according to my plan.

It’s not affecting anyone else if I sit on the couch scrolling social media instead of getting outside in nature for a walk, which was one of my daily goals.

Your lack of follow through on your daily habits/actions only affects YOU, your confidence, your trust in yourself, maybe your health, but definitely your thoughts and beliefs about yourself.

This is the reason I close off the majority of my posts with…

Spark your inner hero and make yourself proud. 

Confidence always lies within you but you need to find it inside you. Confidence is a self-made thing and you will find it with daily achievements. 

You have to impress yourself, not others. 

You have to look in the mirror and feel proud about what you’ve achieved.

You have to stay true to yourself – each and every day of your life.

So, take ownership of your daily actions, build your confidence by following through on your plan, be proud of every small step forward and feel great about yourself.

I am your biggest cheerleader and advocate.  You’ve got this!

Til next time,

Lisa xo