A Coaching Session: How to get excited about a goal.

Welcome back, I'm happy you're here.

We've been invited to listen in on a coaching session.

Maggie- I'm so exhausted, I want to take a nap but I have to walk on the treadmill.

Joey- Why do you have to walk on the treadmill?

Maggie- My doctor says my health isn't great and I need to exercise for 2.5 hours a week on the treadmill.

Joey- You don't sound happy about this.

Maggie- No, not exactly. I don't like hearing that the doctor is concerned about my health and that I have to walk on the treadmill.

Joey- When something feels like an obligation, we tend to shy away and avoid it. It's hard to find the motivation to get healthy when it's because the doctor said so. Let me ask you, why do YOU want to get your health in check?

Maggie- I have a young son and I want to be around for him. I want to be active and present in his life, not the mom that can't keep up.

Joey- Yes, that sounds like a great reason to want to get your health in order. Your doctor recommend the the treadmill for 2.5 hours a week. That comes to 22 minutes a day. How does that sound to you?

Maggie- Boring.

Joey- What is your definition of exercise?

Maggie- Getting my heart rate up.

Joey- Awesome! What are some things you enjoy doing, that raise your heart rate?

Maggie- Beach walks, hiking and bike riding.

Joey- That's great. At the start of our call you were wanting to take a nap… can you do both, take a nap and squeeze in a mini work out?

Maggie- Ha, that never even occurred to me. I have 40 minutes after our call, I guess I could take a 20 minute power nap and then go for a walk.

Joey- That sounds lovely.

Maggie- Actually, maybe I should walk and then take a nap, in case I want to keep sleeping after the 20 minutes.

Joey- It sounds like you really want to prioritize your health, now that you've found activities that aren't 'boring.' I don't know about you, but after I workout, I have more energy. You might not need that nap after your walk. And if you do, you've allotted some time for it.

Maggie- You're right. I do have more energy after I exercise. I think I like knowing I have the option. You blew my mind when you asked if I could do both.

Joey- Is it possible you were experiencing some guilt? You knew it was important to exercise and maybe you felt guilty when you weren't prioritizing it. Taking a nap is sometimes necessary and sometimes it's a great way to avoid doing something.

Maggie- 100% I would feel guilty knowing I should have exercised and instead I took a nap. I would then beat myself up.

Joey- That's totally normal. Now that we've established your why; you want to be the fun, healthy active mom for your son, it'll be a little easier to feel motivated. Have you read Atomic Habits by James Clear?

Maggie- Not yet.

Joey- He says “Every action you take is like a vote for the type of person you want to become.” He shares the story of a man who lost 100 lbs and kept it off, while taking on the identity of someone who goes to the gym every day. For the first few months, he would set his alarm for 5 minutes to workout and then he would leave. He could now say he is someone who goes to the gym everyday. Once he felt comfortable with this new habit of showing up, he started extending his workouts.

Maggie- I love this. I think I also got stressed when the doctor said 2.5 hours a week. When you said that was 22 mins a day, it felt more doable.

Joey- What type of person do you want to become?

Maggie- I'd love to start with saying that I am someone who walks around the block every day.

Joey- Wonderful. How will you stay accountable?

Maggie- Can I text you after my walk, for the first week?

Joey- Of course!

Thank you Maggie (not her real name, obviously) for inviting us in.

For the record, I don't love exercising. I love how I feel after exercising and that's my motivator.

My invitation for you:

Think of something that feels like an obligation:

• Why do you feel obligated to do it?

• Is it something you ultimately want to do?

• If your answer is No, why are you doing it?

• How can you get to your why, while releasing obligation and inviting curiosity and/or excitement.

When I wanted to be less invisible, I started telling myself “I am the type of person who says hi to strangers.” When I would pass a stranger, I would remind myself this and it was a little easier.

Are you struggling to keep a new habit?

Are you wanting to put an end to an old habit?

Schedule a free curiosity call to find out more.

Your future self will thank you!

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Thanks for reading! I look forward to seeing you next time.

With so much gratitude,