Are
You Fooling Yourself?
by Lauren Archer, CH
On
April Fools’ Day, we’re usually extra careful so we
don’t allow ourselves to be fooled by others. If a
co-worker comes up with an unlikely
story like, “the boss is sending us all to Tahiti next
week,” you may reply with, “Oh no you don’t...I’ve
already heard that one and I’m not buying it.” But have
you ever wondered if there are times that you are
actually fooling yourself? For example, we all
know that regular exercise can dramatically improve our
health. And yet, even with all of the research
supporting these benefits, some of us still ignore it.
Why is that? Don’t we believe it?
If you’re
not exercising regularly, consider that you may be
fooling yourself with excuses. One part of you may
say, “I should exercise,” while another part of you
makes excuses to avoid exercise, and fools you into
believing them. This doesn’t mean you have a “split
personality.” We all have various inner “parts,” and
it’s normal to experience inner conflict at least once
in a while. The trouble arises when we allow the part
that’s making excuses to take over, and fool us into
thinking that our excuses are real.
The Most Common
Excuses
Here are some of the most common excuses people make for
not exercising. How many of these sound familiar to
you? I don’t have time. It’s
too hard. It’s going to hurt. I hate exercising. I don’t
like it when I get hot and sweaty. I feel inadequate. I
don’t know what to do. I feel stupid (or uncoordinated,
or awkward). Exercise doesn’t really work anyway. I
tried but it didn’t work. My job uses my mind, not my
body. I used to stay in shape without exercise. I have
physical limitations. I’ll start tomorrow. If I lift
weights, I’ll get bulky. I don’t have the right
equipment. I can’t get to the gym. I get too distracted
at home. I have other important things to do. I’m too
old to start now. I’m too tired. I can’t do it. It’s
boring. I’m not the athletic type. I don’t have the
right clothes to wear. It’s going to take a long time.
What if I don’t do it right? I don’t want to know how
out of shape I am. Everyone is going to be looking at
me. I walk – they say walking is enough.
____________________________________________________________________________
Someone once
said,
“Argue for your
excuses, and sure enough, they’re yours.”
____________________________________________________________________________
So why
not let this April Fools’ Day be your time to stop
playing the fool?
From now
on, whenever you hear yourself making any of the above
statements (either out loud or silently to yourself),
you now have the power to say, “Oh no you don’t...I’ve
already heard that one and I’m not buying it.” Your
excuses lose their power when you look at them with a
more critical eye. Yes, you can make the time. Yes, you
can find a way. Yes, you can move your body, and yes,
you can start today. It’s okay if you feel a little
silly at first. It’s okay if you don’t do it
perfectly. It’s okay to let your other things wait few
more minutes. No, it’s not too late to start. No,
walking is not enough. No, you don't need fancy
equipment. And no, people aren’t really looking at you,
they’re all more worried about themselves.
Research
has proven that exercise not only improves your physical
body, but it also improves your mental acuity, your
emotional well-being, and your overall level of energy.
For April Fools’ Day and beyond, let exercise keep you
sharp so that you no longer play the fool.
Lauren
Archer is a Hypnotherapist in private practice on
English Hill.
She has
authored over a dozen self-help programs for weight
loss, fitness, improved sleep and well-being. She is a
popular speaker for corporate audiences and teaches
regular wellness classes in the community.