Make & Keep Commitments
Self-confidence starts with being true to yourself and your personal values. You do this by making and keeping commitments, first to yourself and then to others. Every day you make commitments or promises to yourself, “I’m going to get up at 7,” “I’m going to walk 15 minutes this morning,” “I’m going to eat a healthy lunch.” And every time you keep a commitment to yourself, your self-confidence grows. But the opposite is also true. And every time you fail to keep a commitment or follow through, your self-confidence is weakened. This is the key to self-confidence. If you have struggled with self-confidence, you likely don’t follow through with commitments to yourself and others. Take a minute and write down the commitments you made this past week and whether you followed through or not. Choose today to be different. Choose today to make and keep commitments to yourself and others. Be realistic, start small, and only commit to things you know you will actually do. As you continue this process, and slowly build with time your self-confidence will continue to grow. Additionally, don’t forget that the way you talk to yourself matters. Choose today to love yourself. Be Willing To Say No In order to make and keep commitments you will have to learn to say no. Life is too busy and there is simply too much going on to do everything you’d like. This means some things will have to go. Some things you would have liked to do will have to take a back seat to your health goals because they aren’t as important. You must learn to prioritize, putting the very important things (like health) first, before other less important things. Our problem as a whole is, health has taken a back to seat to things like excessive work, TV, Internet, video games, hobbies, and other activities. This isn’t to say these things are inherently bad. They aren’t. What is bad is when less important things crowd out the most important things in your life, including your health—because nothing else is possible without it. Try to combine your hobbies and social time with healthy things. Proper sleep, exercise and nutrition must become the backbone of each and every one of your days—they must become the core of your lifestyle. To accomplish this you must be willing to say no to yourself and to others. Your self-confidence and your health depend on it.
6 Comments
Terri
11/4/2013 10:33:26 am
This is so true Rich - I make a commitment to myself each day that I will say NO when offered donuts, candy, cookies, etc. at work. Each time I say "no thanks" I feel really strong. It's amazing the difference I feel as I walk away - I did it!!!! :-) And I've made a commitment to go to the gym 3 times a week - I can only walk slowly around the track but I can do upper body weights - so I'll do what I can. I'm happy!
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Rich
11/5/2013 01:45:59 am
That's awesome Terri! Slow and steady WILL win the race. By continuing to do what you can until you're strong enough to build and remaining consistent, I know you'll reach your goals. Keep up the good work! :)
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"Fighting My Status Quo"
11/4/2013 09:35:59 pm
Wow!! Another fantastic blog. (How am I going to keep up?). I just wanted to say that I have written down your four ideas from your last post, 3 times, and am posting them in my car, the work truck and on the fridge by the stove. An interesting thing...as I wrote out briefly your four ideas, the notes changed slightly each time as I refined in my mind what I read in your ideas. A good practise! Oh, I am adding another note in my bedroom!
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Rich
11/5/2013 01:48:15 am
Glad you're enjoying the blog! I find the same thing helps me when I internalize people's thoughts and put them in my own words. Please take and spread any and all enthusiasm and energy you can get from this! ;)
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Sue Kramer
11/4/2013 11:04:01 pm
This is very motivating for some people! People who may be "healthy" already. My question is, what about those that have low self esteem or self efficacy due to trauma? Those who use food or tv to numb? Those who feel guilt or shame every day? Or someone living with PTSD or depression who sleeps for only 2 hrs per night because of flashbacks or night terrors? How can they be included? Loving your posts, just wish they were inclusive. Health is more than just physical.
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Rich
11/5/2013 02:03:01 am
Sue you’re absolutely right, health is more than just physical. Health is a combination of physical, mental, social and spiritual. Each area connected and being affected by the other. Everyone, no matter their current health status can and will benefit from making and keeping commitments to themselves and learning to say no to unnecessary things and prioritize their health. Will this solve everyone’s problems? Of course not. And this post in no way touches on everything, nor could it. There are many more blog entries to come. Having said that, everyone’s individual struggle is unique and needs to be addressed as such. As you mentioned, people who are struggling with deep rooted emotional or mental problems likely need additional professional help. But this does not exclude them from our common cause and goal to be the healthiest versions of ourselves. I hope you’ll continue to read and comment on this blog. Thanks for your comment! :)
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