 |
|
|
ABOUT
BY JIM ROMAGNA
A friend of mine recently e-mailed me an e-newsletter from Rick Warren, Author of "The Purpose-Driven Life." The Aug. 12th newsletter was titled "Excelling at What You Do."
As I read it, I thought about it within a wellness framework.
Now, we all aspire to excel at different things, but I'm willing to bet we all want to excel at our personal wellness.
People who excel work with enthusiasm
Get excited about what you want to accomplish, but keep in mind the process can be just as exciting and worth approaching with enthusiasm.
New methods of exercise, new environments, new recipes, new exercise instructors or partners all are things to get excited about and they lend a certain energy to our efforts.
They also can help us reach that which what we want to accomplish.
This brings to mind one of my favorite quotes. "A champion is one who works hard even when no one is watching."
That takes true enthusiasm toward what you are doing.
People who excel sharpen their skills
In the past I have stressed the importance of fine-tuning our wellness skills. The more we know, the more we will flourish in our wellness efforts.
This might mean learning how to design an effective exercise routine, growing our understanding of nutrients and their effect on our health, or the warning signs of overtraining. Increased skill equals increased efficiency and result.
People who excel keep their word
This can mean a strong personal commitment, but at the same time, getting support from a friend or family member is the safety net we need.
Sooner or later we all need a little help to keep us moving in the right direction.
Accountability to self and others is a must in reaching our goals. Reaffirm with yourself frequently and share with others often.
People who excel maintain a positive attitude
This can be difficult. Things might not happen quickly for us, we stumble by missing a workout, stray from our eating plan or perhaps we are dealing with injury or illness.
Whatever obstacle the day presents, it's imperative to keep our head up, and remember the following day will bring opportunity.
People who excel do more than is expected
There are minimum exercise guidelines that are recommended, but no one excels by doing the minimum.
Wellness is about finding the balance between too little and doing too much, both will result in minimal returns.
Achieving optimal wellness takes effort, more than the expected effort. But keep in mind to not just work hard, but work smart. Remember, we want optimal wellness, not just average wellness.
Applying these five points can help you excel in whatever you do, but while you're at it you might as well excel in your wellness, too, because without wellness, all else suffers.
Romagna is an instructor in the Department of Health, Wellness and Recreation at the University of Dubuque, and owner of Natural Fit Inc. Contact Jim at fit@jimromagna.com.
Source: http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=254016