How to have the slight edge for health, wealth and happiness

I just finished reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. It is a great book for helping you recognize everyday choices that make the difference between success and failure. Says Olson, “The things you do every single day, the things that do not look dramatic, that do not even look like they matter, do matter. They not only make a difference, they make all the difference.” All those little choices we make all day long result in the life we live.

One of the areas where small choices are most evident is in our physical bodies. We all know the positive benefits of exercise and good nutrition yet why do so many people make poor choices about their health and fitness every day?

One of my clients, Jerry, set a goal to walk 1,000 miles this year. His plan was to walk four times a week. Little by little he is approaching his goal. He usually walks early in the morning. Occasionally there are days he does not feel like getting up to walk, but then he remembers his goal and gets himself up to get going. He says that the feeling of having made a good choice for himself stays with him throughout the day.

He is looking forward to celebrating his 1,000-mile journey in just a few months – and to think that it is simply the result of small choices over a period of time.

My friend, Nancy, has decided to do something about her weight. She has struggled with being 20 pounds overweight most of her adult life, yo-yo dieting and never getting to her ideal weight. Two months ago she enrolled in a body re-shaping program and began to make sustainable lifestyle choices that include a nutritious meal plan, protein shakes and moderate exercise three times a week. The weight is coming off, but more importantly, she has a new sense of empowerment that is the result of making small choices every day to keep her on the path to a body she feels great in.

What about our minds? Most of what we are exposed to in the media is negative. There is an old saying in the computer world which is GIGO; it stands for garbage-in-garbageout. It is the same with our minds; you fill your mind with negative thoughts and it will result in feeling less than optimal.

One of the Slight Edge recommendations is to read 10 pages of a good book every day. Imagine how your life could change for the better with a new habit like this one!

Max, whom I have been coaching the past few months, did not like to read, but finally decided to give it a try. He is now so excited about what he is learning that he talks about it all the time and is making changes to his way of thinking, which surprises even him.
We have only to look at our lives to see the results of small choices over time. Are you happy with your life choices? What is one thing you can do today to get on track for reaching your goals? What will you commit to doing each day so that you can have the slight edge for health, wealth and happiness?

Pat Morgan, MBA and professional coach, works with busy professionals to help them become more profitable and productive by capitalizing on their strengths and taking focused action to create powerful change. Call her at 305-458-2849, email coachpatmorgan@gmail.com or visit her website at www.SmoothSailingSuccess.com.


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