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Health & Fitness

Want to achieve? Get envious!

I first came across the concept of developing envy for positive purpose, while reading Use Your Brain to Change Your Age by Daniel Amen. In this book Amen encourages developing “brain envy”, that is becoming envious of other people’s healthy habits. I was intrigued by this. Previously I had thought of envy, as being negative. I realized there could be something powerful in developing envy, if I allowed it to become a motivator. 

I run a Facebook community called Positive Steps to Health. The aim of the group is to motivate myself and others to get fit and healthy. One of the features is a daily log, where members post when they have exercised. A friend (thanks Nina) apologized to me this morning for having posted on day, when I did not exercise. I explained to her that I was very grateful for her posts, as they made me envious of her positive habits. This envy allows me to overcome procrastination and say “why should she have all the benefits of being healthy, I want them too!” 

So I’d like to encourage you to become envious too. 

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  • Pick a person, who has a healthy habit that you’d like to develop and think about how much they benefit from that healthy habit. 
  • Think about how you miss out because you don’t have this habit or because you failed to engage in this positive habit today. 
  • Allow a feeling of competitiveness and envy to creep in! 
  • Consider asking this person to become an accountability partner. 
  • Use this feeling of envy and competitiveness to take responsibility, take action, overcome procrastination and motivate you to get off your butt and get on with the healthy habit! 

Habits are all about repeating an action, consistently until it becomes subconscious. Once an action is subconscious it requires less energy and attention. So what are you waiting for? GET ENVIOUS and take action!

For more information on how to be more happy, healthy and successful or to book a complementary first coaching session visit: www.positivehealthandwellbeing.com

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