The Mind Matters

The beginning of a new year can inspire people to pursue new goals and instill new resolutions. But while dreaming of a better future is easy, executing a plan to achieve it isn't so simple. So when chasing greatness, how can people rewire their minds to make it past the starting line? That’s the question being asked and answered on Ingrained & Balanced, a podcast about health, fitness, and practicing a well-balanced lifestyle. 

On season 1, episode 5 of the podcast, hosts Lonnie and Marty interview a special guest Terry Tucker. As the author of "Sustainable Excellence, Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life," Terry is a huge advocate for mental wellness and the influence of the mind on people's potential for greatness. On the episode, he shares his personal advice for unlocking a better future with the power of your mind.

Identify Your Starting Line

If you want to see a significant change in your life in order to reach a goal, you have to start at the beginning. So how should people begin to identify where they're at, what obstacles they need to overcome, and how they can get on track?

Throughout the interview, Terry speaks about the critical role that the mind plays in reaching goals and determining the paths one must take in order to do so. He believes that identifying and addressing the challenges you face in life is the first step to setting yourself up for success.

He explains that brains are hardwired to avoid pain and discomfort and to seek pleasure. Therefore, people will seek to keep their worlds small, comfortable, and familiar – rather than seeking change. The issue with this habit is that people can only grow and improve by stepping outside their comfort zones. 

Terry is no stranger to life outside of his comfort zone. As a cancer survivor who experienced the amputation of his leg due to his diagnosis, his health battle left him no choice but to face situations that caused physical and emotional discomfort. Today, Terry says he tries to experience things that make him uncomfortable every day and encourages others to do the same. 

By consistently exposing yourself to situations that cause discomfort, you can mentally become more accepting of change. Not only does it make adjusting your habits to align with your goals easier, but you'll become more resilient to challenges that may present themselves on your path to success.

Being Alone — With Yourself

Many people kick back and unwind with technology at the end of a long and stressful day. Whether it's streaming a show or scrolling through social media, the technology at our fingertips can easily transport our minds far away from the issues that plague us.

But while using technology to escape stress may provide momentary relief, this habit can lead us to develop a dependency on our devices to distract us from our problems. Not only is this distraction often an inadequate solution to a real-world problem, but failure to unglue ourselves from constant distractions can make it more difficult to face our real issues head-on.

According to Terry, people distract themselves with technology to avoid the discomfort of being alone with their thoughts, especially negative ones. He explains that by facing negative emotions, you can become better at feeling comfortable with managing problems -- and with yourself.

So next time you're feeling uncomfortable or experiencing negative thoughts, pause before jumping on your phone. By allowing yourself to sit with the discomfort that comes from paying attention to these thoughts, you'll become more mentally capable of tolerating difficult situations and less fearful of encountering new experiences as you pursue your greater goals.

Mindset and Perseverance

One important lesson that Terry learned through his battle with cancer is that physical strength and perseverance are fueled by the mind. Therefore, the way that you choose to handle and form thoughts about a situation will influence your ability to manage it successfully.

Everyone practices self-talk, primarily when reflecting on their lives or alone with their thoughts. And although negative thoughts happen as a natural part of life, people should make an effort to instead focus on positivity and uplifting self-talk. 

Terry explains that you should be careful about how you talk to yourself. Consistent negativity in your thought processes reinforces those thoughts as core beliefs that deter us from trying to succeed. On the other hand, focusing on mental positivity and hope can enable our physical bodies to carry us further and stay stronger in times of great difficulty.

"We all become what we think," Terry explains.

People sometimes fail to recognize hope’s importance, but holding hope that our lives will improve can keep us from giving up on our pursuits. Hope is the great motivator, and therefore practicing positive mental self-talk and maintaining hope can allow people to persevere and embrace their health, capabilities, and life challenges.

"It all starts in the mind." Terry reiterates, "If you can control the mind, you can control your physical body."

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Tune in to the Ingrained & Balanced podcast to hear more of Terry Tucker's interview and learn more ways to optimize your mind for success!