Ask "Am I this...or that"

by Jo Anne Kikel
(Denver, CO)

I believe most people want to stay as healthy as possible. I look at my values and I see that I cetainly am one of those people who believe health is the greatest wealth.

I recently presented a lecture to a group of professionals on "What Really Matters" and it really is what you value that matters (although those values should be those which provide you with the greatest positive outcome for you).

If I am tempted to lay around and eat potato chips, I ask myself, "Am I this greasy potato chip and this couch or am I a person who values health and fitness, strength and self-esteem and self discipline?

Or, I can really get tough on myself and ask "Am I this weak chump who is attending to my weaknesses or am I a self-disciplined individual who has control over my mind and body"?

Once I put together my lecture and presented it, I started thinking about my own values.

Now I find that I actually keep working out at something each and every day and I stay away from bad foods because of what I value.

I even wrote a short workbook about keeping one's eyes on the value and not the distraction. It works..for me at least.