CONDITIONED

Are you prepared for what you say you want?

How often have you boldly verbalized the things you want to have or the things you want to do? How long is your good intentions list? I'm referring to that list of all the things you’ve intended to do, but somehow you’ve not yet gotten around to them? Maybe it’s time for some retraining and reconditioning.

Let’s kick this off today with a quote:

One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.

Aldous Huxley

What a power thought, this idea that we believe what we believe because of conditioning or training. And if this is true, it also suggests that we behave how we behave because of conditioning or training.

The online Cambridge Dictionary defines the word condition this way:

To condition is to train or influence a person or animal mentally so that they do or expect a particular thing without thinking.

For example, if your spouse for years has greeted you every morning with a smile, good morning hug, kiss, and to top it off, a cup of coffee prepared just the way you like it, then suddenly without warning they stop or change the routine, you will likely notice the change immediately and wonder what happened?! This is all because you have been trained/conditioned mentally to expect a certain norm, a smile, hug, kiss and coffee…just the way you like. This expectation did not develop over night, but rather it happened over a period time, and then you began to expect it without thinking.

It takes energy, effort, intentionality to train and influence yourself and others, especially in things that are positive and productive. However, all too often we pursue earnest well-meaning efforts to make significant life change without first understanding the importance of training and conditioning. We assume that we can just wish, think or will our way through the process of change. We hope that we can somehow intend our way to a better self. However, lasting change is often the product of hard work over time, mental focus over time, and some type of reward system that acknowledges and celebrates desired behavior over time. It’s not instant, but rather it happens over time.

What training or conditioning is necessary for the goals you’ve set for yourself or your teams?

You will not be properly conditioned for what you have not been consistently exposed to.

stacywardcoaching

To be conditioned to something involves experiencing it over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over again.

2 Quick Tips

Do whatever it takes to consistently say yes to the things that align with your goals and values, and consistently say no to the things that are not aligned with your goals and values.

If perhaps you lack the discipline to retrain or recondition yourself, you may need to hire a professional trainer, coach or life coach to help you with your process. It’s worth the investment.

Imagine how retraining and reconditioning yourself can provide the focus and momentum needed to help you accomplish more of your goals this year. It can create huge personal wins and propel you into the next year and years to come.

What would it take to ensure that you are conditioned for what you say you want this year?

Happy New Year!