Okay so you’ve probably heard about the “mind-body connection”, but do you really know what it means? Do you know how powerful it can be? Do you know how important it is to focus on mental fitness and not just physical fitness? Let’s break it down a little so you can tap into some of the benefits of this connection.
I just recently took a course on this and refreshed on some things I knew but also learned some really cool, new things too! Getting comfortable with this connection and using it to your advantage can create some really killer results! So of course, I have to share it with you!
The three elements of the mind-body connection are: 1. well-defined goals, 2. positive attitude, and 3. visualization. I know this might be really, really foreign to some people and can kind of sound like “woo-woo magic” or something, but just hear me out. There is scientific evidence that backs the power of the mind-body connection and it’s definitely something you should be using to your advantage. Let’s just jump right into each of these and breakdown what they mean and how you can use them.
Well-defined goals
This topic alone has it’s own set of best practices and ways to make sure you succeed. If you’re not quite sure how to set lasting goals, be sure to check out my goal-setting success tips HERE. I breakdown exactly how to set yourself up for goal-setting success. There are a few steps to goal-setting that can make ALL the difference. Seriously. Make sure you’re not leaving any of them out when you’re setting your goals.
Positive attitude
This one can be easier said than done but the more you practice, the better you’ll get at it. Choose your thoughts, get control of your mind and your reality will change. Here are a few ways to turn over to the positive side:
Focus your attention on everything you are blessed to have instead of what you think you lack. Having an attitude of gratitude alone with help keep your attitude more positive.
Try to get in the habit of catching yourself in negative thought patterns & negative self-talk. When you do, replace each negative comment with three positive ones to bring you back over to the positive side of things. If you get in the habit of doing this, your total outlook will change in no time!
Visualization
Chances are, this one is probably the most unfamiliar to you, but it can massively help you out when you’re striving to reach the goals you set. You have to know exactly where you’re going before you start taking action to get there. You need a clear, detailed picture of your goal and exactly what it’ll look like once you reach it.
Having and keeping a vision of the future you want to create affects your current behaviors and choices. What’s even cooler, is “Experimental and clinical psychologists have proved without a doubt that the human nervous system cannot tell the difference between an “actual” experience and an experience imagined vividly and in detail.” (Dr. Maxwell Maltz, Psycho-Cybernetics)
So what does this mean? This is HUGE. This means that if we commit to taking time for vivid, detailed visualization, we can actually train our brain to act like we’ve already won/reached our goals. How crazy amazing is that?!
So how do you start?
Take some time to sit down, close your eyes and vividly picture your desired goal as if you’ve already reached it. Picture it as if it’s already happened. What does it look like? How do you feel? Who’s there? What’s happening? Picture as much detail as you possibly can. Get a really clear picture of how you want that to look, feel, etc. and come back to that daily or at least weekly.
Pair these three things together and you’re on your way to totally mastering the mind-body connection! Commit to this practice and watch your life drastically change for the better!
Make 2017 your absolute BEST year yet!
Until next time,
Xoxo
Ashley
