“Happiness is a habit: cultivate it!” - Elbert Hubbard

My approach to health, fitness, wellness and LIFE IN GENERAL is that it should be as fun and joyful as possible. Is it always that? No. Stuff happens. And of course we have to do things sometimes that we just don’t enjoy (filing taxes, housecleaning, anyone?) 

But when it comes to health and fitness, even though it can be hard work, we need to approach it in a way that we enjoy (for the most part). Why do it otherwise?  I’ve known and heard of SO many people who suffer and feel like crap, in the name of trying to get fit and improve their bodies. I just don’t see the point. It’s harmful in the long run both mentally and physically. It doesn’t bring joy or add to your life, and it in fact can make you feel really bad. 

My whole coaching model is based on finding the joy in life as we work towards achieving the goals we set. Because really, WHY DO IT otherwise? Why make health and fitness miserable or harmful?  Wouldn’t you want to  feel great and enjoy the process of  working towards achieving things? 

But here’s the secret and the other part of the equation: it’s still hard work!  I won’t tell you it’s not. And this can mean taking the action steps you need to take even when you have a bad case of the “I don’t wanna’s”.  Easy, quick fixes are not only unhealthy but they are unsustainable. And they just don’t give you the same sense of the joy of accomplishing something, mastering something and building on that because you just KNOW if you did it once, you can apply it to something else and do it again. This is what embracing the joy of hard work and healthy habit that bring sustainable results and improve your overall life can do for you. 

Okay all that might sound good, but I know you’re asking: how the heck do we find joy and fun in hard work?

Become a “pro” at life. Lose the amateur status where you just dabble in your goals, get easily throw off track, stop going for them because something else comes up, become frustrated - or worse - feel like a failure once again.  When you act like a “pro”, you still have to do the hard work, but you will understand that #1 getting good, lasting results takes time and regular, consistent daily actions, #2 you start seeing results that carry over into other areas of life so overall you feel more successful and happier with yourself, and #3 that working hard on focused goals can be fun and enjoyable because you have the big picture of how it all fits into  your larger life. 

The key to finding is in learning new habits, putting them into action then seeing and feeling the benefits. We still have to do the work. This is how we become a “pro at life” and this is where we get the results we want. But it can be fun and joyful too!

There’s a lot more to this that I will share in more detail in other blog posts, but here’s a good place to start thinking about what you need to do to become a “pro” when working on your health, fitness and life goals in a JOYFUL way:

1). An amateur dabbles. They don’t show up every day and do what needs to be done. A pro shows up. Every day. They put their head down, their back into the effort, and get.it.done.

2) An amateur doesn’t finish things. They move onto the next thing fast. A pro is in it for the long haul. They recognize that the important goals they have are things that don’t always come to an end. Or if they do have a final ending, pros immediately set new visions, goals, and milestones to achieve. A pro finishes what they start, or keeps going if it is something for life like health and fitness. 

3) An amateur gives up when things get tough. They look for easy fixes then bail when it becomes hard, making excuses about why they didn’t do what they said they would. A pro knows there WILL be tough times. A pro works through these times and never gives up. A pro understands tough times are just part of the process to achieving great things. A pro does the work anyway through the tough times and finds joy in getting it done. That’s how they enjoy the hard stuff, maybe not in the moment but after the fact when they feel great for battling the adversity. 

There are more things that separate amateurs from pros, when it comes to working on health, fitness and life goals. But you can start with considering these 3 things and how they are influencing you and your ability to get where you want to go!

Habits Spark!: Choose being a pro! It’s hard work sometimes, but yes it is also a fun and joyful way to approach your life!

Download my FREE Guide and Workbook "Ten Steps to Set Yourself Up for Optimal Health, Fitness and Joy!" HERE.

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