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Anxiety. Worrying. Fear. Doubt. In a time where mental health is running rampant in our society, no time is better than now to stop and take a look at our own inner soul. Sure, most of us reading this article do not suffer from mental "illness", but honestly, don't we all have some mental habits that could really stand to be addressed thus allowing us to live our lives more freely . . . and happily?

There are basically three categories that my training clients fall into. First, are those that are truly happy and healthy with how they look. They lead a well balanced life of family, work, health and relaxation. The people in this category are few and far in between. In fact, they rarely sign up for training sessions more than once. They know the routine and are in charge of their own lives. I give them the tools and tips on how to get there and then give them free reign.  

Most of the other people I work with struggle just like I do. They fall into the two other categories. Next . . . category two - competitors. Aren't we obsessive, driven individuals? Lol! Most of us tend to put the gym and dieting before EVERYTHING else in our lives, including the most important things, like friends and family. But hey, we feel good! We are working towards our goals and living our dreams. We are the picture of happiness and satisfaction, right?  Wrong!

Then there's the last group, which is where most of my clients fall. They are unhappy with the way they look but are working on it. It's so much nicer when you have someone to help you stay motivated because you're having a hard time holding up the ship by yourself.  One of the biggest struggles is food! Hell, food tastes good! We say to ourselves, "I'll start my diet again tomorrow" or "I'll start Monday!"  The mental battle for most people is, "I'm having fun at this moment despite how I'm going to feel about myself later."

In the field of fitness, there is so much focus on the dieting and training and little attention paid to the mental attitude that needs to be addressed in order to achieve any sort of success in your fitness goals, or in life in general. Let me give you five important tips to get you started towards changing your health and fitness, and towards changing everything in your life for the better.

Read.  Read books about achieving success and having a positive attitude. My two favorite include "Dare to Win" by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, and "The Power of  Your Subconscious Mind" by Joseph Murphy.

Dream.  Create a dream book by gathering and collecting pictures of those things that you would most like to have in your life. Review your Dream Book throughout your day.

Visualize.  Visualize positive outcomes for everything you have going on in your life. Imagine the outcome exactly as you would like it! Perform several times a day.

Relax.  Relax and go slower. By moving through our lives in a fast pace, we are creating chaos which can feel like a lack of control. Take it slow . . . and enjoy!

Love One Another.  Appreciate and value your friends and family daily. Be conscious of how you are treating them. Do something nice for someone each day . . . even someone you don't know.

I know - these five tips don't seem fitness related. But you would be amazed at how going back to the basics and retraining your mind, can lead to a more harmonious and positive lifestyle. Once in this positive state, the fitness and health that we desperately desire will be that much easier to achieve. So start building your positive foundation, and accomplishing your dreams will be that much easier!