Team in Transition January 2008 1

Fitness First
Mental Fitness
Part 4

By Michelle Ewalt

Living a balanced and fulfilling life means reviewing and focusing on multiple areas. It means putting forth effort on a
many fronts to build the life of your dreams that will recap rewards on several levels. Last year, we explored how
physical, emotional, and career fitness integrate to create total wellness. With a breath of fresh air for 2008, we review
how mental fitness plays such a vital role both in creating new results for ourselves and in maintaining our progress to
this point.

January is the perfect time to delve into the topic of mental fitness. As you review your goals for the coming year
taking the opportunity to feed your mind and heart and align them with your key focus areas will support overall
wellness and your ideal life. Results are created from what you choose to direct your anxiety and enthusiasm toward.
Chances are that what you are thinking about most will have a direct correlation to what will show up for you in the
future months and years.

Our thoughts shape our mental fitness which is why living the best version of ourselves begins by looking at what we
are thinking about and what we are feeling. In order to accomplish new results, we must review the progress that have
created our current circumstances. Because our thought patterns and habits have designed our lives up until this
moment, achieving success in 2008 begins by deliberately selecting where to dedicate our focus in the coming year.


Building Your Core:
Career & Business Fitness
Your Plan
1/ Get clear and visualize
2/ Accept confusion but stay organized
3/ Perception and performance
4/ Check your emotional and mental pulse
5/ Focus to a fault

Get clear and visualize the future
Your level of clarity concerning what it is you want for yourself and your values is directly related to your future
reality. Take pleasure in knowing that the tomorrow you are moving toward will be a result of putting yourself wholly
and completely into creating your dreams. Getting clear about what you want your future to look like is crucial. It is
the most important step in the process, yet it can be the most difficult. Be willing to face yourself honestly and assess
your goals, skills, talents, and commitment to the path ahead. Appraise your situation honestly and fairly to determine
your dedication to the long haul. Whether you are building a business, growing a new career, or following a path of
wellness as a first time mom, consider the facts.

Recently, an Applied Materials client shared his example of how important clarity has been not only in helping him
adhere to his journey toward his goals, but also in defining aspirations. Between our coaching work, journaling, honest
assessment, and homework assignments, his personal bar continues to rise as his clarity unfolds. The possibilities for
his future expand as his self-understanding deepens.
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As weve discussed in previous articles, another crucial step in aligning your endeavors, whether on a personal level or
in your career, includes creating the vision of your future. First, dream about what encompasses the look and
experience of your ideal life. Next, define that life using as much detail as possible. Aligning your end goal with the
short and long term steps you take along the way is a key part of realizing your dreams.



Accept confusion and embrace organization
Although developing clarity is critical, accept confusion as part of the path toward mental fitness and cultivate the
grace and patience to work through it. Recognize where you are in the process, including admitting that things may
not be extremely clear to you at the moment. Allowing some uncertainty will actually help propel you through the
personal and mental struggle of creating a fulfilling life. An excellent resource is the book Wherever You Go There You
Are by Jon Kabat Zinn. It can help you develop a level of comfort as you experience ambiguity. Trusting that our
creativity will unfold how and when it is supposed to is all part of the mental strength our dreams demand of us.

That being said, organization is still an important piece of the puzzle. It is possible to be a little uncertain about your
direction, but organized about your approach. First of all, define what is clear. Perhaps, it is what you do not want.
Capture that on paper. Devote some time to brainstorming, daydreaming and focusing on developing clarity. Enlist
the help of a mentor or advisor and be disciplined about meeting with them at regularly-scheduled times. Be organized
about your pursuit of knowledge, both in terms of self understanding and acquiring new information, skills and
knowledge needed to further your aspirations. A systematic plan of action can help unravel the confusion into a well-
honed comprehension of next steps.

Percpetion and performance
Perception is reality and this means that the lens through which you are looking will impact your performance. If you
perceive that your efforts will result in positive future outcomes then with focus and determination your results will
reflect that perception. On the other hand, if there are areas blocking your view, your performance and impact will be
diminished.

Honestly review your expectations of the future and realign your insights along a more positive course if necessary.
For instance, if you are preparing for a marathon, renew your optimism daily, and generate support to produce your
desired outcome. Race day will be much more enjoyable and rewarding. Yet, if you are nervous about the result and
focus on perceived shortcomings or worries, you create unnecessary impediments to your goal. Plus, you drain
enjoyment from the process for and anticipating the event.

Sometimes revisiting our perceptions involves frank observations about what is happening around us. Balancing
talent, preparation, and realistic limitations helps refashion perceptions that serve us and help us achieve high
performance. During the hi-tech bust in 2003, thousands of educated and talented workers were forced to transition to
new and different jobs. I partnered with many of them to help adjust their salary, job function and location
expectations to make the most of economic climate and altered prospects of that time. Those with a willingness to
quickly change their view of the market went on to excel.

Check your emotional and mental pulse
In addition to candidly observing the world around you, it is important to tune in to what is truly happening within you.
Take time to pause and evaluate where you are in the process and what your instinct is telling you about your next
steps, missteps or where there is an opportunity for realignment or advancing toward your dreams. Working with an
advisor or a mentor can help you liberate your mental struggles to clearly see obstacles, people who may be slowing
you down, barriers you are setting or unrealistic expectations.

Be dedicated to taking the time to check in with yourself. It is too easy to let this task slide in the midst of a busy
schedule. Perhaps taking up a yoga or meditation practice would be a good way to incorporate regular reflection time
into your calendar. Treat these times as seriously as you would a business meeting or appointment.

Team in Transition January 2008 3
Following your intuitive gut read on your path will lead you in the right direction. Clients often present me with their
own answers in the form of their questions. Their courage to share their thought process opens the door for a solid
collaborative discussion about sorting out what the facts are, what they are committed to and future steps. Building a
trusting team to validate and challenge your intuitive thought process will support your growth and journey.

Focus to a fault
The beginning, middle, and end of creating mental fitness must include focus. Focus is the core of the powerful state
of mind that helps fuel success. Find ways to stay motivated about what you desire. That passion will manifest as
focus that carries you through the ups and downs. Once you have a clear picture of what you are moving toward, hold
onto that vision. Make sure that your thoughts, efforts, activities and associations are in alignment with your intended
outcome. When weighing decisions, test your options against the end result and determine if they are congruent with
your vision.

Another benefit is that it results in efficient action. You are less likely to waste time and energy on things that are not
harmonious with the life you are creating. Focus also translates into the discipline necessary to obtain objectives.
Remaining focused on a clear path makes it easier to stay centered and purposeful. Focus also means that you have a
plan to back up your passion. It must be a plan that you can concisely share with others as you enlist their help and
support on your way to achieving your dreams.

Through this series, we have gained insight into developing mind, body and spirit in order to accomplish our deepest
wishes and propel us toward the exciting vision we hold for transforming our futures into our highest potential. In the
next article, we will take a look at spiritual wellness as part of our journey through transformative change. No matter
what your beliefs may be, a plan for success would not be complete without devoting attention t our spiritual well
being through reflection, appreciation and love. As we set new intentional space for 2008, rest assured that you will
enjoy the benefit of the work you put into developing yourself, and that those around you will also benefit from your
joy and fulfillment. In the next article, we explore ways that spiritual wellness ties your future reality into
transformative change. With the help of tools presented in these articles, may your 2008 be your best year yet!


Michelle Ewalt is the principal of Team in Transition and can be contacted at 512.762.8568 or
mewalt@teamintransition.com, for customized transition & leadership coaching and consulting program. Michelles
website is: www.teamintransition.com.