Written by: Renate Prandl, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered, “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then, he is so anxious about his future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.”
How many of you can relate? How many of you do exactly that? Many of you have suffered because of the pandemic shutdown – financially, emotionally, physically, and maybe even spiritually.
Anxiety, worries, and stress have been on the rise. So have the number of suicides all over the world. So have health issues like being overweight and diabetes.
If you are male, over 50, and an entrepreneur, CEO, or maybe a father, you are probably at risk more than others. Why do I say that? To scare you? Not at all. This is based on my experience as a Certified High Performance™ Coach, Feldenkrais® Teacher, and Life Mastery Mentor working with high achievers. And by the way, this is probably happening to other people, male or female, as well. What I am going to share here works for EVERYONE who is willing to listen and follow. Remember: we can only help those who want to be helped. It doesn’t matter if the Dalai Lama tells you or if I, Renate Prandl, tell you. If you are not open to suggestions, even if your life is far from being your dream life, then stop reading. Don’t waste your time. Nothing I share here will make any difference if you are not reading with an open mind and open heart. At the end of this article, you still have a choice IF you apply and implement or not. After all, it’s your life. It’s your choice if you want to die “never having really lived.”
See, there is this amazing guy who has built a very successful business. Let’s call him John (he changed his name to hide his identity). Even during the pandemic, John was doing alright. Being in the food business, supplying what people needed, helped him stay afloat. He and his wife also started to take more care of themselves and their health. They did work out at home, got more sleep, and went on a DIET based on shakes. As you can guess – they lost weight, got more energy, and both looked radiant and many years younger.
And now, after the country opened up and life is a bit more “normal,” he has to spend more time, more hours in his business again. Less sleep, more worries about lack of manpower, and constant challenges getting ingredients for his products. Guess what happened? He put the weight on again, but not just the weight he had lost. He had put on even more.
I asked him what happened…his answer was: It’s comforting to just have some lollipops and sweets the kids have. WHAAATTT?
We know that sugar sets people up for diabetes and Alzheimer’s. There is nothing wrong with having something sweet from time to time if you “have to.” It’s not to replace “real” food, though.
See, there are a few factors here that have a huge impact on your life. They affect your ENERGY, your MENTAL state, and potentially your LIFE SPAN.
I am neither a doctor nor a psychologist, but I do have special education to help people get over those roadblocks and lead healthier, wealthier life, potentially. Long-term.
How can you get out of this vicious cycle of stress – poor food choices – frustration – more poor food choices. You get it, right?
We know that belly fat is linked to increased heart attacks. You don’t have to look like a supermodel, yet you want to be in decent shape to potentially extend your life for another 10, 15, or 20 years. John for sure wants to see his daughters get married one day. So do you probably – see your kids graduate, get married, and become parents? You probably want to see and play with your grandchildren, am I right?
What can JOHN – and you – do to change the direction of your life?
Here is what I suggest, and no, it’s not a diet of any sort.
1. Clarity
Step 1: Write down what you want to accomplish in your life in 3 areas: A) Business/Career, B) Your Relationships, and C) Your Health and Well-being. Go into detail and describe HOW it looks like, who is there with you, and how it FEELS. Step into this future scenario and absorb the energy. It’s like writing a screenplay with annotations – are you laughing? What are you wearing? Who are you with? What car are you driving? What does your home look like? Your physique?
Step 2: Now pick ONE (1) thing in every category – business, relationship, health – one thing that’s on top of mind. One thing you would like to have or achieve more than anything else. and write it down. No self-censoring like I” can’t do this,” “It’s too complicated,” “It will never work for people like me,” “It’s too expensive,” and so on. You know your concerns AND your excuses best, don’t you?
Step 3: Under every achievement or goal you picked in the 3 categories, write 3 (THREE) things you could do right NOW, not in 2 months, small action steps, small or big changes that would make it easier to reach your destination, your dream life, guaranteed.
If you are overwhelmed and need more support, apply for a free Success Activation call here.
2. Commitment
Pick ONLY ONE (1) in each category and commit to focusing on these steps. Put them in your calendar, on sticky notes, and reminders on your phone.
Remember, One step at a time.
Commitment and consistency are mission-critical, especially when times get tough and your willpower is not sufficient to stay on track.
I like to give simple recommendations. Chunked down for easy consumption so that my busy clients don’t have to figure it out themselves. Saves them a lot of time, money, and resources. And I am going to share some of these with you here, right now, for free. Some of them are so simple that you wonder why people don’t implement them. Common sense is not always common practice, as my mentor Brendon Burchard likes to say.
3. Action moves
For starters, plan your meals if you can. Have a time set, block the time, and SIT DOWN. Now, this may sound too simple for some of you, but having food “on the go” is one reason to put on weight and not feel saturated at the same time. Sit down and chew the food with awareness. What flavors can you detect? What’s the consistency? Is it soft or crunchy? The more you chew before you swallow, the easier to digest, AND you feel full faster.
You may feel less desire to have those lollipops as a replacement for real food. You need REAL FOOD with fiber, vitamins, full of nutrients to generate energy to get you through the day. Fewer energy lets you get your “defense mechanism” down, and you’re more likely to get off track eating and exercise related.
Needless to say – don’t buy the “comfort” food. If you don’t see it and it’s not available, you are not tempted to go for it “just this one time.” You know how it works. One time becomes two times, and then it becomes a habit. HABITS are awesome IF they help you to go in the right direction. Let’s create healthy habits here. Habits that will make a difference in your life, for yourself, and for those you care about. Your partner, your kids, your grandchildren, your team at work.
Make healthy nutrition part of your daily LIFESTYLE routine. All those “100 sure” diets don’t work! You may see some initial results, maybe even for 3-6 months, and then they don’t work. WHY? It’s because for most people, and it’s not a lifestyle choice they can sustain. They STOP. Having several smoothies and some added “secret potion” is NOT sustainable long term. I have seen this over and over again, and John is just the latest example. You are smart. You are committed. Deep inside, you KNOW that these “shiny objects,” these “programs,” will not make a lasting difference in your life. They just don’t.
If you think I am overly dramatic, let me tell you – I care. I have an obligation to tell you the truth. How is this for a change? The truth.
That’s why I teach what works. Long-term. I want my students and clients to succeed and be INDEPENDENT, not co-dependent. Not dependent on me or any supplement company.
If you want to be empowered and take life into your own hands so that you have
more energy,
lose weight (and NO, I am not a dietician writing meal plans),
more balance in your life,
more joy,
increased self-esteem,
more intimate relationship
better leadership skills
more independence and freedom,
more of everything to finally live your dream life, a Life by Design, then let us have a conversation.
Apply for a FREE complimentary call, 15 minutes, just you and me. Nothing is sold there. My way of passing it forward. This is ONLY for those who are sick and tired of the yo-yo eating, moving, and thinking. Become a high-performing achiever in ANY area of your life without frustration and burnout.
You don’t have to follow the path as described by the Dalai Lama.
It’s your life.
You always have a choice.
Renate Prandl, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Renate Prandl is Asia's Premier Sustainable Life Mastery Strategist, Certified Feldenkrais® Expert, sports coach, mentor, and Certified High Performance(™) coach. With over 40 years of combined experience as a Professor in a business school and entrepreneur, Renate uses a variety of proven techniques and applications to help you reach your highest potential, get to the Next Level, and potentially live your Life by Design in a holistic, doable and sustainable way. Her "Power of 3" systems help you turn obstacles into stepping stones and build Physical, Emotional, Financial Resilience. Renate is the CEO of Body & Brain, Founder of Body And Brain Mastery, International Bestselling Author of 3 books, and has lived on 3 continents. Her mission: Anything is possible.
