Vision – Ideal vs Reality

So as we begin this exploration of vision and how it helps motivate us and helps us to set our goals, are you comparing your ideal vision to your current reality? This is typically where many people get stuck. I remember years ago of having a dream of owning a beautiful cabin in the woods near a stream. I passed this cabin whenever I went to the mountains for a hike. I also remember my dad saying “Good luck!”

How often do family members, who believe they mean well, shoot down our dreams or our visions? How often do we allow ourselves to shoot down or dreams and visions because it is not our reality? Here is where the work comes in. This is how vision boards became popular. This is how we flocked to books explaining to us how to achieve our dreams and hoping to find a detailed map for us so we could easily get there. Guess what???? SPOILER ALERT!!!! You have to put in the work.

So how do we being the task of “putting in the work?” Well, let’s go back to that list of goals that we set up. Or often times the failed resolutions we set every January 1st that are unrealistic and impossible to achieve because they are too vague. This is why the gyms are packed at the beginning of each year (and that may be drastically different January 1, 2021) and then as we enter spring, the gyms become less crowded. Many of us may feel that as the weather gets nicer, more people go outdoors to workout. Well, some may do that, but many just give up.

Here is an example of a plan and how to lay out the steps. Let’s say an individual decides they need to lower his or her cholesterol. Well, the first step is meeting with our medical staff and making sure we have a safe and healthy plan, right? So, our doctor tells us what foods to avoid, to add exercise, etc. We go home, we set aside the recommendations and we go back to our old routine. Sound familiar? So; LET’S CHANGE THIS PATTERN!!!!

Sit down with a notepad, write down your current cholesterol levels, do some research. Find out why these numbers matter. Learn the difference between HDL and LDL. Learn what those letters mean. Learn how to safely and effectively start a REALISTIC exercise plan. Set up a timeframe of how many days each week you want to exercise, and REMEMBER, start slow. Yes, you will have some sore muscles when you start, but if you go to hard too quickly, you will have more than sore muscles; you may injure yourself, or worse, have a heart attack.

As you begin taking your notes, think of activities you enjoy doing. This will make it easier to stay motivated and to stay with your program. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. For example, walk on the treadmill one day, and maybe do the elliptical or the bike the next workout. Be sure to add weight training as well. Do some light weights after your cardio. After 30 minutes of cardio, 15 minutes of weight training followed by 15 minutes of stretching and cool down rounds out a full hour at the gym, with minimal effort I might add.

So, hopefully, you are getting the “vision” or picture here and so I do not just keep endlessly rambling, I will stop here and save some for tomorrow and Friday. I hope this information is useful and inspires you to take charge of your health. Remember, REALITY and IDEAL GOALS require work to change the present to the future. So, as always, stay healthy, stay hydrated, and stay focused.