 | Lisa Vermillion is President and co-owner of Get Fit Bee Fit and Thin and Healthy Weight Management. Lisa opened Get Fit- 4 years ago in Valley Center, after receiving certifications thorough the American Council on Exercise as a Weight and Lifestyle Management Consultant and Certified Personal Trainer. In January, she Grand Opened Thin and Healthy Weight Management in the same location. Lisa not only provides weight loss programs for individuals but she also implements business wellness programs for small businesses and large corporations. Additionally, Lisa is a Certified Life Coach providing guidance for individuals in the areas of career, relationship and personal development. She is available for speaking engagements in the areas of Physical Fitness, Weight Management, or any Life Coaching area (goal setting, positive attitude, sales, etc). Lisa can be reached for questions or speaking engagements by phone (316) 755-1115 or email at mvmillion@yahoo.com |
Diet & Nutrition
2008-03-01 09:38:00
We can’t control everything in our lives
Question: I wake up fine every morning, but by noon I’m very cranky. Nothing ever seems to go right. My kids make me mad, my husband never expresses gratitude for all the things I do, and my co-workers annoy me. Why does everything always seem to go wrong for me?
Answer: Every situation you just described is out of your control. You can’t control what your kids do, what your husband does or does not say, or how your co-workers act. The only person you can control is you. That being said, you don’t have to go through every day miserable. It’s time to take responsibility for your thoughts and feelings. You have the opportunity every day to choose your attitude. Although it’s much easier to cast blame, you must realize that you get to pick your responses. You might say, for example, “He cut me off in traffic so I yelled and threw him a not so nice gesture.” I couldn’t help it; I just started yelling before I could stop myself”. Let me ask you, if you would have been in the worst part of town, would you have chosen the same reaction? You can choose your attitude. In every situation, you have the right to choose your attitude by choosing what you focus on, choosing to take action, choosing to listen, and choosing to see the possibilities.
Choose your attitude by choosing what you focus on. We all have days where unpleasant things happen. For instance, you can stub your toe getting out of bed in the morning and decide, “This is going to be a horrible day”, or you can decide, “I will make the rest of the day the best it can be.” You can choose to focus on the things that are not going well or you can choose to count every blessing you have. Whatever attitude you choose you can be sure your day will follow suit. Choose your attitude by choosing action. Begin by listing action steps you can take to improve the situation. For example, let’s say you and your spouse are arguing often, you can take the first step by learning more effective communication techniques and applying them. Maybe you’re stressed in your current job; get the education you need to get into a career you love. Maybe money or lack thereof is stressing you out; seek out financial counseling. Maybe excess weight makes it difficult to enjoy everything you’d like to enjoy; learn to take care of your health. Seek guidance from someone you trust or a professional. When you’re focused on the solution rather than the problem, your attitude improves. Choose your attitude by choosing to listen. Listening is not merely hearing. Listening involves asking questions to find out more, thus seeking to understand where the other person is coming from. Listening means your mouth is closed and your attention is solely on other the person. Be present in the moment. Block out distractions; turn off the TV, turn down the radio, and put the kids in their rooms. Most importantly, put your own day on the back burner for a second and just be there for the other person. This selfless action will help the other person feel better and your attitude will soar as well. Choose your attitude accordingly by making sure there are two choices. First, choose to see the reasons why another person does what he does.
For example, when the guy cuts you off in traffic, you can choose to think, “Maybe he’s late”, “Maybe someone is ill and he needs to get somewhere”, or “Maybe he’s just got so much on his mind so he’s not paying attention”. Second, choose to see the positive possibilities in a negative situation. For example, if you loose your job, you can dwell on the difficult part of that or you can choose to see the new possibilities that open up. Seldom is there only one answer to any challenge. Ask trusted friends or professionals to help you brainstorm and look for all the possibilities. You can change your attitude by adjusting your focus, choosing to take action, really listening to others, and looking for all the possibilities.
When you choose the best possible attitude, you choose to live the best life possible. Art Linkletter once said, “ It’s your attitude not your aptitude that determines your altitude.” How high will you choose to fly?
