How do you encourage your clients to see the good in themselves and to expect great things from their training?
Hi Alisabeth,
to many people, the idea that you have a choice on how to view the world is quite alien. Often it is brushed off with a ‘yeah, yeah, the power of positive thinking’, and that’s the end of that discussion.
Before you can encourage your clients you have to demonstrate it yourself. Adversities, big and small, happen to all of us, and they are an opportunity to walk the walk.
My mantra to my clients when faced with a difficult situation is to say: “This is the situation you are in. You cannot change the situation or the fact that you have to deal with it. But you can choose whether you want to focus on the bad situation and get stuck in that thinking or whether you want to accept what is and focus your attention on how to deal with it the best way possible.”
To some, this is absolutely inconceivable and they will be stuck in their negative thinking but some see the value of looking at the positive side of things. Once that happens the rewards will be reinforcement enough for them to adopt this as a way of life.
Sending good thoughts your way.
Karin Singleton
www meltnc.com
Positive attitudes about life and the many situations it can bring to us is a HABIT that must be honed and repeated often to become engrained in our everyday fiber.
I encourage my clients (as well as myself) to see any situation (good or bad) as TEMPORARY, and as a result, something to be respected for what it is. The GOOD (go ahead and celebrate it, and recognize that although it will pass, many more are on their way). The BAD (deal with it ‘head-on’ and look back at similar situations where we were challenged with a ‘bad event’ but how we survived it and are here today “still standing!”).
I hope that this helps.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
[email protected]
I take every opportunity possible without sounding patronizing to point out my clients advancements and to be empathetic towards them. I also encourage them to find solutions to their situations and to stay positive.
I also think as trainers the way we approach our clients, with a smile or a scowl can make all the difference in the world.
