Tell me I’m not the only person this has happened to. Your spouse or roommate or BF says “I’m going to lose some weight” and suddenly you find yourself being kidnapped on a diet, “No alcohol from now on until we lose weight!” (Our weight? Did you just call me fat?) We are going to exercise 5 days a week (do we?) Pilates, Zumba, Yoga, Cardio, Free weights, Circuit training “No, no Sam, you have to do 3 sets of 16 reps “(Yes? You didn’t start exercising like 2 days ago and are now a coach?) What just happened here ?: A total lifestyle change you never intended to start . (Okay, well, I was intending to start some day, but in my time frame, not because someone else had an emotional catalyst … see below)
So somehow they manipulate you into joining, maybe you want to add support to the instigators, maybe they are right! You are fat! I mean, isn’t that what they just said? When they assumed you would join in on the whole “Diet” thing, sure, sure … they just worry that YOU are healthy, that’s why all of a sudden every day you hear “Did you go to the gym today?” Um … No, I sat in the backyard with a pack of Marlborough Reds, a case of wine, and some ho ho’s (illusions)
Low and Behold I have been to the gym more than usual (it was not difficult as usual EVER) and I will continue … but the truth is … Being manipulated into doing something as great as Changing your lifestyle because your friend or Spouse has having a catalyst for change (the emotional catalyst does the trick of causing a big change almost always) does not set you up for success, you are alone for the journey until you apologize for your departure, the truth hurts! OK, my truth hurts. I love using humor to grow, educate, or train, but it would be a waste if you didn’t get a little lesson, right?
A catalyst: the simplest definition in this case is “A person or thing that causes a change http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/catalyst
I’m not really a fan of the dictionary version, so to better understand it, here are some personal and professional examples: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/152/next-strategy-passion-provokes-action.html
Let me share this with you, when you get a catalyst for change, you must act immediately or it will fade … until you get another emotional catalyst. If you decide you want to change something in your life, here is a simple 5 minute step in the right direction: Visualize not only how it will look, but how it WILL FEEL once it is changed.