How healthy are the 5 people you spend the most time with?
If you want to be a healthier person you need to spend time with others who value the same goals. The power of association is strong. Studies show you become like the five people you spend the most time with.
Use the diagram below to identify the five people who are currently influencing your health decisions. Circle the + in the circle above their name if the person is healthier than you and circle the – if they live an unhealthier lifestyle than you (based on what you see them do when you spend time with them).
To improve the number of healthy relationships you don’t have to kick your friends and family to the curb and start spending time in a fitness club with all healthy people. Simply begin identify people (friends, family and co-workers) you may already have in your life who value healthy choices and engage them in conversation about their health goals.
If you share your goals and progress updates they’ll most likely share theirs and you can begin a formal or informal accountability partnership.
When Sir Edmund Hillary and Mr. Tenzing Norgay began their journey to climb Mt. Everest they did not do as alone as they knew the perils of climbing alone and the benefits of being in a climbing partnership with another. Had they not gone together neither would have most likely made it to the top due to an incident where Sir Edmund was trying to cross a crevasse and the ice fell through. Sir Edmund fell through the ice but fortunately Tenzing had a rope tied to him and he caught him before he fell to his death.
Tenzing saved Sir Edmund’s life and together they were able to achieve one of modern day’s most remarkable accomplishments, yet it may have never happened had they gone alone.
Sir Edmund and Mr. Norgay were also part of a larger support group named the Royal Geographical Society, an Alpine Club expedition led by Col. Henry Cecil John Hunt, a group that included a dozen climbers, 35 Sherpa guides and 350 porters carrying 18 tons of food and equipment. This support system enabled Sir Edmund and Mr. Norgay to complete their navigation to the top of the world. There are some who may have the self discipline and luck to climb Extraordinary Health Mountain on their own but most will not. Will you follow their lead and try to do it alone or will you choose to surround yourself with others who can support you on your journey?
Healthy partners and support teams you can pursue are the following:
- Health blogs/online articles
- Social networks/groups
- Online health discussion boards
- Formal support groups or educational classes on nutrition/fitness/energy balance
- Personal coaches/trainers/mentors
People do what people do. What do you want to do? A good strategy is to find someone who’s doing (or has done) what you want to do and ask them for assistance. I found a health coach to help me on my journey as I have seen the value in having a coach in all aspects of my life (athletics, business, spirituality, etc.)
Without a coach in your life you can experience:
- Lack of Accountability
- Lack of Focus
- Lack of Direction
- Lack of Perspective
These symptoms can often lead to an ordinary life producing ordinary results. Complacency in a one’s life can also set in after a certain level of success has been accomplished because of a general resistance to change. This leads to the individual to never breaking out of their “Comfort Cave”.
A coach can help challenge a person to break out of this cave by bringing their dream(s) back to them and holding them in front of them. We are all constantly challenged by the elements around us and it becomes tiring to continue to climb the mountain of success. Extraordinary coaches understand this and know where to go to help you dig deep within to bring out the courage to continue to journey to excellence.
Often, we think of a coach as a person who works face-to-face to teach or inspire an individual or team to win a championship. This is just one example of coaching. Coaching can come in a variety of forms, including:
- A personal or professional growth book, DVD or audio program
- Interactive websites, podcasts, blogs or other virtual resources
- Live training courses or workshops
- A mentor or accountability partner
- A mastermind group of individuals who challenge one another
- A personal coach who works with you one-on-one
To achieve optimal health, we all need some form of coaching to go beyond what’s usual, regular and customary in our lives. Coaches give us the EXTRA edge we need to make our lives “exceptional to a marked extent.” Resolve to find a coach and/or the coaching resources that will assist you in overcoming the obstacles and barriers you face!
If you’d like to accelerate your results, explore simple meal plans, or learn how you could benefit from working with a free Certified Coach, reach out to the person who invited you to the challenge and ask for more information. Learn more about our coaching program and health coach opportunity here.
eHealth Challenge Tip: Breathe Deep and Walk it Out
One of the easiest and most powerful ways to handle an unhealthy eating urge is to stop and take a few deep, cleansing breaths. Close your eyes and concentrate on slowly filling and emptying your lungs as your mind quiets down and you reboot your awareness. Open your eyes and continue enjoying yourself. Avoidance and physical activity also give food cravings a practical one-two punch. Remove yourself from the temptation and take a walk then return to the event refreshed, re-energized, and ready for more fun.
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