Recently I was part of a very interesting & philosophical conversation. I was in a small group & we were discussing our children & how it’s so interesting that they can grow up in the same house with the same parents in the same environment & turn out completely different. Case in point: My two boys are complete opposites! They dearly love each other & enjoy spending time together, but they are so very different!
The conversation then evolved (as conversations often do) to each person’s perceptions of the environment they are in can be so very different. There are different views about the same things all around us. Politics is a really good example. Right now, it’s whether or not you should be wearing a mask! (Not even gonna touch that one!)
I talk about perception all the time with my clients. I have a weekly online coaching group & a couple of weeks ago we focused on how to take our nutrition to the next level. We discussed areas of improvement which would help us make significant progress toward our goals. I gave them the concept of “good, better, best” which means that we have the ability to choose a good choice, a better choice, or our best choice.
Each person will have a different perspective on what their good, better, & best choices are. I often use the analogy of being at the eye doctor. The doctor puts that big contraption in front of your face & asks “Is this one good?” You say, “Yeah, it’s good.” Then they say, “Is this one better?” And you say, “Oh yeah, that one is better!” Then they say, “Ok, how about this one?” And you say, “Oh wow!! Much better!”
When you’re sitting in that chair getting the first look at the image through a lens, it often seems just fine. You don’t even realize that there is a better one out there until you’re exposed to it. Then you think that one is it! But then there’s another option & it is by far the BEST! You didn’t even know it could be so clear!
Here’s another example… the pizza buffet scenario.
At a pizza buffet you get all the pizza you could possibly shove into your face for one price!! Like… HEAVEN! And if you are anything like me & you grew up shopping for clothes in your older sister’s closet (until you graduated from college!), your gut reaction will always be to eat as much as you can to “get your money’s worth!”
That’s called the default.
Then you come to your senses & remember that you’re not 12 years old AND that you have goals to get healthy, lose weight, fit into those jeans & get into shape. When you remember all of that, eating all the pizza you can shove into your face really isn’t such a good plan!
So… you think, “I need to make a good choice here.”
4 pieces of pizza & a DIET soda.
That’s a good choice! Much better than 8 pieces & a sugar-loaded Dr. Pepper!
**Just keep in mind that 8 pieces of pizza & a Dr. Pepper just might be someone else’s “good” choice. Perspective, right?!**
That’s where you start. Making good choices like that.
But then…you’ve been at this a while & that good choice isn’t producing the results you wanted anymore…so you go for a BETTER choice.
Two pieces of pizza, a side salad & a diet soda – no refills!
But wait… There is yet another option for you…especially if you want your results MORE than you want this moment with a pizza buffet! So, what would be your BEST choice?
No pizza, big salad & water!
Could you make that work AND not feel like you’re missing out or deprived? If you answer “no”, then your good choice or your better choice would be best for you at this point. Essentially, you’re not ready for your best choice yet and THAT’S OK!
Perspective!
You’ll know when you’re ready because you won’t feel restricted, deprived or feel like you’re missing out on something. You’re ready for your best choice when what you want MOST is more important to you than what you want NOW.
Give this concept a try the next time you’re about to make a choice & see if you can identify your good choices, your better choices & your best choices. Happy choosing!
If you’d like more info on Laurie’s programs or would like to chat, please feel free to email Laurie or visit her website.