When an elephant is being domesticated, in order to be a beast of burden, it is trained to believe that it cannot escape. First, the elephant is tied to a tree with a chain. It tries and tries to break free, struggling against the strength of the chain. Unable to break free, the elephant gives up.
The trainer then replaces the chain with a rope. Discouraged from its lack of success against the chain and still feeling a tug on its leg, the elephant only halfheartedly attempts to free itself from the rope. Again success is far off and the elephant gives up.
Finally, the elephant is tethered by the fragile reed of a lotus flower. Feeling the tug on its leg and recalling its past failures; the elephant believes it cannot escape and so doesn't even try. Even though an elephant can move tremendous amounts of weight, it has lost its belief that it can surmount the tether holding it in captivity. All because it was trained and taught to accept its failure against the chain as the ONLY truth.
Many people trying to lose weight are just like the elephant. Having attempted to lose weight several times unsuccessfully they succumb to a belief that they just can't do it. Even though they will begin a new fitness program, say for new years or some momentous event like a class reunion, their past attempts and failures sit in their subconscious telling them, "You can't succeed at this." Subconsciously they sabotage their results and, in effect, prove themselves to be right. How can this cycle be broken and how can new beliefs be developed?
The first step is to changing our beliefs are to know what they are and where they came from. In order to really root out the cause, I believe it is necessary to start at the beginning; the adolescent years. Think back to your earliest childhood memories that involved sports, athletics, even recess and P.E. What do you remember being told or what were your feelings about them? What about body image, when did you become body-conscious and what surrounded that? How did it come about?
As children we begin to filter our world through what other people tell us. If you learned early that girls aren't supposed to be athletic or when you attempted a sport and were ridiculed for being clumsy or uncoordinated, then you began to set those as your beliefs.The more those beliefs were reinforced by others, adults in your life or by your peers, the more you began to believe it to be true in your heart.
To heal this and be able to create new beliefs it is important to realize that your were just a child. Your body was still developing and learning sports is a skill, one that is developed over time. It's also necessary to realize you were taught some else's beliefs. By recognizing these two things you open your heart to developing new beliefs that serve you.
To develop proficiency at anything, including exercise, it is necessary to practice. I believe exercise is a practiced art, much like martial arts. It takes time and discipline. Having the belief that you can learn it and become good at it is necessary, especially the longer you do it. A key to success is changing up your programming. When you do this and you begin a new program, you will often feel like a beginner again. At those times its good to know you can and will get better.
Let me share a personal story about when I learned this priceless principle. It all started in the 3rd grade when I began playing league basketball. I was tall, lanky, and uncoordinated. In fact, my lack of coordination was why my parents signed me up for basketball in the first place. I get to enjoy those moments from time to time because I played at a time when video cameras were a new thing, and my parents had one (it was a big one that you actually had to carry the VCR with you.) My parents recorded me at one of my games and I spent more time pulling up my socks than anything else. I couldn't dribble the ball and forget about shooting.
But I did do something right. I kept going to PRACTICE. By continuously practicing those skills I improved. So much so that in 6th grade I was invited to the "Screaming Eagles" basketball camp in California a year earlier than the youngest registration allowed. I was also the team captain of the basketball team in 7th and 8th grade.
Exercise and fitness is a practiced art. I have never met anyone that "naturally" knew how to add muscle or drop body fat. It was always done through trial and error, perseverance, and practice. Learning the skills needed for their body to reach the goals they set. By continuing, setting small attainable goals and through reaching those goals you develop a new belief in yourself.
Those in our past are not the only culprits in developing our beliefs. There is a much greater threat and it comes from a trusted source. Look for my next article to see who the wolf in sheep's clothing is.
Dave Smith has been a fitness coach and movement specialist since 1998. His personal experience with 3 low back surgeries combined with his intense desire to help others, brings a unique style to his teaching. The basis of his teaching is to educate and empower others in taking control of their personal fitness.
"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."- Chinese Proverb
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