Last week I talked about how your identity plays into your fitness journey. How we identify ourselves is powerful.
In fact, our mind will always make decisions to confirm that we align with our identity.
Before every decision, you decide in a split second…what would “someone like me” do in this situation?
The way we typically phrase it to ourselves is in one of two ways…
- I am….
- I am not….
If someone offers you chocolate, you might say “I am going to have some.” or “I am not a chocolate person. I’ll pass.”
If someone offers you a cigarette, you might say “I am trying to quit.” or “I am not a smoker.”
If someone invites you to go dancing, you might say “I am totally down, let’s go Friday night.” or “I am not a dancer.”
All three of these examples are times where your words are matching your identity. But here’s where things get interesting… you can grow into the 2.0 version of you until you let go of the 1.0 version.
In fitness, that shows up when someone doesn’t identify as a fitness person. They will say things like “I am not a fan of healthy foods.” or “I am not a gym junkie.” or “I am not into getting sweaty.”
They are using “I am not” statements instead of “I am” statements.
This sounds subtle but it’s HUGE. You will always fight to align with your identity. Until you accept a new identity you will always feel stuck with your fitness goals.
I am not saying you have to “fake it until you make it.” I am saying that you need to listen to yourself and see if you use more “I am” or “I am not” statements. If you use more “I am not” then shift to “I am” statements that are truths.
Maybe you could say…
- I am going to the gym consistently
- I am making healthier food choices
- I am drinking more water
- I am eating more protein and less sugar
- I am making myself a priority
All of these types of statements are the PULL you want to give your identity toward who you strive to be.
You might not be a full blown health nut and there’s no reason you ever have to be but you want to use language with your self-talk that starts to move you toward your new self.
The last thing I want to point out is that “I am not” statements are not negative. They can be equally as powerful for shaping your identity as “I am” statements.
- I am not going to order a soda when I dine out
- I am not going to skip Monday workouts (ever)
- I am not someone who quits when things get tough
- I am not going to eat foods with artificial sweeteners
These are all examples of ways you can share your identity with others and how you speak to yourself.
The power of “I am” and “I am not” is HUGE!