9 COMMON THINKING ERRORS

PERSONAL TRAINING CLIENTS OFTEN EXHIBIT ONE OR SEVERAL OF THESE...

 

I have listed nine common thinking errors people often make and ones you should definitely avoid! So let's great straight into it.

 

Thinking error No 1.

Putting off until absolutely certain.

 

Procrastination is unhealthy and likely contributes to your stress levels. High stress levels cause elevated cortisol and heightened cortisol levels prevent fat loss encouraging, instead, weight gain particularly around our mid-section.

 

You don't need to be certain to try. Getting out of your comfort zone allows us to grow. Just make the best decision you can right now and learn from your actions no matter what. We call this ready, FIRE, aim.

 

Only when you take your first shot can you truly aim, then make sure your second and third attempts hit the centre of the target.  You know, many people aim for a whole lifetime and never pull the trigger.

 

Thinking error No 2.

Making out change is too hard.

 

This is a problem of language and your language affects your emotions. Change may well be difficult. It may test you. It could also bring out the best in you - you will have to stand up and be counted.

 

But concluding before you even begin it is too hard is a massive thinking error that needs to be abolished. Just delete the word too!

 

Thinking error No 3.

Awfulising or exaggerating events.

 

See things as they are, but no worse. Check in with what stories you are telling yourself about change. Often we get caught up in an emotional state that paralyses us from taking action and it can stem from our gross exaggerations of what are, in the right context, just relatively minor isolated events.

 

Thinking error No 4.

Making global interpretations about self rather than about the discrete event itself.

 

Don't take things too seriously. And don't take things so personally. Stuff happens. Bad stuff happens. We can even do the wrong things. But be carefully bad stuff or even doing the wrong thing is not a reflection on who you are but what you did, or what happened to you.

 

Recognise the person inside, deep inside underneath, the more vulnerable self that sometimes you display to others, is in fact perfect just the way you are. The real you underneath is caring and supportive, kind and considerate and wants to grow and contribute. "Stuff" can't affect who that person is. Distinguish between things and who you are :)

 

Thinking error No 5.

Holding onto totally negative views about others or ideas based on single events.

 

Don't do bad science. If the same thing keeps happening you could be onto something but observing something once and making any kind of conclusion from it is faulty thinking and now is the time to re-evaluate some of your past conclusions about others, about exercise, about diet, and about life itself :)

 

Thinking error No 6.

Holding onto impossible standards.

 

You don't have to be perfect, you need to be better. Expecting perfection from yourself, others or life itself is not only unreasonable but is unfair and unhelpful. Shift your goal posts a little and help yourself get better results.

 

Thinking error No 7.

Requiring others to respect you before you can respect yourself.

 

Know like you know, like you know, like you know you are amazing just the way you are. Do this for you. You don't need approval from others, don't do this for someone else. Do it for you, own it and know the more content you become in your own skin the more others will respect who you have become. You go first and others will follow. Success is about focus. It's time to focus!

 

Thinking error No 8.

Thinking in black and white without compromise taking an all-or-nothing approach when something would have been better than nothing.

 

If this is you, introduce grey to your palate. Life isn't black and white. It isn't actually grey either but you get my point. Life is full colour and is HD. You need to ease up here because mistakes are made, the world doesn't always give you exactly what you want and happiness yes happiness is all about progress.

 

And you can't make progress stuck in black and white. Ask yourself how has thinking in black and white been working for you? If it creates a roller-coaster experience with more downs than ups and constant frustration and anxiety - own it, change.

 

Thinking error No 9.

Allowing childhood experience or past trauma to sabotage your present or future experience of life.

 

You don't need to understand your past to have a wonderful future. You don't need to live in the past unless you choose to and you have the choice just to cut the past loose. Focus on the future and the present and understand your past has no right affecting this.

 

Your past only lives in your mind. Your memory of the past may not even be as accurate a memory as you think. But memories aren't to be re-lived again and again unless you let them.

 

Most people use their previous negative past as their story as to why they struggle now. Don't let this be you. Make up a new story and live it with all you have.

 

 

 

PS If you associate with one or more of these common thinking errors know this - these are just thoughts. The trouble with thoughts, however, is they affect our emotions or feelings which govern our actions. But thinking patterns can change. And when you change your thoughts, you change your emotions and therefore your behaviours. It is, of course, our behaviour we are trying to change; to eat, drink and exercise in a way that will boost metabolism, re-align key fat loss hormones, help us lose weight / get fit and develop into a lifestyle we can sustain...but thinking yourself into a better state is where it begins.

Remember your weight is dependent upon three things - your motivation, exercise and nutrition. Find out more about how to become a personal trainer...

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