Making a bigger impact as a fitness professional means getting your house in order first. Here are two ways I do it everyday.
“Home is where the heart is” — a quote attributed to the Italian Gaius Plinius Secundas in the first century — can be a loosely used statement that leaves room for interpretation. When one thinks of “home,” most imagine the physical four walls they live in. Hopefully it’s a safe place full of the love of family.
In my view, Gaius’ quote means more. One can alter the common perception of “home” from a place of residence, to their physical body, something to be held sacred and dear. As author Stephen Covey once said, “It is futile to put personality ahead of character, to try to improve relationships with others before improving ourselves.” Stephen was right — being centered, and getting your “house” in order, that’s where your heart is. To make a bigger difference in your relationships, in your business and in your life, one must start here.
People use different techniques to become more centered and here are two things that work for me. You might find them useful and I promise if you do them, you can make a big impact on your life and the life of others.
First, practice daily meditation. Just five minutes of quiet time a day to clear your mind will work. Psychologists now believe meditation can counteract depression and anxiety. Physiologically, meditation has been linked to lowering blood pressure and heart rate. If you Google or YouTube “Meditation,” you can find a lot of guided meditations or word mantras to start with. Turning down internal noise allows one to reach their inner home, and once you become familiar with that place and balance, you can be there anytime you want. This can help you feel better, be more productive and just be happier overall.
The second technique is to keep a journal. Document your thoughts after meditation. Take a moment after completing meditation to document your feelings and insights. Give your mind a place to dance. Try writing in a creative way that you’ve never done before to inspire creativity. Try standing and journaling, writing with your non-dominate hand — anything to give breath to new energy.
When I apply these two practices to my own life, I am able to maximize my attentiveness to those around me. The better I am, the better those around me are, which in return, improves the productivity and energy of everything I do.
As leaders in the fitness industry, we often wear many different hats and perform a variety of tasks in the environment we serve. Imagine if you had your own house in order and arrived each day to your circumstance, completely clear minded and available to what is in front of you, living completely devoted to the present moment with a compassionate consideration for the future. Your productivity, I assure you, will soar. Freeing yourself of worry greatly reduces the amount of wasted energy.
Below is a video of an interview with the Dalai Lama on why meditation is important.
The two practices of meditation and journaling have dramatically improved my life and I hope they do the same for you. Once you learn to tap into “home” within yourself, no one can take that feeling from you. It is safe, it is pristine and it is your true self.
Thank you for reading! For more information on industry trends and wellness practices, check out my website or follow me on twitter @lindseyrainh2o.
Cheers!
Lindsey Rainwater is an experienced consultant and coach to the fitness and wellness industry. Currently she is working with the Fitmarc Team helping club owners all over the south central region of the United States propel their business forward via group exercise solutions. For more information about Lindsey, follow her on Twitter @lindseyrainh2o.
