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Dr. Barbara Cox
Holistic Psychologist and Consultant
Dr. Barbara Cox is a Holistic Psychologist and Consultant, with a focus on work-life balance consulting, and she teaches individuals how to ignite creativity both at work and in your personal life. She provides stress management seminars to businesses, locally, and nationally. One of her specialties is working with people, over the phone or in-person, to improve and enhance their relationships. Whether it's concerning business or personal relationships, she provides a neutral place for consulting on these issues. Her advice has been featured in many local and national publications.
For more information:
Garton Cox International
Currently, she is working in conjunction with a project management consulting firm to produce online training courses for businesses on conflict resolution and stress management for greater productivity at work, available Summer 2008 at www.GartonCoxInternational.com
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What is the first step to meeting any goal, like losing weight? The first step starts with your thought patterns. Yes, your thoughts affect your behavior, which in turn affects how quickly you reach your goals.
Let's look at what types of thoughts stop you from making the first step toward your goal? I bet they are thoughts such as, “I never lose weight”. Those negative thoughts, which I call your ‘inner critic’, block you from reaching your goals. How do you begin to banish your inner critic?
First, work on clearing out those negative thoughts, so you can reach your goal more easily.
One way is by asking yourself: “When I think of losing weight, what negative thoughts pop into my head and tell me I can’t?
Let’s say as an example, you said, “It’s too hard to stick to any exercise program”. Being aware of what your mental pattern is is the key to changing it. Awareness is key. The next step for you is to find some evidence to prove that thought wrong. An example would be to notice and write down any time that you move your body (it doesn’t have to be an official exercise class).
It could be that you walked down the stairs instead of taking an elevator, or that you walked around the block with friends at break time. Eventually you’ll build up a long list of activities that burn calories and are easy.
Your aim here is to look for small pieces of evidence that prove your negative thoughts are wrong, and then to build up from there. Write these positive actions down on a separate piece of paper. These positive thoughts and actions will help you stay motivated.
Now, write down another, more helpful thought such as, “I can gradually start to find easy ways to burn some calories”. Put that helpful thought in your wallet or purse and read it to yourself every day. Especially, right after you’ve done something that puts you in a good mood, like watching a funny movie or laughing with friends. You want to time your reading of the new thought during times when you are feeling upbeat, and picture yourself doing the new habit as well. The subconscious mind picks up emotions. You want to tie enthusiasm to any new thought pattern, this makes the thought pattern become a regular habit more easily.
Anytime the inner critic starts talking, mentally tell it ‘goodbye’ and read your new statement. Praise yourself once a day or more for every small step towards your goal.
Tags: Dr. Barbara Cox Nutrition & Diet
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