Have you ever experienced the shame and guilt that follows the mindless, numbed-out habit of eating your way into “feeling” better? You are not alone. But, you can change that. Wendie Pett is here to share the 5 best ways you can change your health by changing your mindset. Yes. If you change your mind, your actions and habits will follow. So often, certain behaviors, attitudes, and mindsets hold us back in life without us even knowing it.
On a recent episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective podcast, I chatted with Wendie Pett about the role forgiveness plays in health and healing (listen here: The Power of Forgiveness in Health and Healing – Episode 142) One of the things I most resonate with Wendie on, is the role of our mind and thought life on our behavior. Wendie has a wealth of information to help us with respect to our health. Read more for proven steps you can take to impact your health in a positive way.
The 5 Best Ways to Change Your Mindset to Change Your Health
By Wendie Pett
After a long day of the 9 to 5 grind, she walks through the back door leaving her purse on the kitchen table, kicks off her shoes, grabs a bag of chips and plops herself onto the couch…absolutely exhausted. Kate knows that dinner needs to be made and that it’s her night for carpool duty to take her son to basketball and her daughter to dance, but she JUST. NEEDS. A. MOMENT.
A moment to “relax.” (Sound familiar?)
She’s been working all day and invites the quick break. Kate then proceeds to practically inhale the entire bag of chips (because we all know that half of that bag is just air anyway, right?) and watches the 5 o’clock evening news. As she watches the news, the typical twinge of shame and guilt follow the mindless, numbed-out habit of eating her way to “feel” better.
Can you relate to Kate…at all?
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.9 billion adults have habits like Kate and are overweight. Of these, over 650 million are obese. These statistics change other statistics as well. For instance, diabetes has tripled in number and depression is at an all-time high. Yes, there is a correlation.
My question to you, based on Kate’s routine, story and the statistics, are you justifying your unhealthy habits?
Is Netflix binging the norm? Is the fast-food drive through common because you’re too “busy” to eat healthy?
Is your calendar so jammed full that you don’t have time for YOU?
Does the thought of exercise exhaust you even more?
Are you so busy caring for everyone else that the thought of taking care of yourself seems “selfish” and impossible?
IF SO…. you are not alone.
While the comfort of NOT being alone can give one a false sense of comfort, it certainly doesn’t change things.
So, what does?
How to change your mindset to change your health
Your mindset. Change your mind and your actions will follow. In rare cases it does indeed happen the other way around, but for the sake of all the “Kate’s” out there, let’s dive into the five best ways to initially change your mindset to change your actions/habits.
First, acknowledge that you even need to adjust your mindset. Sounds rather elementary, but you can’t change what you aren’t willing to admit.
Second, know your “why” and make sure it’s not surface or shallow. The more significant the “why” the more you can and will change your mindset. For instance, if you are dealing with disease due to self-inflicted choices then the pain of your “why” could be your driving force for change. Or the limitations due to your condition within a relationship could be your driving force to change. Everyone’s “why” is different. Dig deep and find yours.
Third, have a plan and stick to that plan. Consistency is the ONLY thing that forms new habits. Don’t jump from this gimmick to that. Keep it simple, clean, and doable – then repeat the process daily.
Fourth, know your “triggers.” This is important. Triggers, often emotional, can potentially derail your consistency. But, by having an immediate action plan to avoid the old ways will offer a shield for those pesky “trigger darts” aimed to not only get you off track, but to keep you there.
Finally, reward yourself in a healthy way when you reach a new milestone toward your goal. A reward, even if it’s simply taking a gratitude walk, will reinforce the progress you are making and will incentivize further mindset shifts until you’ve reached your ultimate goal.
And most importantly (this is a bonus, yet key, step), give God the glory throughout it all. Remembering Psalm 86:12 “I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart. And will glorify Your name forever.” And Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
What else have you done in order to help change your mindset to change your health? How did it impact your mental or physical health? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
About Wendie Pett
Wendie is a full-time business owner of Visibly Fit, a naturopathic doctor, wife, mother, fitness expert, author, speaker, TV host and part-time volunteer. Her business consists of whole-food/plant-based wellness coaching, emotional healing, personal online training, educational and motivational speaking, and creating new products/tools to assist clients along their wellness journey. To learn more, go to www.wendiepett.com
Connect with Wendie: Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter / LinkedIn / Pinterest
I learned a few years ago just how much forgiveness is healing and healthy for me. Thank you.
When I was 13 years old, my grandfather, Lorenzo Rea Zeigler, died unexpectedly from a heart attack on January 2, 1969. He was the first person I felt close to who had died, and I had a terrible time. I really struggled with grief especially at the holiday season. The next Christmas and New Years was tough, but once we were past January 2, I felt a bit better. The 2nd holidays were about the same, and I kept reassuring myself “if I can just make it past January 2.” However, on the evening of January 1, 1971, my 37 year old dad was shot and killed in a pellet gun accident on our farm. I knew right then and there that I could not continue grieving as I had. And two things greatly helped me that night and ever since. 1. About 30 minutes before my mother came home from the hospital and told my brother and me that Dad had died, I read Isiah 26:3 In my Bible – You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (NKJV) This became my “mantra,” and still is after 51 years. When I feel myself becoming overwhelmed by grief triggers or difficult times, I focus on this verse, and now a few others, and I find His peace pour over me immediately, every time. I keep my mind focused on Him and trust Him totally. 2. The night my dad died, I told myself three things I now call R.O.C. I’ve shared with 100’s of people: 1. This is my new Reality. I cannot go back to the way things were. I have to deal with what is now. 2. God is the Only One who can get me through this life. He is ever with me. He comforts and strengthens me. He will not leave me nor forsake me. 3. I Concentrate, focus on God, not what’s happening to me or has happened. I take every thought captive. Concentrate through Committing to prayer, Bible reading and quoting scriptures such as Isaiah 26:3. / Little did I know on December 18, 2001 our youngest son Kit Rea would die from a blood clot in his lung while sleeping. (My Three I Knows about Kit: he’s not in pain, I know 24/7 where he is and I know one day soon I will see him again and through eternity.) That’s when I added the K to my R.O.C. – practicing not so random acts of Kindness. I now make and give away “hole in my heart” bookmarks and a copy of a poem I wrote to those grieving, and I also make prayer angels to give to the sick or struggling. I practice J-O-Y that’s Jesus 1st, Others next and Yourself last. / Since My grandfather’s death in 1969, a total of eight of my family members have died between Thanksgiving and January 2 – my dad, my son, three grandparents, both of my in-laws and a sister-in-law. All these years I’ve learned if I focus on Isaiah 26:3, practice my R.O.C.K. and J-O-Y, my mental and physical health is intact and I find strength, peace and comfort in the midst of my life’s storms. – I am sorry this is so long, but I felt led to share part of my testimony with you. Thank you. Nila LaRea
Thank you Nila. I cried and copied your words for my own practice! ❤️
This advice is so spot on! Thanks for sharing Wendie with us Dr. B.
Thank you, Wendie. I am adding a half hour of exercise to my daily routine and it feels wonderful!
Great tips and a great article to begin a new year. Thanks for sharing at #omhgww. Pinned and tweeted. See you next week.
“Change your mind and your actions will follow.” Such a good reminder!