Think about it for a second and see if you agree. There is a big difference between belief and faith. Belief is doing something, although you’re unsure of the outcome. Faith is doing it, already knowing that the outcome is assured.
Why is that distinction so important?
Whether you are a coach, or trainer, your ultimate goal with the individual or group you are working with is trying to change behaviors. In order to accomplish this, you must get the person or group to buy-in to whatever concept you’re teaching.
This first step is crucial and paramount in setting the right foundation. Only then can you move on to the next step, which is changing how the person or group thinks. Cultivate their thought processes, and the person or group starts to make better decisions.
Invariably this takes on many forms: from what they eat, how hard they train, when to rest, which leads to an increase in their belief.
Belief is a powerful tool to the athlete, and when that belief turns to faith, there is no telling what the individual or group can accomplish. I have been fortunate to see this play out on so many levels.
In the beginning of any fitness journey, the person or group start out with a desire to achieve a particular objective, but are unsure of whether or not they can do it, and more importantly if it will be worth it.
“Why am I doing this? What do we need this for?”
These phrases are often heard as the person or group try to bargain with the price of their objective. How much work, and how long will it take is what they are really asking. What they fail to comprehend is the body they presently possess, did not come overnight. It took time to get out of shape, and it will take time to reach their fitness goals.
For this reason, the individual or group tries to find an easy way out. The magic elixir that will make all of their corpulence go away, must be in an easily digestible pill or liquid form. Countless hours of monitoring one’s diet, strength training, and doing cardio is not how they envisioned themselves becoming fit.
Only after trying various fad diets, jumping from exercise programs, and consuming an inordinate number of supplements, do they come to the realization that their way is not working, and seek professional help.
At this juncture, the coach, or trainer, who understands the frailty of the individual or group’s psyche can go to work and teach the concepts that will enable the transformation to begin.
Becoming fit requires a change in lifestyle. This philosophy must be impressed on the individual or group to help them believe, and once ingrained, turns to faith, whereby lasting results are attained.
Bradley Booth
Strength & Vigour 