Anyone else ready for their kids to head back to school? I know my family and I are ready to be back on a routine!

Based on the responses to last week’s newsletter, it sounds like a lot of you can relate to the difficulty of staying on a healthy routine during the summer--with all the upheaval in schedules, visitors, and weather, who wouldn’t struggle?

Yet this week I’m here to tell you that I have no doubt that both you and I will get back on track. You know why? Because I’ve got grit, and I know you do, too!

I recently read the book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. Duckworth describes Grit as, “... what predicts achievement in challenging situations.” Jonah Lehrer, author, also sums the term “Grit” up nicely by describing, “Grit is the stubborn refusal to quit.”

I know YOU have Grit because you’ve made the choice to make your health a priority in your life. You have taken the time to set goals, make good choices, and I’ve been there every step up the way. YOU have a “stubborn refusal to quit”.

However, we all struggle with accessing our inner grit sometimes. So, how do we fix that? By getting in the right mindset.

Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The Psychology of Success, talks about two kinds of Mindset: Growth and Fixed. To help bring out your inner grit, let’s focus on the Growth Mindset.

Here are some examples that may help you get closer to your fitness and health goals by using a Growth Mindset:

Example #1

FIXED - Things are so chaotic, I feel like I’m spinning out of control. There is no way I can add in workouts or plan my meals right now!

GROWTH - Things are always chaotic this time of year, so this year I’m taking a new approach by planning my lunch and snacks the night before to take some control of my craziness and still eat well.

Example #2

FIXED - My friend has had so much success on the nutrition plan she’s been doing, but losing weight is just easier for her than it is for me.

GROWTH - My friend has had so much success on the nutrition plan she’s been doing that it has inspired me to implement some simple healthy habits to lose weight, too!

Example #3

FIXED - I know I should eat vegetables instead of those potato chips at lunch, but I just don’t like vegetables.

GROWTH - I would normally grab potato chips, but I want to try some vegetables that I’m not used to eating and see which ones I like the best for a healthier option.

Bottom line is, life is not always smooth sailing. And there are always going to be times throughout the year when things are more hectic than others. Dig deep, find your grit and take back control now with a positive, growth mindset.

“Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.”

-- Winston Churchill

Your biggest cheerleader,

Natalie

P.S. If you need extra support right now to get back on track, I’d love to support you in any way I can. Just send me a message at natalie@fireduppfitness.com.

#grit #mindset #routine