Steps to Success: The Wealth of HealthThere are some things we don’t appreciate until they’re gone. Without conscious attention to it, one of these can be our health. A little bout of the flu last week brought home to me the importance of good health for enjoying all other aspects of our lives. Our health and wellbeing is the foundation from which we operate so it makes good sense to make it strong, enabling us to perform at our personal top levels of focus, attention and energy.Coaching is not normally prescriptive. A coach’s job is to support the client in achieving the goals they set for themselves. However, one area where I actively encourage clients to set some goals if they haven’t is around health and wellbeing. When we take care of ourselves we are better prepared for achieving all the other exciting and ambitious goals we may have. The benefits of improved physical health include increased stamina, strength, energy and circulation. And our mental health provides clarity, confidence and resilience. Who couldn’t use a little more of these in our lives?We know what we should do: eat healthily, exercise, drink plenty of water (drink less of the other stuff!), reduce stress and support our bodies and minds in ways that nourish and enhance them. We know this stuff… so why don’t we do it?Firstly, often the idea is worse than the reality. Do you think of exercising as a chore, get a mental picture of a grueling hard slog leaving you spent and exhausted? Does eating healthily conjure a picture of a plate of dry twigs and water? These are simply negative associations we have created (not reality). Add to that being told these are things we ‘should’ do you may recall the article outlining how ‘shoulds’ can lead to resistance because we feel pressured against our will… But these are just mental blocks.To go the long haul, look after ourselves and treat our bodies well, we first need to get in control of our mindset around health and wellbeing, then take action.Some practical steps:l Make it a priority consider its value and make a decision that your health is importantl Set some health and fitness goals (see previous articles on good goal-setting). Your goals will be individual to you, taking into consideration your specific circumstances: existing medical conditions, demands of lifestyle, who else is involved (ecology) etc.Questions to ask yourself:When everything is 10/10 in terms of my health and wellbeing, what will that look like? How will I know I have reached a health standard I’m happy with?How do I want to look and feel?What will I be telling myself in the mirror?What will others be saying to me?What do I want to be able to do?l Consider the alternative what will happen if you don’t make these changes? Plug into the ‘pain’ attached to not taking positive action to support your health. Our subconscious tries to avoid pain, so attaching enough pain to our current poor choices will facilitate us making healthier ones. What are the long-term consequences of eating that extra brownie, putting off the gym again, or not making a plan and concerted effort towards a healthier lifestyle? What is the worst-case scenario? Can you really afford to let that happen? Looking at the longer-term effects of our choices can really help overcome urges for instant gratification. That cigarette might not be so ‘relaxing’ when you visualise you’re on the way to sucking it through a tracheostomy tube. Likewise, every small good choice you make today is taking you one step closer to where you want to be.l Who else is affected by your health and health choices? Who or what else is going to suffer if you get sick or are not functioning at your best? Who do you have to be here for? Sometimes doing something for someone else is easier than for ourselves. Tap into that motivation and recognise the far-reaching effects of your health on your life and those important to you.l Celebrate your successes and treat yourself. Unfortunately many of us have gotten into the bad habit of using food as form of treat, celebration or soother. We’re under the misunderstanding that when something great happens we need to clog our arteries or slightly poison ourselves to mark the occasion, or if we’re blue, slowly contributing to our demise will make us feel better… It’s all about how we look at it. What else can you do? It is really helpful to have a list of treats and celebrations that don’t go in your mouth. What do you really enjoy? What would be a nice way to spend some time? List some mini-treats (a walk in the park, renting a DVD, getting flowers for the house, small things you can do for yourself that are special), some medium treats for bigger achievements and some big milestone/celebration treats (a special purchase, a trip, a weekend spent gardening with the phone unplugged). Be creative. Celebrate every successful step you take. If you attach ‘pleasure’ to your new lifestyle choices, your subconscious will definitely want to make more of them!l Ask yourself: What support do I need? You don’t have to look much further than this newspaper to find great resources on the Island for nutrition, health and fitness information and services on offer to support you. Speak to your doctor. This is about you, acknowledge and respect your individual capabilities and your starting point. Decide what help you need, find the professionals who can best guide and help you and make the investment in your future.Tips for making good health habits last:l Make it fun and enjoyable exercising and eating well don’t have to be those pictures of doom and gloom. What do you love to do? Dancing? Walking in nature? Playing with your kids? Swimming? How can you make what you love part of an exercise routine? Even if you say, “I love watching TV” use it. Get on an exercise machine whilst watching your favourite show or use TV as a treat, once you’ve completed a workout or made a healthy choice.l Keep it varied and interesting.l Moderate intensity and regularity to maintain consistency don’t over do it in the first week then give up. Aim for healthy lifestyle choices and long-term vision.l Make an appointment with yourself write your exercise and healthy choices into you’re your datebook/calendar and respect these appointments as you would any other.l Reward yourself celebrate your successes.We may not avoid every illness, but being as healthy and fit as we can gives us the greatest chance of overcoming them, meanwhile maintaining the strength, energy and clarity to achieve all our other future successes. To your good health!Julia Pitt is a trained success coach and certified NLP practitioner.For further information telephone 705-7488 or visit www.juliapittcoaching.com.