Say “YES” for 2014!
For this past year I have been participating in the Real Pilates Synthesis Program. Throughout the year I have not only been working on my teaching skills, but as well as my business strategies and ways to grow my team, business, and Pilates techniques from the inside out. The other week as part of my weekly Pilates homework, I had to watch the trailer to the movie Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey. The basic premise of the plot is that the main character leads a boring life. Since the breakdown of his marriage he has become an introvert and says “No” to going out with his friends and similar opportunities. He attends a cult-style seminar where a man describes to him the power of saying “Yes”. He is told that he needs to say, “Yes” to everything, obviously with appropriate entertaining consequences.
After watching this trailer you immediately get that the message of the film is to see that good things happen if you start to say, “yes” to things. Of course, before I continue with this article I want to make clear that in my opinion it is not ok to say “yes” to things that do not help you move forward, are illegal or those things that give you no real satisfaction or reward.
So, on that note, all this “yes” got me thinking about the New Year and of course how can “yes” relate to living a healthy lifestyle! Fear is all-mental, and to overcome it you need to look inside yourself. You need to acknowledge you’re fears and dedicate yourself to tackling them one by one. Obviously this is the “Yes” side of the argument, but I think giving it a try wont hurt.
All of us have commitments and all of us are passionate about something, however we are committed to staying safe. We are committed to what we are used to. We are committed to the things that let us hide who we really are. So what would it look like if you stepped out of your box and safe zone and started saying “yes” more often? Below are three things that I thought of where we could all start.
1. Learn a new type of exercise
If you say yes to something that you wouldn’t normally, chances are you will learn something new. Everything we do is a learning experience, but if we repeat the same exercise and life routines over and over again then you will start living your life and setting your body to autopilot. Your workouts might start to feel boring and your workout might not give you the same results as when you started. A little variety might be just the thing you need to get the scale moving again or bust through that strength plateau. This will keep your muscles challenged, your body guessing, and the results coming. Saying “Yes” to something new is a great way to open your eyes to a whole new world of experiences and opportunities. As I have stated in previous articles “we are never done learning”.
2. Operate outside of your comfort zone
Often we say no to new experiences because we are afraid (either consciously or subconsciously) of what the experience will bring us. Operating outside of your comfort zone teaches you to deal with difficult situations. Sometimes stepping out of one’s comfort zone can amount to a huge phase shift in life, like taking a new class or going from just taking private sessions to joining a group class. Other times it can be as simple as forgoing a daily routine to do something new and different like socializing with coworkers after hours or finally taking the step to cook more at home. Whatever the case may be, stepping outside of one’s comfort zone is usually a healthy and rewarding experience. The problem arises when we can’t see the potential rewards of such an act because of all the anxiety we might be harboring. Comfort zones are important and powerful parts of everyday living, but there are times when they can hold us back from our true potential. One of my favorite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt is, “Do something everyday that scares you”!
3. Help others
Do you really spend enough time helping others? When was the last time you said “No” to a friend and missed out on something great. Say, “Yes”, help and spend time with others. This is something that you will only regret if you don’t do it. Life is too short to say “No” to everything. I am happily saying, “yes” to helping others be healthy and am so happy that my daily job as a Pilates instructor allows me the opportunity to help people feel better every single day. I am committing my focused attention to their exercise, and giving thanks for the exhaustion at the end of the day; I am so happy to rest my head knowing that I helped others to lead a longer, healthier, more active life. When was the last time you had the opportunity to help someone else, but refused? Say “Yes” and make someone’s day, as well as your own.
Today I just want to encourage you to say yes. There are many things in life — family activities, our jobs, our workouts — that we often forget to say ‘yes’ to because we are so busy complaining about the not-so-fun aspects of said activities. I am reticent to use the old adage that reminds us we are lucky to have a job at all, or bodies that are healthy and can move. Let’s focus on how saying ‘yes’ to the many things in life that sometimes lose their luster, can help change our attitude toward the positive. Start saying, “Yes” to more opportunities and see where it takes you. Start slowly. Celebrate every small victory. Eventually you will stand above your fears, and start living a better life. “Yes”, it can be hard, but it’s well worth it. So step into 2014 with a “yes” attitude and see where the next year will take you.
Chelsea of Body be Well