Come on over and swap your identity! (Why not?)
But I intended for her to laugh at me that time.
(That’s how we know that she is bright, brilliant and sophisticated – She laughs at the RIGHT time.1)
The funny thing I said to the newbie at the gym after the exercise class was this:
Join people in over fifty countries who read this to gain valuable life wisdom! (Or maybe they’re just laughing at me? . . . Whatever!)
“You can eat TWO pieces of cake when you get home because you went to the gym!”
“Hahaha!” they laughed.
But STOP for a second. Insert that sound that makes people rewind or halt in a movie – Time stands still for a second while we ask:
WHY, EXACTLY, ARE THEY LAUGHING?
Besides the fact of my sophisticated, exceptionally humorous remarks, they are laughing because:
NO ONE WANTS TO EAT TWO PIECES OF CAKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER GOING TO THE GYM.
Why not?
Because going to the gym, even once, changes our identity.
This identity hack was actually the one thing that helped me to stay within [basically) my weight goal for most of my life – I didn’t focus on losing weight. I focused on movement. This focus changed my self-perceived identity.
As mentioned HERE, I hate it when others (or even the best side of me!) tell me what to do!
“Stop being so bossy!” I yell at them, or even at myself. But if I get some exercise, I don’t immediately want two pieces of cake (it takes a few hours). Being the kind of person who exercises changes my identity, so better dietary habits come a little more easily.
“I’M THE KIND OF PERSON WHO GOES TO THE GYM”, my mind tells my mouth.
An energy ball (or other healthier treat) suddenly seems more appealing, anyway, right now, is how I feel.
Who we believe we are drives our behavior.
So, (1) Go to the gym or get outside for a walk or run to begin to change your own idea of who you are!
And when do we start this? We can even begin this type of identity transformation before we get to the gym if we are experts! For example, once my friend said,
“I go swimming three times a week!”
“Oh wow!” I said. “How long have you been doing that?”
“I went swimming twice!” he continued.
He knows who he is! A swimmer! Showing up at the pool is that much easier, friends!
If that fails, then another great identity hack to help us choose healthier habits is (of course) to:
(2) Pretend to be someone else! (This is one of my favorite life and identity hacks.) More on this HERE!
And whichever of these two identity hacks you choose, remember to be S.T.U.P.I.D. about it while you’re at it! (Explanation HERE.)
You’re welcome!
Good luck!
Oh! And did you know that God is constantly whispering to us, asking us to change our view of ourselves, too?
If you knew who God made you to be, you’d never want to be anyone else.
Have a listen to what God is whispering, friend.
You may just be surprised at who you end up becoming, once you know who you really are, too.
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
As the song below sings, “You call me deeper still into love . . .” consider asking God, “How do I see myself differently from how You see me?” And may who you believe you are align exactly with how God sees you, friend. (Everything gets easier to DO when we have a closer understanding of who we really ARE.)
Thanks for liking me! I like you too! – Proven HERE, HERE, and HERE! Let’s journey together!
Photo Credits – How’s Your Life? (Need Someone New To Drive Your Car?) by Prophsee Journals on Unsplash, Are Energy Balls Your New Best Friend, Too? by Ophélie Pgt on Unsplash
1 NOT like many of the people who read these articles who laugh at all the serious stuff and are serious when it’s time to laugh at my funny jokes! Why?
Restoring Life 