Fear is an emotion that sometimes holds us back physically or mentally from our desired goals.  The definition of fear according to Webster is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that something is dangerous, or likely to cause pain.  Sometimes we allow this real or perceived fear to drive our actions or lack of actions. In addition to Webster, did you know the word fear has two different meanings?

Two Different Meanings

According to the famous author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, F E A R has two different meanings.

“Forget Everything and Run”

• We can forget who we are and who we want to become and let others, and our self-doubts control our future.  We run away from who we know we can be. 
• We don’t want to face the time, effort, and hard work needed to obtain and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Face Everything and Rise”

• We can rise above our excuses and become the owner of our own story. Courage and determination are used to define our own dreams and work toward them to become a reality.  We take control of our own narrative and turn our life into the one we desire.
• We face the time, effort, and hard work required, then reap the rewards of a healthy lifestyle. 

Choose a Healthier Lifestyle

Every day we have a decision to make about our health and our future.  The equals 365 opportunities to make the decision about how we want to face F E A R. There are many lists, with a variety of numbered items about ways to get fit and healthy.  One does not have to incorporate all 7, 11 or 15 items at once to “face everything and rise.”  Pick out one to two items, work on incorporating them into your life and then add another one to two items.

Here are a few items to consider in the quest for a healthier lifestyle. 

• Exercise at least 150 minutes (30 min, 5 days) per week
• Eat mostly fresh, single-ingredient foods
• Eat protein at every meal (eggs, fish, seafood, lean meat, nuts and seeds, etc.)
• Avoid liquid calories such as soda, alcohol, oils, sugary drinks, coffee loaded with cream and sugar
• Drink ½ your body weight in ounces of water each day (120 lbs = 60 oz of water)
• Weightlift to increase metabolism and build healthy, lean muscle mass
• Improve sleep quality and quantity

What items are you currently incorporating? Pick one to two more to add to your daily routine.  Since the word fear has two different meanings, which one works best for you?