Lead Yourself to Better Health: A Review of Jim Dittmer's Book 15 Commitments to Conscious Leadership

It doesn't matter how good you are at leading others; If you can't lead yourself, you'll never reach your health goals.

Knowledge is crucial, but what you know is not the same as what you know He doesAnd what are you? He does It trumps everything. The trick is to improve the way you talk to yourself; Conversation between your ears turns what you know into action.

You need that Inspires You to represents In ways that will create your future, your preferred self.

Enter Jim Dittmer's book 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. 15 commitments It is often marketed as a business resource, but at its core it teaches the reader to act with intention; How to be a conscious and powerful person… Nothing requires strength and awareness like achieving a health goal.

15 obligations in brief

Key takeaway? Never act “below the line.”

Notice I didn't say “never go below the line.”

We all go below the line sometimes; We are all only human. Conscious leaders learn to identify when they are below the line so they can pause and intentionally move above the line before making critical decisions or having important conversations.

No one makes A+ choices from the bottom of the line. Why? When you are below the line, you are physically and/or psychologically disorganized; You are judgmental, committed to being right, closed-minded, defensive, etc.

(Side note: I'm willing to bet you've gone to the grocery store hungry, planning to buy vegetables and then walked out carrying the entire fast food aisle. After eating sugar, you then think, “Why did I do that?” This is an example of decision making informed by science.) Dysregulated physiology, the key is to not allow yourself to become dysregulated in the first place, but I'll digress on that a bit.)

When you act above the line, you are responsive, calm, curious, and productive.

To achieve your health goals, you need to make (most) of your health decisions above the line.

You have to learn how to “pause”. He accepts. “Transforms.”

Stop The moment you are there. (In the example above, you're in the grocery store thinking, “This ice cream looks good.”)

He accepts The moment is what it is. You can only be where you are. Once you accept where you are, take steps to move forward. (Instead of just eating ice cream, pause and say to yourself, “You want ice cream, but just because you're in this situation doesn't mean you have to give in to your hungry self. Walk away. Your future self.” You won't be happy yourself if you buy all the ice cream. At one time Next, eat before shopping so you don't starve.)

Convert Put your mindset and physiology into a state that helps you get the results you want. (Buy a healthy snack so you're not hungry anymore or call a friend and tell them what you're thinking of doing so they can encourage you to get away and/or turn on some music and get your mind off food.)

The main takeaways are these: You They are a leader You. Lead your current self towards your preferred future version of yourself. For more key takeaways from the book, keep reading. To learn more about the book from the author, listen to his interview on Tim Ferriss' podcast.

1. Life is one big conversation

Everyone must – in some way – connect with themselves and others in order to survive. No one can “opt out” of life's conversation.

However, you can “subscribe” to improving the method Effectively Communicate with yourself and others. The better you communicate, the more likely you are to get what you want!

Think of communication as existing on a continuum. At one end of the continuum, you react in ways that get you the opposite of what you want — instead of ordering dinner, you get a glass of water in your face. On the other hand, you react actively; You communicate in ways that bring you closer to your goal. Your goal is to go to the gym and after repeating a motivational mantra to yourself, you're sweating and feeling amazing.

since You They are more likely to talk yourself While you're working out or outside of working out and/or eating your vegetables, you must learn how to create a productive conversation inside your head. You must learn how to separate context from content. Content is “what” you are talking about. Context is “how” you talk about the content.

The key is to step back and analyze the way you talk to yourself.

Do you talk to yourself above the line or below it? Are you reactive, judgmental and emotional? Or are you growth-oriented and curious?

For example, when you skip a workout, do you talk to yourself from the top or the bottom of the line?

Above the line: “Self, you skipped your workout. What can we learn from that? You don't feel good. If you went for a walk, you would feel better right now. What can we do differently next time?”

Below the line: “You skipped your workout again. You're just a lazy ass. You'll never succeed.”

Both conversations contain the same content. In both examples, you feel frustrated because you skipped the exercise. First, you prepare yourself to make a better choice next time. In the second case, you shame yourself, thus paving the way for skipping future workouts. A mind in which shame seeps in cannot learn.

Key takeaway: Learn to talk to yourself in a way that inspires you to act. Underestimating yourself is not helpful. Foster a growth mindset. He learns. Be curious. It grows.

2. Move it from “to me” to “by me!”

In order to create your favorite and fittest future self, you must believe on a fundamental level that you have the power to change—that your world was created “by you.”

The opposite of the “by me” mentality is the “for me” mentality. When you lean into a “for me” mindset, you internalize that the world is happening to you, and that you are simply blowing away in the wind.

Achieving your best future self requires a (mostly) “by me” attitude.

Obviously, no one can always feel 100% optimistic and in control, but there is a difference between having temporary fluctuations that you intentionally work your way out of and a tendency to feel helpless.

Ideas are not facts. The key is, don't believe everything you think and feel. The story you tell yourself is just a story. Learn to tell yourself a story that helps you on your journey versus detracting from your goals. Learn to pause and “flip” your narrative from “for me” to “by me.”

3. Be intentional about your schedule

Create a schedule that moves you toward your preferred version of yourself. Intentionally stay away from people, activities, and environments that reinforce your less favorable version of yourself. Make your schedule reflect who you want to be and what you value.

Find people, activities, and environments that make you your favorite version of yourself. Gradually incorporate these people, activities, and environments into your schedule.

how? Take inventory.

Make a list of everything you've done over the past few weeks. Place arrows next to each activity.

Put an “up” arrow if your energy increases from this activity. (For me, that's exercise and sleep; I always feel better after I get moving and/or get a good night's sleep).

Place a horizontal arrow next to activities that keep your energy steady.

Put a down arrow next to activities, environments, and people that drain your energy — hello, “energy suckers.” Remember, it is the dose that makes the poison. Duration and intensity of activity. A 30-minute workout will energize you. Watching a high-quality movie is relaxing and exhilarating. For most people, 10 hours of exercise is considered excessive. A week of movies, frustrating.

Key Takeaway: It all comes down to awareness and intention. With awareness comes choice. Once you are aware of the actions, people, and environments that create your preferred version of you, you can intentionally build a life that supports those actions, people, and environments.

Final thoughts

I'm not trying to ignore the real outer limits that constrain our choices. Human beings exist within systems that shape and shape us.

I'm not suggesting that you can ignore the systems around you, or that you can do so. I encourage you not to do this He adds Internal constraints on external constraints. Find small places where you can exert force. Don't fall into a defeatist “for me” spiral. Control what you can control. Look for solutions.

When you find yourself below the line, take steps to “turn” yourself above the line. Change your physiology. Action is key.

He tries

• Hop on one leg and move your arms while saying out loud the problem that is happening to “yours.” It's hard to take your narrative seriously while hopping around on one leg like a pogo stick.
• Write a country song about your problem. Sing it out loud. You have a tantrum. Yelling about your problem. There's nothing better than acting like a 5-year-old to remind yourself to get out of your head.
• Sing “I'm right and you're wrong” at the top of your lungs or to the tune of your favorite song.
• Don't set a goal of “self-driving perfection.” Even the most effective and healthy leaders move between physiological states. The goal is not to be perfectly organized all the time. The goal is to actively set yourself up for success. The more you intentionally stay hydrated, get enough sleep, move your body, and consume healthy foods, the less likely you are to fall below the line. When you go below the line, be aware enough to know that you are below the line so that you can work hard to get over it. Until you reach your highest limits, don't make important decisions or have important conversations.

You will have moments where you fall below the line. The question is, how quickly can we correct course? Have compassion for yourself while also holding yourself accountable.

You can become your favorite version in the future; All it takes is lots and lots of productive, informed conversations! good luck!