The number one and most important step to better health and well-being is to take 100 percent responsibility for your actions, which means you are fully responsible for everything you put into your mouth.
BY SHARLENE EDWARDS, MPH, RN, CIC, Health & Wellness Coach
Success in any endeavor, including health and wellness, begins with the thoughts that you want to achieve something. Your desire needs to be strong enough and clearly defined before you start to act.
Of course, to successfully get to better health and well-being, you need to make the necessary changes and find ways to reach your goal. You must adopt a “NO EXCUSE” attitude and stay focused on your goals.
Does this sound familiar:
“If I just had more time, I would be exercising regularly.”
“I tried to eat healthy today, but my kids wanted pizza.”
“Every time I plan to exercise or eat healthy, something always comes up.”
“Eating healthy is too expensive.”
“I got off track today, so I’ll just wait till Monday.”
“I’ll start after ______ (fill in the blank with any excuse).”
If we continue to blame outside factors, we will continue to get the same results. Many honestly believe these excuses are totally out of our control, preventing us from reaching our goals. We think that something, or someone else, is responsible.
The number one and most important step to better health and well-being is to take 100 percent responsibility for your actions, which means you are fully responsible for everything you put into your mouth, every moment you make, and every good habit you adopt. Every decision you make, you are accountable for. It may sound harsh, but it is the truth.
You’ve heard the phrase, “Be proactive.” It means more than just taking the initiative. It means that we have the responsibility (response-ability) for our own lives. Highly proactive people don’t blame others or circumstances for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious free choice and free willpower.
Next time you’re faced with an excuse outside of you, change the way you think and develop a strategy to tell yourself that you can do it. Once you realize the power, you already have inside of you, overcoming obstacles will be easier.
Even the small successes will build your confidence and help you grow. Self-talk can make us or break us. Allow your self-talk to help you be proactive toward your health and wellness goals. You already have inside of you what it takes to succeed.
Sharlene Edwards, aka Nurse Shar, is a public health practitioner and community advocate with a master’s degree in public health epidemiology. For more blog posts, visit www.mybetterlivingllc.com.
