Taking Your Own Advice

“How do you stay fit and drink a lot of beer?” I was asked this question recently, and it took some thought.

For those that know me pretty well, I have given the perception that I drink a lot of beer.  It is true that I really like beer (I even make the stuff at home) and that I probably drink a lot more than I should.  However, drinking beer is a very social thing to do.  To perceive me drinking a lot of it, you must be in my presence, which begets a social atmosphere.

There are a lot of times when you are not perceiving me. Although I drink beer when you are not observing as well, it isn’t nearly as much. My trick is that my activity level usually increases along with most of my social interactions.

But I heard a bigger, more overarching question, and that was this: How do I get myself to a point where I’m fit and I can seemingly eat and drink whatever it is that I want?

Why My Advice Won’t Help

I could tell you my daily routines, habits, and rituals.  I could fill you in on my diet and exercise routine.  I could explain how these rituals have broken bad habits that I thought I would really miss and not be able to quit.

What would inevitably happen is that you would find something within all of this advice that you just couldn’t do.  You would tell yourself that such-and-such would not work because of so-and-so.  Therefore, it is hopeless.

So, what advice would you give to a friend or family member coming to you with your problems?

On one level, wisdom is nothing more than the ability to take your own advice. It’s actually very easy to give people good advice. It’s very hard to follow the advice that you know is good… If someone came to me with my list of problems, I would be able to sort that person out very easily.

-Sam Harris

Small Changes

In order to take your own advice, you will need to be able to make small changes in your life and not be scared to fail and make mistakes.  To make these small changes stick, you’ll need to learn how to form good habits. In order to form good habits, you need to have the correct mindset, which is one of growth (as opposed to the fixed mindset that tells yourself that you are doomed).

To accomplish all of this, you need to fully KNOW with your entire being that you can and will accomplish the things you have set out within your own advice.  You also need to know that it will take small, incremental changes and adjustments.  One small success begets a larger success.

Find Your Carrot

It will help to find someone within your own life 1-10 years older than you whom you aspire to emulate, and may currently and incorrectly believe you could never become like when you get to be that age.

The truth is you can. It starts in your head, and then takes the first small step.

This post used the following references, all of which I highly recommend.

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Mindset by Carol Dweck