First a quick thanks for the recent podcast donations I’ve received. Some new-ish listeners who started with older episodes (btw, ALL 222 episodes are on my site, and the most recent 50 are on iTunes) are just now getting the news that I shut down the show. So, in came a few really nice e-mails and donations—WHICH…are going towards a brand new podcast microphone. WHAT?!? A new podcast microphone, you say? Yes, I say.
More news to come on that front, but suffice it to say I’m setting up a new location/studio (see my most recent vlog) and some things are in the works. Do I really need a new podcast microphone. No. Yes.
Ok…now on to this week’s post.
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What do I mean by change up?
No, it’s not a baseball reference. That I even know a ‘change-up’ is a type of pitch is truly astonishing.
What I mean by ‘change up’ is this:
When you are looking to make improvements in virtually any area of your life—job, health, relationship–search upwards. In other words, look for individuals who are doing it better than you are. Whatever it may be.
In the fitness realm you have a pretty good chance of recognizing someone who is in better shape than you are—he/she can run faster, lift heavier weights, has a flat stomach etc.
(side note: this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re healthier, and certainly doesn’t automatically mean they’re happier).
Trying to figure out if a person is happier? Hmm. That’s a toughie, since people tend to put their best ‘public’ face forward which can be in stark contrast to the facts. This is especially true with my BFF, social media.
So here’s my answer: Look up to someone who you at least perceive is doing something better than you. Whether they actually are or not is inconsequential. As long as you believe they’re more effective, you’ve got a good chance of learning something from them. If at some point you find out information that changes your perception in a negative way (like, they’re not up, but down), simply move on to another ‘up’ person. For instance, I had plenty of people looking to me for nutrition/fitness advice until they discovered that I live solely on Twinkies and Cap’n Crunch (of course, WITH crunchberries—for the antioxidants). I kept the secret for years, until, well, let’s just say I had no idea the camera was on.
Side note: I just realized I could’ve titled this post “Up with People” which would’ve been amusing. Anyone remember Up With People? But I digress.
Oh, and one more thing…
Time and time again I have people come up to me with criticisms such as, where do I get my protein, carbs are bad for you, fruit is bad for you, and yet, overwhelmingly, these people are in worse shape than I. This doesn’t just happen to me—people I’ve worked with and taught tell me stories of unsolicited comments and judgments they receive from family, friends, and strangers even though they’re living healthier and happier than the people laying down the critique. Well, I’m frankly over this behavior. What I want to say is: “Instead of criticizing me, shouldn’t you be asking me what I’m doing that’s working so well?”
So…if it looks like someone is living better than you, instead of trying to poke holes in their approach, find out what it is they’re doing. There might be some valuable info you can use…
And…the opposite is also true: don’t waste your time with advice (again, health, job, relationship, whatever) from anyone you perceive is doing worse than you. In other words, I’m not open to marriage advice from someone who has been divorced three times and isn’t in a healthy relationship. Kinda like I’m not interested in fitness or diet advice from anyone in worse shape than I am or meditation advice someone more stressed out than I am.
Can these people know things? Sure. But…
I believe the following to be so frickin’ true—way over and above knowledge itself is how to implement that knowledge. If someone can’t live by his or her own advice, then I’m gonna immediately be on the lookout for someone who can. Someone who both knows more than I and better than I how to apply that knowledge to live better. Someone who is living closer to how I want to live than I am.
So, if you want to make a change in your life, make sure you change up.
