Life with a Twist by Mare_Petras

The first step to transformation is awareness. You know, that “something’s gotta change” moment that propels you into action.

Actor Jason Segel (The Muppets, Bad Teachers) shared his moment on this week’s Late Show with David Letterman: "My lowest moment came [when] I shot a movie in New Orleans. New Orleans is like, the best food and booze anywhere … I really took advantage of it."

He goes on to say that his assistant found him strung out in his hotel room and photographed him, covered in fast-food wrappers, “his belly on full display.” When Segel showed Letterman the picture, Letterman shot back: “Honest to God, Jason, this looks like a crime scene.” Check out the video clip here.

After seeing the photo, Segel was motivated to shed thirty pounds. No crime in that! A simple, unscientific explanation of the “sight to might” phenomena goes like this: Vividly imagined or real pictures of things you want (or don’t want) imprint powerful messages in your subconscious mind which – when channeled with intent – can help you to focus your energies towards an envisioned goal.

Can you relate to this kind of motivation?

I can.

Years ago, Sally called to hire me as her personal trainer. She had gotten my number from a friend a few months earlier, but it took seeing herself in an unflattering photograph, snapped at a family wedding, to give me a call. I’ll never forget her opening line: “I don’t know how it happened, Mare, but I’m staring at a picture of myself and my thighs have dropped to my knees. Help!”

Another long-standing client, Sam came to a training session particularly enthused about performing extra crunches. This was odd, since he usually moaned and groaned during that part of his workout. Curious, I asked him why the change of heart? Sam came clean saying he didn’t like what he saw when shown a picture of himself, relaxing by the pool on holiday.

I had yet another client who was motivated to get into shape by focusing on a picture of her former self. Wendy taped a photograph taken five years earlier of her relaxing at the beach, wearing her favorite hot pink bikini. She said every time she mindlessly went to open the door of the fridge to get a snack, the picture stopped her cold in her tracks. The leftover cheesecake would not bring her any closer to fitting into her favorite bikini. 

Wendy felt she was chasing a “doable” goal because she saw her own potential “hotness,” not some unrealistic fantasy of looking like a Sport Illustrated swimsuit model. The photo was especially effective because it helped her transcend from “seeing” to the deeper levels of feeling. She wanted to feel like she felt in the picture– a time when she was working less, eating (and drinking) less, and exercising more. If she could it then, she could do it again.

And she did.

As the examples above show, pictures (of what you want or don’t want) have the power to motivate awareness and action – as well as provide on-going inspiration to get into better shape. Pictures can inspire you to exercise, but are you aware of their power to transform other areas of your life which can lead to an even happier, healthier you?

Looking at the big picture of your life, how might you incorporate pictures to help you reach your healthy lifestyle goals?

A picture is worth a thousand words – a muse you can use.

Until next time, enJOY your body ...  enJOY your life, every minute, every day!

Mare