Donut Hole

BY Bonnie Pfiester

I recently heard someone say, “Focus on the donut, not the hole”. Don’t get excited – I’m not promoting donuts here! This analogy just reminded me how easy it is to see everything going wrong, to the point where you’re not able to see everything going right.

Many people have these same blinders on when they approach a healthy lifestyle change. All they can see is what they can’t do - not what they can do.

As I reflected on the “focusing on the donut” saying, it made me think of how a camera lens focuses on an object. A good lens has the ability to focus on whatever the photographer chooses and completely blurs out the rest. We have this same ability. Just because we don’t focus on it doesn’t mean great things are not there.

I strongly believe our success, whether in fitness or in other areas, is greatly determined by our mind first. Evangelist and Author, Joyce Meyer, is constantly reminding people “where your mind goes, your body follows” – and she is right!

We are unable to go anywhere without the action starting in our mind first. The key is realizing we have complete control of what we decide to set our mind to. Unfortunatley, life throws us many distractions. We have to be prepared for those distractions so we can stay focused on our goal.

You must be prepared to battle bad thoughts. If your struggle is your weight, every time you put on a pair of tight-fitting jeans you will likely be reminded of your weight, so be prepared to fight those discouraging thoughts.

If you prepare your mind in advance, every time you think “I’m so fat”, you’ll remember your prepared answer “not for long! I am doing something about it”.

Now, if you aren’t doing something about your situation, it’s time to start doing something about it. Quit focusing on the problem and start acting on a solution. It truly is that simple!
When it comes to weight loss and getting fit, there are so many things you can do when you put your mind to it. There are very few valid excuses anymore with all the free guidance on the internet. The bottom line is progress rarely happens on accident. Progress is something you do on purpose.

You can’t expect to have a positive life when you have a negative thought-life. Start taking control of your thought-life and start taking control of your life once and for all!

After I realized I had been setting my mind on all the wrong things, I started looking for the reason I was allowing it to happen. First, bad things were constantly in my face, which kept reminding me of the added stress in my life, overshadowing everything good. Second, I was choosing to spend all my energy rehashing stuff I had no control over. Third, I allowed the situation to paralyze any progress and quit doing things I actually had control over. Fourth, I was allowing my feelings to skew my reality. Finally, I was doing very little to remind myself of the positive things (the “donut”).
So how do you combat negative thinking? If you are in a negative place right now, you need something to counter balance every negative thought. If your struggle is your weight, every time you put on a pair of tight-fitting jeans you’re going to be reminded of your weight, so be prepared to cancel discouraging thoughts.
Purposely refocus your mind on your goal, not where you are. Post notes on your mirror, in your car, on your phone, on the refrigerator, and at the office. Base notes on facts – not just “happy thoughts”. Write simple reminders of what you are thankful for, like your spouse or the roof over your head. Include actions you are taking in order to move in the right direction, as well as a list of the next steps it will take to help you reach your goal. Every note should remind you of the overall big picture.