Nina Rose Peña

Do you find yourself in the same loops all over again? The endless cycle of dieting, starting workout plans, and harmful patterns can be exhausting. I know firsthand how defeating it feels to feel like you are always starting over. As defeating as this can be, I’m here to tell you that it can also be empowering to address the things that may be standing in your way of sustaining change and executing your wellness goals. 

Here are five things that may be standing in the way of your wellness goals. 

1. Your limiting beliefs

A limiting belief is a belief about yourself or state of mind that restricts you in some way. Limiting beliefs can come from anywhere but are often inherited and instilled in us from a new experience or from a young age. Limiting beliefs almost always come in the form of extremes (ex: I will ALWAYS be…, I can NEVER…, etc.) and tend to be on repeat in our daily lives. They are often most prominent when we are trying something new or trying to incorporate change into our lives. 

When we face any resistance in trying to change our lifestyle, the limiting beliefs on repeat become louder until they persist so much that we find ourselves giving in to them. The bad news? This reaffirms those limiting beliefs, strengthens them, and sends us on that loop harder every time we try to create change. The good news? You are not your limiting beliefs and you have the power to rewrite these and reframe how they show up in your life. 

2. Your daily practices (or lack thereof) 

What does your calendar look like? Do you find yourself in proactive mode or reactive mode? Your daily practices are the key to preparing for your days with action, intention, and grace. The key to building powerful daily practices is finding what works for you. Practices can be in any area of your life: the way you plan your food, the way you prepare for the day (or for bed), the manner in which you approach your friendships, or the way you manage stress. You’ve likely heard the phrase, “when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This is where those intentional daily practices come in. 

My top daily practices? Morning journal and intention time – this is when I set my pace and tone for the day as I decide how I want to show up, what I’m looking forward to, who needs me on my A-Game, and so much more. Another one? Setting out all my snacks for the day – this keeps me on track and helps me stay away from nutrient-deficient snacks when my day gets hectic. The goal of setting daily practices is to find what works for you because the best practices are the ones you’ll stick to. A lack of daily practices almost always guarantees that you will go throughout your day in reaction mode and get derailed from your plan and goals.  

3. Your self-talk

How do you talk to yourself? When things go right? When things go wrong? When it’s time to celebrate yourself? When it’s time to get really real? 

Your self-talk is that internal dialogue that plays in your mind constantly. Unless I’m the only one then I may need to get that check out (LOL). Sometimes your self-talk is empowering, uplifting, and helpful. And sometimes not so much. Addressing your self-talk begins with identifying your patterns and spirals (upwards or downwards) and paying attention to what words or phrases are on repeat. Similar to limiting beliefs, your self-talk can be inherited and rooted in childhood experiences as we oftentimes learn to talk to ourselves from the way others talk to us. Overcoming your self-talk is possible but it begins with recognizing your patterns, triggers, and cycles. 

4. Your mindset

Your mindset plays a HUGE role in your ability to articulate and execute your goals. In general there are two main mindsets at play in our lives. The first is called a fixed mindset means that you believe your qualities and capacity for change are innate and therefore unchangeable. This is where those limiting beliefs come in and restrict you from believing you are capable of change. 

On the other hand, a growth mindset means that you believe that your qualities, ability to learn new skills, and capacity for change is developed over time and can be mastered. You’ve likely heard the Teddy Roosevelt quote, “believe that you can and you’re half-way there,” THIS is where the growth mindset takes root in our mind. Change your mindset and you are on the right path toward changing your life. 

5. Your environment 

Is your environment conducive to change and the betterment of your life? Your environment not only accounts for what your lifestyle looks like at home, your pantry, your calendar, your desk space, or your support system/tribe; it also accounts for your online environment – basically what accounts you are following and what types of content you are consuming? When was the last time you went through your friends list and the accounts you are following to audit what types of thoughts, ideas, or images you are seeing while scrolling? 

Have you been able to pinpoint the areas in which your goals seem to break down? Are you ready to get out of your own way and create sustainable change all while crushing your goals? 

Turn your obstacles into your opportunities.

If there’s one thing I want to leave you with, it’s this: you are capable of anything you set your mind to and great things are available to you. Know that you were not made to be trapped in endless cycles when it comes to anything but especially when it comes to your vitality and wellness. 

Your obstacles can become your opportunities for change, growth, and wellness if you give yourself space to explore the inner-workings of your mind and life. Let your obstacles be your opportunities for unlocking new levels, my friend.

If you need support or guidance in any of the areas above in your wellness journey, reach out. If 1:1 Wellness Coaching is something you are interested in or if you want to learn more about how I help my clients overcome their internal and external barriers, let’s chat!

Stay Well,

-NRP