positive thinking – Jenna Jamieson, Author

Why I cheer myself on every single day!

By Jenna Jamieson | February 15, 2016 | Comments 0 Comment

Life is a mountain, not a beach. I don’t think you could convince me otherwise. Plus, I like the mountains more than the beach and I like challenges more than being bored, but positivity is often what keeps me moving forward. On hard days, long days, rough days, and all the days in between I need to hear the voice in my head cheering me on. I like to cheer myself on when I go through life and when I workout. It keeps me going. See previous blog post from October 2014: Cheer yourself on—be your own cheerleader!

In America, we have become a nation that doesn’t associate fun with working out. I often hear people say they lack time to workout, but in reality it’s not a lack of time, but not having the right attitude. We don’t think of working out as a stress-relieving, fat-burning, energy-creating, life-changing, and fun-loving activity that makes us happy.

Don’t convince your brain that you don’t like working out! Find an exercise or workout routine that you love and then let the cheering begin! An exercise routine or workout that makes you feel at your best…it de-stresses you, relaxes you, and rejuvenates you after or before a long day. If you need a mind-clearing workout consider yoga or some form of meditation, if you need a good cardio sweat consider a run or cross training session. Once you tell yourself you don’t like working out or it’s not fun your brain starts to believe that and you begin to convince yourself of that.

Instead, cheer yourself on! Tell yourself you can get through it and be a better person because of your workout. Let your positive attitude cheer you on through life whether it be your workout, your job, your educational goals, and everything else you set your mind to. Start adding positive thoughts to your daily planner, your workout routine, and all your little activities throughout the day.

I am the door monitor at school as the second and third graders get off the bus or are dropped off by their parent. I love this because I can set a positive attitude for the children as they enter the school building. (I like early mornings so that helps things, too!) I always say “Good Morning, we are having pancakes for breakfast today (whatever is on the menu for that day). Happy Monday! I hope you have a great day!” Most of the students are still tired from getting up early, but I like to put some positive energy into their day. I also say good morning to all the teachers, but I think my bubbliness might get on their nerves on occasion. I go through the day with some of the teachers probably wondering why I am always smiling and talking to the kids. I love it and it makes the day more fun. I hope this gives you a little inspiration to add positive energy to your workout and life!

~jj

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Cheer yourself on—be your own cheerleader!

By Jenna Jamieson | October 31, 2014 | Comments 1 comment

Something to remember about exercise is the importance of support and positive reinforcement along the way. Sometimes workouts can be long, exhausting, and even drag on as if they are never going to end. Even for the most trained individual, there will be days when working out seems less than par. Other days will go quick and feel great! One thing I tend to do throughout my workout is cheer myself on. This sounds odd I realize, but when my workout gets tough and I really feel challenged, I begin to cheer myself on in my head to amp myself up. If this isn’t something that will help you, consider having a workout buddy that will keep you going. As a side note, remember the importance of cheering on friends and family around you who make exercise and working out a priority. By this, I mean you remind them how proud you are of their commitment to staying healthy, recognize their progress, or even buy them a small treat, workout gear, etc when they meet goals to show them that their hard work is being noticed. Positive support is what encourages people to maintain their workout routine so they don’t give up along the way.

Back to the whole cheering yourself on during your workout! 😉 Studies have actually shown that people who are their own cheerleader throughout their workout and say positive things to reinforce meeting their goals are more successful. For example, telling yourself “Don’t give up”, “Keep going”, “You can do this”, etc are all great ways to spur you through your workout and over the long term make a difference in the results that you will see and the time that it takes to see those results.

So, get up, get moving, and remember the power of positive thinking! Find some great inspirational cheers to say to yourself that will help to keep you going during those workouts that seem to drag on and on and on and never end! I have put together a small collage of some great sayings I like to say to myself when I feel like I have reached my limit and can’t go on. Once I get to that point, the positive cheerleading begins!

~jj