My client Susan is really working hard to make progress. She trains both in the studio and outside. At the end of one training session she took some extra time to speak with me because she was having a hard time with her nutrition.
A trainer has to do more than just help people train physically. I’ve learned to apply three important aspect of “dialing-in” to my clients:
- Undistracted listening
- Thoughtfully communicate guidance
- Provided ongoing presence
I want to help you apply these three important elements of the “dial-in” to your family. [We’ve included a couple of short videos to support these aspects of the dial-in.]
Time with family is a great way to learn about the needs of your family. Families need better listening, communication and significantly more time together. I recall the time my daughter, Kylie wanted to go down the slide at the water park. The park had three levels of slides for kids. The first level, which was the easiest, she slid down like a champ. However the second and third level slides gave her some fear and anxiety because they were covered.
Her situation reminded me of 2nd Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by site. Ultimately, she was able to conquer her fears by my wife and me dialing-in on listening, communication and assuring her we were there. God gives us this dial-in model so that we can experience His strength and presence and grow into the wholeness of physical and spiritual health that He has for us.
LISTEN, COMMUNICATE AND BE A PRESENCE
Listening is a strong tool families must use when dialing-in to their needs. Listening allows us to hear and understand family members better. For example, when we were on our trip to Florida my daughter expressed her concerns and fears. By listening to her, I was able to empathize with her and better serve her in that situation. Listening also expresses how God listens to our prayers and us. This is a skill that teaches the love of God.
The dial-in happens as you LISTEN then assess and meet unique needs.
Secondly, communication is essential for dialing-in the needs for your family. We live in a fast-paced world. We go to work, get the kids from day care, cook, do laundry, clean the house — then rinse, and repeat. These busy daily schedules can foster a lack of communication at home and at the dinner table.
How well do you feel you communicate with your family? Do you have dinner with your family? Think about those questions as we move forward with this dial-in conversation. Communication is can be a powerful tool to help you emphasize the importance of God, family, and faith.
The dial-in happens as you COMMUNICATE and find alignment through practice.
Lastly, your family needs to gain assurance that you’ll persistently be there and be present with accurate support and wisdom. Being present is very important. With all of the social media and phone apps, we have seen a huge increase in families not being present while being in the presence of each other. Persistence of being there is important to our children and spouse. It allows them to have a sense of security and relief knowing we offer reliability in our presence. I highly recommend less phone time and more presence.
The dial-in happens in your PRESENCE as you gain knowledge and apply it in practical ways.
OUR FAMILY AND YOURS
Since the birth of our oldest daughter in 2016, we have worked on dialing-in the needs for our family. We worked on better communication, listening more, and making it a point to be present at all times.
The number one area we focused on was being more present. My wife and I have two different jobs. She works at the hospital and I am a personal trainer at the local gym as well as an online trainer. Being an online trainer requires me to utilize social media to promote my business. I learned to intentionally disconnect from that media as a way to reconnect with my family on a much deeper level. Social media should be used as a tool without allowing it to become a thief of your presence with your family.
Secondly, we worked on listening. With our daughter, we made it a point to take a knee when speaking to her while explaining situations such as why not do something or the importance of specific topics. We wanted her to feel we were present, listening, and not speaking down to her.
Lastly, presence was a tool we dialed-in. We enjoy going to the park and staying active by running, playing on the playground, swimming and more. The activities at the park allow us to disconnect, to be with family and drive our attention to being present. You must be present to assure the safety and well-being of your family. We make sure to take some pictures and videos for memories; however, we make it a point to enjoy living in the moment. Time together also shows the blessings God has bestowed onto our lives.
I invite you to use the form below to share your personal experiences of how your family dial-ins to each other.
THE DIAL-IN IS THE ONE EXERCISE FOR YOUR FAMILY
When I talk about doing “1 Set Of Infinite Reps” (the theme for the June/July 2020 issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine) I’m talking about doing the “dial-in”. It’s all about listening, communicating and being present with spiritual wisdom, God-given passion and persistent faith.
As a trainer, I’d like to talk about a few outcomes I’ve had. I want to encourage you to be looking for outcomes as you do your family dial-in. Don’t just look for outcomes but also thank God for them and celebrate them as a family.
By listening, a foundation of RAPPORT is established with my clients, which leads to a higher percentage of client SUCCESS. Communication helps CREATE A BLUEPRINT to help my clients better NAVIGATE their fitness journey. Lastly, establish presence with your clients. Being present in all areas related to my client helps INCREASE ADHERENCE to the program. Apply these same concepts to your family and discover the close and strong bond you can build.
Take time to prayerfully identify and journal the outcomes you want for your family. Remember to keep the outcomes grounded in the Bible and realize that being guided by God’s Holy Spirit is always better than your own self-will. I’ve learned to apply these three important aspects of “dialing-in”. Families need better listening, communication and significantly more time together.
