Have you ever heard the mantra, “No pain, no gain”? Sure, we all have. It’s a notion that the harder we work, the more successful we’ll be. Ironically, this saying is mostly associated with exercise and the fitness world.And just in case you’re wondering, the irony lies in the fact that working “harder” to lose weight and get healthy can actually interfere with healing, increase stress levels and halt weight loss.
There’s a better way to succeed, to have a high level of energy and overall health, and to reach your goal weight. Martha Beck, best-selling author and writer for O Magazine, so wisely says, “Play, not work, is the key to success.” I first discovered this theory when reading her book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, and while intrigued by the idea, I needed proof.
Much like you, I’ve been brought up to believe that success in any area of your life is only achieved through blood, sweat and tears (trust me, I can pull out the metaphors all day long). But. What if there was another way?
What if shedding those last 5 pounds (or the first 25) didn’t come through strife and painful, forced effort? What if feeling at peace with your body and experiencing the results of balanced hormones wasn’t a byproduct of intense labor?
What if it could be enjoyable, simple and…fun? Since I had already lost 30 pounds and reached my ideal level of health (I’m making it sound easier than it was), I decided to test this theory in growing my business.
As a woman on a mission to empower as many people around the world as possible with my message of health, I needed to know the best ways for reaching the masses and actually impacting them in some way. So I decided to stop approaching business like a hard, laborious job. And I got to playing. Here’s what playing did (and what it will do for you):
• It gets you out of your head and into your body
• It allows you to listen for the next step instead of making (inaccurate) logical assumptions
• It makes living a whole lot more fun and a lot less stressful
• It breeds joy, excitement and appreciation for everything around you
• It calms you down so you’re always in the moment, trusting good results to come
• It makes getting great results seem so effortless
• It puts you in the driver’s seat of your own life, empowering you to move forward
• It makes you want to take more chances and live bigger
• It makes you easier to be around (if you’re anything like me, this is a huge plus!)
Just from playing and making everything a game that formerly felt like a challenge in my business, I grew it by 221% in less than 12 months. I wrote my second book, took on 80 new clients, added 2 new team members and have been asked to speak internationally. In my clients’ lives, they’ve dropped anywhere from 10 to 100 pounds (without having to do a lot), moved cross-country to start a new life, shed 5 to 14 inches of body fat, restored their menstrual cycles and dramatically balanced their hormonal levels, gotten off of synthetic medications, and more.
If it feels too hard, you’re probably pushing too hard. Even if that method yields results, your body won’t thank you for it, and you probably won’t be satisfied. At the end of the day, it’s not just about losing weight or overcoming your health condition, it’s about being happy with your body and who you are as a person. Why not have both?
It’s time to play and make everything you do a joyful activity.
You deserve to feel good while taking care of yourself and taking the steps necessary to reach your health goals. Make playing a priority and let the transformation begin! (You never know, you might be having such a good time you’ll barely notice the new you emerge…)
Action Step: Write down 2 to 3 ways you can turn your current health plan into play. Get creative – nothing is off limits!
– Katie Humphrey
As a keynote speaker, empowerment coach, author and spokesperson, Katie Humphrey inspires women to feel fit, confident and motivated. Her dynamic Revolution of YOU brand helps overwhelmed and stressed out women confidently reach their goals.