Faulty Programming
Poor Programming
This past week when on the trail I started to recognize a feeling that’s plagued me for decades.
For this week’s blog I’m pulling you into my daily journaling as I explored this feeling and started to shed some light on a mindset that has been running in the background for as long as I can remember.
Isn’t it funny how we have programming that we aren’t even aware of until we start to open up to ideas in the quiet moments?
If I hadn’t been in nature, pushing through miles and miles of trails would this awareness have arrived?
I’m not sure.
What I do know is now I know.
Now I can see a pre-set programming that has limited me and now, as I deconstruct it I have the freedom to choose something different.
One of the reasons why I thought this post may be beneficial to you is because I’ve found, in my over two and a half decades of coaching, the number one reason my clients aren’t in great shape when they come to me is because they have poor mindset paradigms and poor programming running the show.
Unless we uncover the poor programming we make mild movement towards goals at best.
Once the programming is uncovered changes happen fast.
You aren’t fat because you don’t know that eating more protein will help you build muscle and lose fat.
You’re too fat because you have thoughts and beliefs running the show that keep got you that way and keep you stuck.
Creating Awareness - The Limiting Belief Block
Feeling behind.
This is a feeling that I’ve lived with most of my life.
I’ve just noticed that this feeling is a near constant companion.
In shape? Not good enough…better hurry.
Have a home, money and cars? Not enough…you are behind.
Missing out.
Being behind.
I’ve lived with it for as long as I can remember.
Missed school with being sick in elementary school…and missed the full reading of Empire Strikes back (Star Wars was my favorite movie back then) in class.
Daydreamed and didn’t finish assignments on time so I always missed out on the extra play time in kindergarten.
Didn’t eat my broccoli and my spinach so I missed out on the ice cream afterwards.
I didn’t learn quickly and would often be confused, fascinated and intimidated when people knew things I didn’t. Felt behind.
Social situations and I didn’t know people? Felt behind…already left out.
Went somewhere and people had more money, better style, were better looking? Felt behind.
Church? Always behind…never good enough.
On the trail hiking and someone runs by?
Behind.
Not fast enough.
In the gym and someone is leaner or bigger?
Behind.
They are in better shape.
Driving a Porsche but see someone else in a cool car?
Behind…because maybe they have more.
Fascinating that I’ve lived with this belief set and never really paid much attention to it until now.
It creates an unnecessary urgency and drives poor decisions.
So - now that it’s in the mental strike zone…let’s break it down and deconstruct it.
I don’t like the feeling and am not a fan of feeling this way.
I think, at 49 it’s time to explore it and dive deeper to get rid of it.
Deconstruct
So - what does it represent?
What is “being behind?”
What am I missing out on?
Let’s try to break it down from a first principles standpoint.
Behind.
Behind what?
Behind who?
Using what measures?
The idea of missing out or being behind means that:
There is somewhere that I should be and something that I should accomplish or should have accomplished by now (I’m not a fan of “shoulds”)
This basis then means that there are specific times that measurements should be taken and that timing is tyrannical in nature - it’s whenever I compare my perception of my now to someone or something else’s now (clearly this is bullshit).
Behind means that there is somehow a timeline with checkpoints along the way that need to me hit…markers and checkpoints that I was previously unaware of.
Here are the three fundamental flaws I see driving the “behind” mentality:
Should - as a basis of comparison
Tyranny of arbitrary measurement checkpoints
Timelines with markers along the way
With these flaws in mind I think it’s time to move on from this thought process.
Moving on from this phase of analysis the real question is how do I get rid of it?
How do I move into a state of more abundance?
I guess…before that…why do I want to?
I theorize that living in a state of abundance and gratitude would make me more confident, feel better and help me to enjoy life better without feeling like I’m rushed and pushed all the time.
I theorize that I’ll make better decisions, have a more calm demeanor and feel more confident in my decision making.
I theorize that I’ll actually look at what I have and will multiply what I have rather than feel like I’m constantly grabbing for more and more like I’m lacking.
I theorize I’ll be happier, more content and more successful in the way I want to be.
I theorize that I’ll look better, have better style and feel better on a regular basis.
So - with that in mind…what do I need?
I’ll keep it simple…what if, I started every activity in business, money-making, even mundane tasks by recognizing what I have and what I want to build from.
Not going after things because of a hunger from a “lack,” but building from a point of positive perspective.
Practical Application
I won’t bore you with my full journal entry at this point…I think the portion above shows my current block, but suffice it to say that the first steps to addressing the issue and my practical application is simple.
Before starting anything I start with what I have, what I am grateful for and/or what position of power I’m starting from.
The past several days I’ve applied it in multiple activities.
Before going for a trail run I remind myself of something that is positive, something that feels strong or is great about the day, my body and what I’m working on.
Before lifting I pause to check in and recognize a positive perspective and the abundance that I’ve already created.
I’m only a few days in but I’m finding a better, more mature decision process occurring. I pause and engage intentionally rather than rushing towards the next set, exercise, etc.
I feel more comfortable and confident with every area of life because I’m starting to see what I believe is a more complete view of reality.
And, with my 50-50 training I’m realizing that I’ve already progressed and am doing better in my training than I was giving myself credit for.
I’m genuinely curious.
If you’ve made it this far in the blog - do you experience the same mental block?
Are you looking at your current health and fitness from a position of being behind?
If so - what are you working on?
Until next time - keep rolling!
