You’ve finally decided it was time to make the changes to improve your health, but you’re overwhelmed and don’t know what to expect. You begin second guessing whether you can be successful, but the truth is that you CAN be successful. It just takes a positive attitude and belief that you can do hard things! But what sets the successful clients apart from the unsuccessful ones? Well there are a few key traits (and mindsets) that are imperative.
Here are 8 simple things that my clients’ who see the most success embrace on their health rebuilding journey.
1. They are patient
Unfortunately, we live in a world of quick fixes, but true healing doesn’t happen overnight and those who see the most success don’t expect this. They are patient and take one day at a time, celebrating and embracing their health wins along the way. In reality, optimizing your health is a lifelong journey.
2. They are accountable to themselves
My client’s who are successful maintain a positive attitude and don’t blame others for their lack of success. They know that the choices that they make on a daily basis are 100% on them. They don’t rely on motivation to push them forward, but instead are dedicated to daily habits that become part of their lifestyle in the long run.
3. They put in the work
Improving your health takes a lot of work…especially if you come from a place where chronic health issues have crept up on you over many years. By putting in the work every damn day, my clients feel proud about the progress they make because there is a sense of pride that comes with all the hard work!
4. They are willing to invest the money up front, to save money in the long run
My clients understand that optimal health is not a one size fits all approach and because of that, it requires an investment up front to run functional lab work that is often not covered by universal health care or health insurance. This functional lab work enables Functional Practitioners to provide an individualized plan for their clients and saves money in the long run because it eliminates the game of trial and error. Think about it?...You either spend the money proactively to prevent chronic illness from occurring, or spend the money reactively to “fix” chronic conditions . All my clients prioritize their health, and if needed, layoff on the frivolous spending to get the answers they need.
5. They have a growth mindset (not a victim mentality)
What is a growth mindset? People who have a growth mindset believe they can improve themselves and their talents through hard work and practice. They want to improve and are constantly learning and when they struggle, they don’t give up. They appreciate feedback because it helps them to learn and grow. My clients who have a growth mindset are successful in their health journey’s because they love the process and work hard to improve that 1% every day.
6. They understand it is not a linear process
Whether it’s weight loss, pathogen eradication, hormonal balance or leaky gut, there will always be ups and downs in the healing process. We focus on the improvement we are expecting in the end, but we forget about the steps in between. There will be periods where you feel like there’s no hope and none of the work you put in is worth it. There will also be times when you feel like you’ve taken a step backwards. However, it is important to realize that the journey is not about a beginning and an end, but about the steps in between and my most successful clients definitely understand this and celebrate these steps.
7. They take their health seriously and build positive lifestyle habits that they can adhere to
And these lifestyle habits are all encompassing and holistic in nature. It includes optimizing diet, sleep, exercise & movement, stress & mood regulation, and some supplementation. Building positive habits and sticking with them is imperative for success.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, states that the process of building a habit can be divided into four simple steps: cue, craving, response, and reward. First, there is the cue. The cue triggers your brain to initiate a behavior. Cravings are the motivational force behind every habit. Without some level of motivation or desire—without craving a change—we have no reason to act. The response is the actual habit you perform and finally, the response delivers a reward. Rewards are the end goal of every habit. The cue is about noticing the reward. The craving is about wanting the reward. The response is about obtaining the reward. We chase rewards because they serve two purposes: (1) they satisfy us and (2) they teach us.
My clients build positive habits like daily walks/movement, water consumption, sugar elimination and daily meditation (to name a few),
so that they are engrained in their everyday lives, making them better and more successful in their health endeavors.
8. They appreciate the importance of rest
Resting is absolutely necessary for everyone. It is vital for mental health, increased concentration, a healthier immune system, muscle building, reduced stress, improved mood and even a better metabolism. Many of my clients come to me, living a fast-paced life, often burned out and experiencing adrenal fatigue. Those who begin to embrace the importance of rest are the ones that see the most success in their healing journey. They incorporate habits like meditation, reading, yoga and forest walks to relax and feel at ease.
Taking the first step to improve your health can be a difficult choice. It requires time, money and commitment. We all start our health journeys with the best intentions, however, not everyone gets the results they set out to achieve. This is because they don’t grasp that the traits and mindsets above are so important for success. Hiring a Functional Health Coach (like myself) can help to improve your chances of success because coaches hold you accountable and teach you the tools needed (above) to get you to your end goal! If you're interested in working with me, feel free to email me at info@ncwellnessfunctionalhealth.com
Stay Healthy!
**Disclaimer: Information provided in this BLOG is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as a substitute for the medical advice provided by your personal physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information provided in this email for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem.