Choice of Rewards

A pat on the back has never been enough when we achieve some sort of goal or worthwhile accomplishment. Is the constant rush to go eat out at a restaurant as a reward good either? "You made an A sweetie? Let's go eat! You made the team? Let's go eat! It's your birthday? Let's go eat! You're happy? Let's go eat! Are you depressed? Let's go eat! He scored a home run! Let's go eat! The team won! Yeah! Let's go eat pizza! You're broken hearted? Here's some ice cream! Movie time? Here's the popcorn, candy and coke! Are you sad? Here's some chocolate!" Are all of these answers wrong responses to certain emotions, accomplishments or events? NO! But there are other ways we can reward ourselves and others. Take time to identify what what rewards you would associate with each individual situation. After that, try the following:


Know yourself and try saying, "Can we go somewhere else?"


There are countless things that we can engage in that will reshape our lives, but first we have to develop new meanings for what we currently do. Eating out has become our culture's family and friendship bonding time. But who really engraved this meaning? Years back, we used to sit in our homes and enjoy time with our families indoors. This sitting inside mentality has become the go-to solution for everything. Start asking family members, colleagues, coaches, friends and lovers to take you elsewhere as a reward for a job well done instead of an indoor food rendezvous. Be creative! Use your mind-- heck, it's yours! I hear this statement a lot, "I don't know how I got this big!" I can tell you how, but does that really matter? It's easier to tell you how to start making changes to stop it and prevent it from happening again. That is what I am here to do. Get creative! Start by saying, "Can we go somewhere else?"


Make small changes


Try this-- When you get emotional, go blow off steam by working out, walking, biking, swimming or doing some type of physical activity. Listen, our bodies are designed to move and not sit and mope! When you're depressed, lift your head and walk tall...it will make you feel better anyway! Skip the ice cream, chocolate, candy and other sweets that have come to be your go-to temporary solutions. Do just the opposite. Replace sweets with fruits and instead of sitting and crying, get up and run. Get the picture? Ask your boyfriend to go for a walk with you. Ask your girlfriend to do something active with you. Parents, walk with your children. You would have time for them if they needed you, right? Why not choose to give them attention and time before they need you?


Ask for the healthy choices


Recently, I finally understood the meaning of one of life's biggest laws, "Ask and you shall receive." Instead of getting gifts that you will become bored with after a few weeks, ask for a gymnasium membership, workout clothes, workout shoes and motivational information. You can even ask for sessions with a personal trainer as a gift. Plan to use other methods of being fulfilled. These ways have transformed the lives of some of my clients.


To sum it all up, "Start doing something different, make small changes, and ask for healthy options for gifts or rewards. use your brain!"
Edited by Ashley Austin