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Transforming Complaints into Action: How to Create Positive Change in Your Life
- Derek Arsenault (CSEP-CPT, PN1)
- Feb 11
- 4 min read
We ALWAYS have CHOICES. ALWAYS. In our health...
...we can CHOOSE to take ACTION and LEARN how to do things consistently that allow us to feel good inside and out.
... we can CHOOSE to COMPLAIN about our ailments, aches and pains, age etc and STAY AS WE ARE.
I'll say it again - We ALWAYS HAVE CHOICES. ALWAYS.
Real Life Fact Break #1
NO ONE wants to hear you complain over and over about something.
Talking about it once is okay. Over and over, about the same thing, without TRYING something to CHANGE it?
NO THANK YOU!
The Change Starts in Your Mind, Not Your Physical Body
Complaints become who we are when we say them, both out loud and in our minds, day after day, month after month, year after year. Those words BECOME OUR REALITY / WHO WE ARE inside and out. It's pretty hard to create change when someone is dragging you in the opposite direction isn't it? There's a big difference in someone who has the attitude of "I know I can learn 'x', I just need to practice" vs someone who says "well, that was hard, so I guess it's not for me". That first person has a very different inner dialogue going on that will HELP him/her learn that skill, hobby, etc. The second person, immediately tells themselves a false reality and then over time actually BELIEVES it!
I'll use an example of learning how to do a kettlebell swing. There's technical aspects to learning how to do the execise effectively and safely.
Person 'A' tries it, finds it to be hard to get it down pat and simply says "No, that's too hard. I 'can't' do it" and then never tries to take it further. Whenever people bring it up or that person sees a video or article about the exercise they say "Oh I tried that before and I can't do it".
Person 'B' tries it and ALSO finds it to be hard to get the technique at first. But instead they say, "Oh! I'm going to have to practice this to get the technique right"... And then he/she PRACTICES. They take the time to learn some nuances, break the technique into steps and work at becoming more proficient in the exercise. Whenever people bring it up or that person sees a video or aritcle about the exercise they say "Oh ya! I'm working on that exercise myself! It was tough at first, but I'm getting better!".
Neither of these examples has ANYTHING to do with the person's physical ability, body shape or experience. It all stems from his/her MINDSET.
Real Life Fact Break #2
We do our best to avoid change/action, or we have this image or inner story going on that change/action is hard.
Reality is... ...Change is different/weird at first - yes.
...It "can be" hard if we don't approach it in a realistic way - yes.
... Change IS hard when we don't start from where we're at NOW in our abilities and mindset.
The "hard" side of change mostly comes from our IMPATIENCE, LACK of ACTION for ourselves AND our APPROACH to that change.
CHANGE really doesn't require a whole lot, but we 100% need to GET OUT OF OUR WAY in order to make change happen. These SIMPLE, yet overlooked points WILL allow positive change to occur. It REALLY doesn't require anything else but patience and action otherwise.
1) Take ACTION. This cannot be reiterated enough. We can't "wish ourselves into health" OR "wish ailments away". We HAVE TO ACT!! Take SMALL, concious actions regularly that are ever so slightly in the direction YOU ARE LOOKING for with your health.
2) Stop talking - START doing. This goes along with the first point. I cannot tell you how much our words DO NOT align with our actions. Remember that saying "Actions speak louder than words"? It's TRUE. Talking about getting healthier, talking about our ailments or talking about what we "should" or "should not" be doing DOES NOT create change.
3) Stop searching. We DO NOT need MORE information!! Period. We NEED action (see the previous two points). Googling, listening to podcasts, watching videos or scrolling socials for "health advice" DOES NOT create change. YOUR ACTIONS do! YOU DO. And YOU have plenty of information. Start putting it to work for you to see what ACTUALLY works for YOU.
4) Make your change / action EASY to do. This cannot be stressed enough. In fact, we ARE stressed enough. Why make our health changes stressful too? Keep them small and simple. So simple, you think it's silly. If it's "so silly" then there's ZERO reason you can't make it happen nearly 100% of the time right? PROVE IT to YOURSELF and build from THERE.
Real Life Fact Break #3
We think we need fancy exercises, we need to find "the secret food or program" that will change our lives and/or that we need to build ourselves to a particular level of ability before really creating positive change.
None of these could be further from the truth.
The final "Real Life Fact" of this post: YOUR mind, YOUR inner dialogue, YOUR approach is what's holding you back. NOT your physical abilities or knowledge. Accept that fact, dive into this fact head on, and start practicing HOW YOU CREATE HEALTHY HABITS and watch your health follow suit.
**Need guidance in this area? Not sure where to start? Let's chat.
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