Her trainer totally missed her body language – the raised eyebrow saying, “Seriously?”
A personal trainer who talks too much and fails to listen isn’t just a waste of money, she or he does damage. They can never be brutally honest, if they honestly haven’t first built a frank, sincere and faithful presence with you. The thing you want is help not someone who is angry, uninterested, distracted, scared or arrogant. You get plenty of that from total strangers, co-workers, religious people, your social media ‘friends’ and even family. Your fitness ‘community’ should be different — better. A place where strength is gained by getting and giving input.
I have rather aggressive glaucoma. One time I shared with my eye doctor that the prescription drops to treat the condition were really irritating my eyes, “Can I back off the regimen?” “Sure”, he replied, “If you want to go blind!” What a jerk, right? Well no. He had built a rapport with me to where he could be frank AND I received and accepted the instruction.
HOW DO YOU SELF-IDENTIFY?
Are you proud of God enough to share from the depth of your faith with others? OR does “Cancel Culture” have you convinced that the best thing you can do with your faith is keep it to yourself? Bodybuilders aren’t strong because they’re self-conscious, instead they choose to make a bold impression.
See what Pro bodybuilder Evan Centopani has to say about being proud in this Animal brand video.
Let’s talk about how you exercise WHO YOU ARE. The theme for the February/March 2021 issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine is Input – Get It AND Give It. Personal fitness – your physical activity and training is what you do to exercise your body to improve and maintain health. But doing that alone, just doin’ my thing, is a lonely way to live life. Who you are is more than just your anatomy. It’s your mind, attitude, spirit and relationships.
THIS IS FITNESS
How much do you let others speak into your life and shape those areas? AND – how much hope, joy, courage, peace and wisdom do you withhold when you refuse to speak into the lives of others? Communion isn’t just a sacred religious practice it is the vital level of relationship God can give you to have with others. Look for the opportunities to be the pep talk that someone needs today.
For me, some of the most dynamic input I get and have the chance to give is exchanged with my wife. It’s sometimes painful but usually tremendously heartening. It always leads to greater growth. In my conversations with Samuel, De, Clark and Winnie in our cover story, they’ve all found that input from and to others has been an important part of their fit lifestyle.
YES YOU CAN – IF YOU WILL
Who gives input to you? Who gets input from you? Who else could it be? And – before you fully answer those questions consider this: God will often use the most unlikely of people in the most unplanned moments. In other words the most excellent kind of input is the most out of your control – the stuff that goes way beyond your own natural strength when you don’t hold back.
Christ prayed to God, “I want your will, not mine.” Can you live out that same prayer among those who pursue fitness around you?
Be like an honest personal trainer who is frank, sincere and faithful:
Frankness is a custom crafted valuable commodity you deliver to a person in the moment.
Sincerity is the gentle and compelling passion you demonstrate.
Faithfulness is your Christ-like obedience.
To give input with frankness, sincerity and faithfulness is far from easy, but that’s no reason to fear. It’ll take more than a timid one-time attempt, but God will give you strength as you commit yourself firmly to him. Fitness is achieved as you forage for understanding, concentrate on God’s guidance without deviation and persistently pursue what he puts straight ahead of you. When you take the time to nurture rapport with others and then give input on that level you’ll be the very presence of God.
Train strong in Christ,
Brad Bloom, Publisher
