POSITIVITY
IS POWERFUL
BY GARETT DICKINSON
Professional support can boost success with lifestyle changes American neurobiologist Carla Shatz famously says “neurons wire together, if they fire together.” So when a person has thought or acted a certain way over long periods of time, it could have neurological effects that make behavior change more difficult. This can leave people knowingly or unwittingly stuck in a rut. But reprogramming the way we think with the power of positive affirmations and healthy routines can have profound effects propelling us forward.
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peaking of ruts, it’s been said that if it’s not necessary then don’t try to reinvent the wheel. When implementing lifestyle improvements, professional guidance can be invaluable. Professionals often provide accountability and support, in addition to evidence-based solutions for success. For example, life coaches, therapists and personal trainers can help us attain our goals in a safe, realistic fashion.
SUPPORT
Melaney Sreenan, clinical psychologist and an internationally Board Certified Coach, firmly believes in the diverse benefits of partnering with a professional to support personal progress. “There’s a real science and a real chemical response that automatically lifts us when we know that we’ve aligned with someone that has the tools and the skills or has the level of mastery that will support us,” she said.
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F O U R
C O R N E R S
H E A L T H Y
L I V I N G
Chris Grotefend, a fitness and wellness health promotion specialist with Total Life Concepts in Durango, has been coaching others to improve fitness habits for many years and is acutely aware of the complexity of progress. “Ideally there’s about four to five phases to move through, and each phase is usually about six to eight weeks,” he said. “A lot of times people get injured and things like that because they don’t learn some of the basic fundamentals and the foundation work that it requires, mostly in the muscles around your spine.” Utilizing professionally guided exercise and therapy can have profound long-term benefits, especially if coupled with affirmations. “Reaching out and partnering with someone in whatever your goal is, fast forwards you, body, mind and spirit,” Sreenan said.
SCIENCE
Many scientific studies dive into the perks of positive affirmations, exercise and therapy. To further understand the science behind Schatz’s mnemonic catchphrase, it’s worth looking at the foundational work of Donald Hebb, which led to a greater study of neural plasticity.
