SolCoreFitness

How Much Is Your Health Worth to You?

how much is your health worth

As a culture, we love the mantra, “Health is the greatest wealth.” We share memes, repeat it as wisdom, and nod in agreement… but do most people really live that way?

If surveys and statistics are any sign, our society has a funny way of showing it. U.S. health spending reached $4.9 trillion in 2023—a mind-boggling $14,570 per person, about 17.6% of all money America makes in a year. And year after year, we continue to face rising rates of preventable chronic disease—largely because we skip the behaviors that actually create real health.

So, do you value your own health? If so, does your calendar and budget match your beliefs?

Do Our Habits Reflect Our Priorities?

We often say health comes first. But in reality, many people spend $5 a day at Starbucks, pay more than $100 a month for streaming or cable, and happily budget for happy hours and restaurants. These comforts matter—enjoying life is part of being healthy!—but they’re not replacements for real self-care.

Yet, many hesitate to join a fitness program, hire a coach, or upgrade their nutrition, with the common excuse: “I can’t afford it.”

If you consistently invest in everything but your health, ask yourself: What’s truly important to you?

Why Investing in Health Delivers Huge Returns

Let’s be real: every dollar spent on positive health habits pays you back, often in ways you never expect. A study by the American Heart Association found that exercising just the recommended amount (150 minutes moderate activity per week) can cut healthcare expenses by up to $2,500 a year. And those savings don’t just show up in your bank account—they show up in energy, confidence, fewer lost workdays, and more years of independent, vibrant life.

Regular movement, healthy eating, and restoring fascia health all add years and quality to your life—while shaving off thousands in medical bills.

“I Can’t Afford It” Is Often a False Belief

Think about what your monthly choices communicate:

  • $150–$200 for a gym, group coaching, or holistic movement—sometimes less than a family dinner out
  • $2,000 a year on coffee, versus investing those dollars for a training program that reshapes your body, mindset, and daily energy
  • Investing a few hours a week in your [HOLISTIC EXERCISE AND FITNESS PROGRAM] instead of more time lost to passive entertainment

It’s not about guilt. It’s about clarity: what truly pays off?

The Real Cost of Neglect

If you skip investing in your wellness now, the price comes due later—sometimes in lost income, sometimes in medical bills, sometimes in the years you miss being active with family or doing what you love.

Compare that to the average cost of chronic disease, injury, or hospital stays—thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per episode, plus lost time, pain, and regret. The “someday” you want to avoid is when your health becomes an emergency.

The Benefits Go Far Beyond Money

Financial savings are just the tip of the iceberg:

  • Boosted mood and energy
  • Resilience to stress and life’s knocks
  • Stronger immune system and fewer sick days
  • Better relationships and more meaningful life

And perhaps most valuable? A future where you’re capable, independent, and happy—no matter your age.

It’s Not All Sacrifice

You don’t need to swear off all pleasures. I will absolutely savor a good cappuccino after a busy week, and unwind with my favorite shows. It’s about balance and consciousness—choosing to put yourself on the priority list instead of hoping “someday” you’ll get around to it.

Why Health Is the #1 Investment

Consider this:

  • All the money in the world is useless if you don’t have energy, mobility, or vitality
  • True happiness relies on the freedom your health provides
  • Modern medicine can only “fix” so much—prevention is always the superior outcome

As the old wisdom says, “A healthy person has a thousand wishes. An unhealthy person has just one.”

Make Your Investment—Today

Here’s the bottom line: If you believe health is the greatest wealth, act like it. Shift your mindset from “I can’t afford it” to “How can I not afford NOT to?”

Invest your time, money, attention, and energy in the habits that pay you back for a lifetime.

Your first move could be joining a [HOLISTIC EXERCISE AND FITNESS PROGRAM]. It’s not a splurge—it’s the smartest investment you’ll ever make in yourself, with real, measurable returns.

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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Soft Tissue Always Wins: Why Corrective Work Feels Hard and Why You Must Do It Anyway

Here’s a truth that should shape everything you do for your body: your soft tissue always wins.

Your fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments—all of the connective tissue that wraps and organizes you—dictates whether your body holds itself in proper alignment or stays locked in dysfunction. Your skeleton doesn’t run the show; your soft tissue does.

If you understand this, you’ll not only approach health and fitness differently—you’ll finally see why the hardest, most detail-specific corrective exercises are the ones you must stick with.

Soft Tissue: Your Body’s Pattern Keeper

Your soft tissue is constantly learning from the inputs you give it:

  • Posture: The way you sit, stand, and move all day
  • Nutrition: What you eat and drink affects tissue hydration and repair
  • Stress: Emotional and physical tension alters muscle tone and fascia responsiveness
  • Activity (or inactivity): The variety, volume, and quality of movement you do—or don’t do

If these inputs are inconsistent, poor, or unbalanced, your soft tissue adapts—just not in the way you want. Over time, it locks into patterns that may hold you out of alignment, pull joints into suboptimal positions, and create pain.

Why a Quick “Fix” Rarely Sticks

Let’s say something in your body hurts. A joint is “out,” so you go to someone who adjusts it—just pushes the bone back in place.

Here’s the problem:

  • If your soft tissue is tight, sticky, or dehydrated, it will instantly start pulling that bone back to where it thinks it should be—even if that’s the wrong place.
  • Without changing the tissue’s tone, elasticity, and pattern, you’ve only moved the symptom, not the cause.
  • Sometimes, forcing things back without addressing the fascia makes the tissue even angrier, increasing pain and inflammation.

The result?
The fix doesn’t hold. The issue returns—sometimes within hours.

That’s why at SolCore Fitness, we don’t just “put” something back in place. We educate the soft tissue through targeted, osteopathic-based exercises and manual therapy so it learns a new, better pattern.

Pattern Re-Education: The Only Lasting Fix

Your soft tissue will always revert to its previous “education” unless you teach it something new and reinforce it consistently.

Re-educating soft tissue means:

  • Restoring balance between tight and weak areas
  • Rehydrating fascia so it glides instead of sticks
  • Teaching muscles to activate at the right time, in the right sequence
  • Using precision—correct angles, tensions, and durations—so the brain maps new movement as “normal”

This is where [OSTEOPATHIC EXERCISE AND THERAPY TECHNIQUES] shine—they work with the natural intelligence of your body instead of forcing it into compliance.

Why the Right Exercise Often Feels Like the Hardest

Clients ask me all the time:
“Why is this exercise so hard for me? I feel it more than anything else we do!”

My honest answer? Because you’re working in a place your body has either ignored, compensated for, or under-used for possibly years—sometimes decades.

Think about it:

  • If an area has been weak or tight for 20+ years, you’ve built layers of compensation around it.
  • Targeting just that area with precision is going to feel awkward, shaky, and exhausting at first.
  • Your nervous system fights the change because it’s leaving a known (even if dysfunctional) pattern.

The harder it feels—in the context of good form and safe execution—the more your body needs it.

Why Avoidance Only Delays Progress

When something feels hard, it’s tempting to skip it. Human nature says, “Do what’s easy.” But in the body, avoiding the difficult movements only reaffirms the imbalance.

Example:
If you’re perfectly balanced and strong everywhere, corrective work feels stable. But if you “look like this” (imbalanced posture, shifted joints, locked fascia), the right exercise is going to reveal the gap—and it may even create temporary discomfort as your body adapts.

This is not a reason to quit.
It’s the exact reason to keep going—with patience.

The Education Analogy

Picture your fascia like a brilliant but stubborn student.

If you’ve “taught” it a certain movement or postural pattern for 10, 20, even 50 years, you can’t erase and replace that in one day. Education takes:

  • Repetition: to overwrite old information
  • Consistency: to convince the system that the new pattern is normal
  • Patience: to allow time for tissues to remodel and for the nervous system to integrate the change

Push too hard, too fast, and you’ll get resistance (tightness, pain). Move too little, and nothing changes. The sweet spot is targeted, progressive re-education—with the right sequence and load, which is exactly what we guide you through.

What Happens If You Don’t Re-Educate Soft Tissue

If you skip this work, expect:

  • Recurrent misalignments
  • Chronic tightness and stiffness
  • Reduced mobility and performance
  • Higher injury risk
  • Faster wear-and-tear on joints

We see this often in people who rely only on adjustments, massage, or generic stretching. Without tissue education, results are short-lived.

The SolCore Approach: Why We Get Lasting Change

We combine:

  • Hands-on osteopathic manual therapy to free restrictions
  • Myofascial stretching to restore elasticity
  • ELDOA postures to decompress joints
  • Corrective strengthening to hold the new alignment in place

This layered approach means when something is “put back,” the tissue supports it, and it stays.

Case Study: Cory’s Shoulder Fix

Cory came in with chronic shoulder pain and a history of cortisone shots. Adjustments and massages would help for a day or two… then the pain and alignment issues returned. We found that his upper back fascia was like concrete—stuck from years of desk posture.

The first few weeks of targeted corrective work felt brutally hard for Cory. But we explained: his soft tissue was fighting the change because it had been “educated” into stiffness. By sticking to the plan, within three months we had flexibility restored, strength balanced, and the shoulder stayed pain-free—even under load.

Remember: Soft Tissue Always Wins

You can’t cheat your fascia. You can only work with it.

  • If you teach it nothing, it keeps doing what it’s always done.
  • If you try to force bones into place without changing it, it will undo the work.
  • If you give it the precise, sometimes challenging inputs it needs—and do it consistently—it will adapt, support, and protect you for life.

Call to Action

If you’re ready to stop chasing temporary fixes and start building a body that stays balanced, pain-free, and strong, focus on educating your soft tissue. And if you want expert guidance in doing it the right way, the [OSTEOPATHIC EXERCISE AND THERAPY TECHNIQUES] in our programs are built exactly for this purpose.

Your body is always learning from you. Make sure you’re teaching it the right lessons.

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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You Get Out What You Put In: The Real Path to Your Health and Fitness Goals

In all my years of coaching, there’s one truth that applies across the board—whether in fitness, career, relationships, or life: you get out what you put in.

It sounds obvious, but it’s where most people get stuck. They have a genuine desire for change—better health, less pain, more strength, more mobility—but they treat that desire like it’s enough on its own. They dabble in random workouts. They jump from fad diet to fad diet. They hope for transformation but never take the steps to make it truly possible.

The result? Frustration, stagnation, and often, regret.

Let’s talk about what it really means to get out what you put in—and how to apply this philosophy so your health and fitness ambitions finally move beyond wishful thinking.

Step 1: Flesh Out Your Desire

The first step is knowing what you really want—not just “I want to be healthier” or “I should work out more.” Those are vague ideas.

Instead, get specific:

  • “I want to hike without knee pain by summer.”
  • “I want my posture to improve so I’m not rounding my shoulders at my desk.”
  • “I want to build enough core strength to support my lower back for daily activity.”

Why? Because without clarity, you can’t create an effective plan—and your brain lacks the focus to stay on course.

In the [HOLISTIC EXERCISE AND FITNESS PROGRAM], we start every client with this kind of goal clarification. It’s the difference between wandering around the gym trying machines and doing targeted fascia-based exercises with a purpose.

Step 2: Choose the Right Actions for Your Goal

Once you know what you want, you need to choose the appropriate steps to get there.

Too many people try to skip this step or fill it with random activity:

  • They want spinal mobility but spend most of their workouts on stationary cardio
  • They want to fix joint pain but ignore the fascia and postural pattern causing it
  • They want strength but focus on high-intensity work their tissues can’t yet support

The truth is, the right actions are rarely random. They are precise, structured, and non-negotiable.

Think of it like gardening. If you want tomatoes, you don’t plant whatever seeds you find in the shed and hope. You plant the right seeds, in the right place, at the right time—and care for them with consistency.

Step 3: Avoid the “Randomness Trap”

Without a plan, you’re leaving your results up to chance—whatever the “universe” throws your way, as I like to say. And in fitness, “random” usually leads to:

  • Lack of progress because inputs don’t match your goals
  • Overuse or injury from applying too much stress in the wrong way
  • Growing frustration from “working hard” with nothing to show for it

This is why hopping between viral TikTok workouts or YouTube routines can be dangerous. They’re not bad in themselves—but they’re not built for you.

Step 4: Understand the Frustration Cycle

Here’s what often happens:

  1. You feel a strong desire to change—maybe stronger than ever before.
  2. You try to act, but without a focused plan.
  3. Progress is slow or nonexistent.
  4. You get frustrated because the desire is still there but you’re no closer to the goal.

This mismatch between wanting and achieving doesn’t just make you impatient—it can sour your whole experience of health and fitness.

In my coaching, I emphasize that this frustration isn’t proof you can’t succeed—it’s a signal you need better direction and consistency.

Step 5: Frame the Work Properly

You should never see your training, nutritional discipline, or mobility work as “torture.” That mindset will kill your commitment and enthusiasm.

Instead, view your plan as:

  • The vehicle to your goal
  • A system that removes guesswork
  • An investment that’s for you, not against you

Even the challenging parts become easier to handle when you connect them directly to your deeper goal. A corrective posture exercise might be uncomfortable, but if you know it’s the key to hiking without back pain, it feels meaningful.

Step 6: Commit to the Program

Once you know what you want and have the right plan, the rest comes down to this: work your program.

Show up. Put in the reps. Keep the promises to yourself even when you’re tired, busy, or not “feeling it.”

This doesn’t mean going to extremes—it means showing consistent respect for the process. Skipping corrective exercises for weeks and then expecting your fascia to remodel is unrealistic; the tissue learns only from repeated, intentional input.

Step 7: Responsibility is Power

In the end, it’s your responsibility. If you invest the time, money, attention, and energy into your health, you’ll see the return. If you don’t, you’ll get whatever default outcome a lack of action delivers—and those are rarely the results you want.

Owning that truth isn’t about guilt—it’s about freedom. Because if you’re in control of what you put in, you’re also in control of what you get out.

Real Client Example: Brian’s Breakthrough

Brian came to SolCore with chronic neck and hip stiffness. He was committed, but his approach before working with us was scattered—some gym machines, the occasional yoga class, whatever sounded good that week.

Once we clarified his goals and gave him a fascia-based corrective sequence, Brian stuck to it for twelve straight weeks. Not once did he skip a session—even when the exercises felt awkward. Within three months, his pain dropped dramatically, his posture improved, and his flexibility returned.

The difference? Clarity, the right actions, and showing up—every time.

Key Takeaways: How to Get Out What You Put In

  1. Be crystal clear on your goals—make them specific and meaningful to you.
  2. Choose appropriate, not random, actions that directly align with those goals.
  3. See frustration as feedback to adjust, not a reason to quit.
  4. Commit long enough for your body—and especially your fascia—to adapt.
  5. Remember: responsibility for your results is yours alone.

Call to Action

Your health and fitness results are never an accident—they’re the compound interest of what you put in every day.

If you want help clarifying your goals, building the right actions, and staying accountable, the [HOLISTIC EXERCISE AND FITNESS PROGRAM] is designed to give you structure, progression, and measurable change.

Start putting in what it takes, and watch what comes back to you.

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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Schedule Something to Improve Motivation: The Power of Anticipation & Goal Planning

schedule something to stay motivated in health and fitness

Have you ever noticed how much more exciting life feels when you have something to look forward to? Whether it’s a long-awaited vacation, your first 5K, a family reunion, or even a weekend adventure—you feel it in your gut: that spark of anticipation that makes each day a little brighter.

It’s not just fun—anticipation is a scientifically proven way to fuel motivation, especially on the path to big health and fitness goals. When you tie your daily actions to something you truly want, your discipline stops feeling like a grind and starts feeling like progress toward something meaningful.

This is one of my favorite “tricks” for keeping the fire burning—even when a goal is months away or the results feel slow.

Why Anticipation Works

Research shows that people are happier and more likely to follow through on commitments when they have events to look forward to. Anticipation isn’t just about big rewards—it’s about creating purpose for your effort and building the connection between your present actions and your future self.

When you schedule something ahead—an event, a milestone, or a meaningful goal—you create an emotional anchor. Every step you take becomes less about duty and more about excitement for what’s coming next.

Set Vision and Milestone “Breadcrumbs”

Start with your vision. What’s the Big Moment that excites you? Maybe it’s:

  • Entering your first race
  • Booking a hiking trip with friends
  • Saving for a weekend getaway
  • Mastering a movement or exercise milestone
  • Reaching a health marker—like a lower blood pressure, improved strength, or pain-free mobility

Once you have that “north star,” break it down:

  • What milestones can you schedule along the way?
  • How will you celebrate when you reach each one?

Let’s say your dream is to complete a challenging hike six months from now. You could schedule mini-goals (longer neighborhood walks, local trail “test runs,” improving cardio benchmarks each month) and reward yourself for hitting each one—a new piece of gear, a meal at your favorite place, or simply an intentional reflection on your progress.

Make Your Goals S.M.A.R.T and Track Them Visually

S.M.A.R.T goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) help you avoid “random acts of doing” and instead channel your effort with purpose.

  • Write your ultimate goal (“run my first 5K on July 1st”)
  • Set milestone goals (“run 2 miles by April 1st,” “complete three training sessions weekly”)
  • Schedule them in your calendar
  • Celebrate wins—big and small

Use a paper calendar, vision board, or digital tracker—whatever helps you see the progress. The point is to keep your goal top of mind, igniting daily action.

Harness the Power of Reward

Dopamine the “motivation molecule” spikes when we anticipate rewards. You can hack this biology:

  • Give yourself real rewards for important milestones: new gear, a massage, a fun outing, a personal treat (not always food!)
  • Let each step feel like a mini-victory, not just a box checked off

This cycle—set goal → work for goal → enjoy goal—becomes self-perpetuating.

Don’t Let Setbacks Diminish Your Momentum

Anticipation shouldn’t collapse after a setback; it should inspire problem-solving. Didn’t hit your milestone this week? That’s normal! Adjust course, reset the next micro-goal, and keep your next reward/progress check visible.

Self-compassion, acceptance, and thoughtful adjustment are as important as perseverance on your journey.

Why This Works for All Kinds of Goals

People who are successful in health, business, and life all schedule meaningful goals, track their progress, and reward themselves along the way.

The process looks like:

  1. Set a compelling, “look forward to it” vision
  2. Create regular milestone checks
  3. Reward progress, however small
  4. Repeat, always with something future-focused on your calendar

This system doesn’t just keep motivation up—it becomes a fun, sustainable way to make your goals part of your life.

Real Client Example

One of our SolCore clients was struggling with workout consistency. Together, we set not only a six-month fitness target but also scheduled a new “mini challenge” every six weeks: a fun group hike, a personal best in mobility, then a reward for each. Far from feeling like “just another routine,” each phase became something to anticipate, and enthusiasm soared.

Bonus: Use Anticipation for Motivation in Daily Life

  • Plan a healthy family meal to look forward to after a long week
  • Block rest days or quality time on your calendar well in advance
  • Register for a workshop or class that excites you
  • Even small treats for yourself—like a new book or leisure day—count

Whatever it is, create joy and purpose you can see on your calendar.

Call to Action

Want more motivation on your fitness journey? Try scheduling a health goal along with regular milestones and meaningful rewards. Use a calendar (paper preferred!), plan out your path, track each win, and celebrate along the way.

If you want extra support—and a program that breaks your goals into motivating, milestone-driven steps the [SCHEDULE SOMETHING: HARNESS ANTICIPATION FOR HEALTH] is designed to keep your eyes (and actions) on the outcome.

What’s your next “something” you’re looking forward to? Hit reply and share your goal I’d love to hear it!

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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Identify Your Mistakes to Stay on Track

A great philosopher once said:
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

It’s a powerful reminder for daily life, especially on your fitness and health journey. Without honest awareness of what throws us off course, we’re likely to trip over the same hurdle again—and again.

So, what keeps us stuck? Sometimes it’s a self-limiting belief. Sometimes it’s the negative voice of someone else. Sometimes it’s a behavior (like that late-night grocery store temptation) that’s tripped us up before and can do it again.

The key isn’t just to acknowledge the obstacle, but to see your own role in its return. Why did it happen? What thoughts or habits let it slip back in? That’s step one for real growth.

Why Recognizing Mistakes Is So Critical

Mistakes are not evidence of failure—they’re signposts pointing you toward the real work. Most people who struggle to make progress are stuck not because they can’t change, but because they keep reliving the same mistake without ever understanding it.

Identifying mistakes (and your personal patterns) is an act of wisdom, not weakness. It means:

  • You’re willing to be honest about what’s not working.
  • You’re seeking insight, not just regret.
  • You’re open to learning and rewriting your story.

Common Health & Fitness Mistakes (and Limiting Beliefs)

  • “I was too busy to work out this week.” (But didn’t re-examine your schedule or look for small time windows.)
  • “I have bad genetics; getting fit is impossible.” (But you haven’t challenged your program or mindset.)
  • “I always fail after a few weeks, so why bother?” (This is a self-fulfilling belief—it’s time to rewrite it.)
  • “I just love junk food too much to change.” (But what if you could reframe and try incremental swaps?)

Patterns appear not only in what we do but how we think about what we do. If you can identify the limiting belief under your mistake, you break its spell.

How to Identify Your Limiting Beliefs and Mistakes—Step by Step

  1. Notice the Pattern
    Is there a repeat mistake or excuse that keeps surfacing? Track it for a week. Does it appear after certain triggers (stress, social situations, fatigue)?
  2. Pinpoint the Thought
    When you make a mistake or detour, what belief pops into your mind? Write it down! Getting it out in the open is half the battle. Is the belief even true? (Often it’s just a story we repeat without questioning.)
  3. Acknowledge Your Role
    We can’t always control disruptions, but owning your part is powerful. Recognize how your actions, mindsets, or avoidance contributed. No blame—just honest assessment.
  4. Reframe and Rewrite
    Once you spot the limiting belief, try to re-write it:
  • “I don’t have time” → “Maybe I can find 10 minutes midday—even that counts.”
    • “I always fail after a few weeks” → “I’m still learning what works for me. This time, I’ll try one change and track how it goes.”
    • “I can’t give up all my favorite foods” → “I can learn to enjoy one treat a day and practice moderation.”
  • Plan for the Next Time
    Ask: What will I do differently if this happens again? What’s one action I can prep now to support myself in the future? (Example: Not bringing trigger foods home, scheduling movement breaks before work stress hits.)

Turning Mistakes Into Motivation

If you bring awareness and strategy, every mistake is a stepping stone. With each cycle, you sharpen your ability to adapt, and your confidence grows.

Remember: You are not your mistake. You are the person who learns and evolves.

Real-World Example Limiting Belief in Action

A SolCore client, Amy, struggled for years with the belief, “I’m not a morning person—I can never stick to an exercise routine.” After tracking her patterns, she realized evenings were even less reliable. Instead of shaming herself, she reframed: “I experiment with morning movement to see if smaller sessions will fit.” She started with 10 minutes before breakfast—enough to create consistency. Her self-perception shifted, and so did her results.

Questions to Guide Your “Rewrite”

When you find yourself repeating a mistake, gently ask:

  • Is this thought really true or just familiar?
  • How have I overcome setbacks in the past?
  • What’s something small I could do differently this time?
  • What would I say to a friend struggling with the same thing?

Call to Action

Mistakes only rule you if you never look them in the eye. Seek them, study them, and rewrite the story you’re telling yourself. That’s how you create lasting change.

Want a proven structure for learning, adapting, and growing? The [HOLISTIC EXERCISE AND FITNESS PROGRAM] guides you—to spot patterns, break limiting beliefs, and stay on track for good.

What limiting belief or repeated mistake have you just noticed? Hit reply and share! Let’s rewrite the story together.

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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Breaking Free from Perfectionism: Fear vs. Thriving in Your Health Journey

breaking free from perfectionism for health and personal growth

(Gulp!) Let’s get real: I used to believe perfection was possible. Why not? If I focused all my attention and intent, surely I could get everything “just right.” That drive for perfection was almost a superpower…but also a big chunk of kryptonite.

What I didn’t see for years was how rooted that mindset was in my fear of “not being enough.” It was so deeply entrenched, I thought it was just part of my DNA. Only after life “popped me in the face” (more than once!) did I recognize that this was not an “achieve-your-best” state, but an obsessive fear state—a constant voice saying do more, be more, never stop, never feel.

The chasing never ends. You never feel at home, never really own your place in the universe, because you’re always running from discomfort, always worrying you’re not enough.

Perfectionism: Fear in Disguise

Modern research is clear perfectionism usually grows from fear of not being good enough, and it’s strongly tied to anxiety and low self-worth. Perfectionists often view mistakes as personal failures, which ramps up the fear of not measuring up and leads to “all-or-nothing” thinking, constant second-guessing, or harsh self-talk. You might even sabotage your own progress or procrastinate, waiting for the “perfect” conditions to act conditions that never come.

Instead of enjoying the journey, perfectionists feel perpetually behind, out of place, and driven to achieve just so they don’t have to feel uncomfortable. That’s not living—that’s surviving.

How Fear Shows Up In the Studio, in Life

Here’s what’s wild: This is the same trap I see in my studio. After years of coaching, I can spot—almost on sight—who’s going to move forward and who’s stuck. Fear isn’t always as obvious as nervousness or panic. Sometimes it’s in the eyes; sometimes it’s in how someone talks about their injuries or progress. Sometimes it’s in their constant search for the “right” way to do every rep (especially if they struggle when things aren’t perfect), or in their avoidance of challenging exercises that don’t come easy.

Fear shows up as:

  • Rigidity in routines and resistance to change
  • Negative “what if” thinking (“If I can’t do this perfectly, what’s the point?”)
  • Abandoning exercises or routines at the first sign of discomfort or imperfection
  • Getting stuck in self-judgment (“I never get this right,” “I’m hopeless,” etc.)

I see it because I lived it. And I know: Awareness is the only way out.

Fear Clouds Your Thoughts and Progress

Fear literally warps your perception, making you hyper-alert to imagined threats or failures—missing the small (and big) wins. When you operate out of fear, you’re stuck in a constant pattern of judgment, defense, and avoidance. It’s impossible to progress—because fear makes you see every setback as permanent and every imperfection as proof that you don’t belong.

From Fear State to Thriving State

Recovery from perfectionism isn’t about “lowering your standards.” It’s about pursuing the best version of yourself from a place of self-compassion, curiosity, and growth instead of obsessive control and self-punishment.

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Spot the Pattern
  • Notice when fear, rigidity, or over-control takes over.
    • Ask: Am I chasing growth, or am I running from discomfort?
    • Journal your thoughts—awareness brings choice.
  • Challenge Perfectionist Thoughts
  • Perfectionist thinking sounds like, “If it’s not perfect, it’s a failure.” Challenge it!
    • Ask, “Is that really true?” or “What if making a mistake is simply a step forward?”
    • Remind yourself: progress, not perfection, is what brings transformation.
  • Practice Imperfect Action
  • Growth comes from taking action especially imperfect action.
    • Allow yourself to try, fail, learn, and try again. The best athletes, business leaders, and happiest people all have “oops” moments then they move on.
  • Find Your Why and Accept Yourself
  • Fear of “not being enough” loses its grip when you connect to your purpose what matters most, and why you show up.
    • Self-acceptance doesn’t mean giving up. It’s the fuel for real, sustainable achievement.
  • Embrace Support and Vulnerability
  • Share your struggles with trusted friends, coaches, or peers. Sometimes just voicing your fear takes away its power.
    • No one succeeds alone. Real progress happens in community.

Turning Fear into Your Greatest Teacher

You can tell if perfectionism or fear is holding you back by asking yourself:

  • Do I notice similar self-sabotaging patterns, again and again?
  • Do I keep finding myself in the same stuck place, in different circumstances?
  • Do I feel “rigid”—in my thoughts, routines, or expectations?
  • Do I quit (or avoid) what isn’t “my strength,” instead of learning from it?

If so, welcome. You’re exactly where growth begins.

The Victory on the Other Side

Yes, it’s hard to watch someone let fear derail their progress. But it’s absolutely exhilarating to see someone face their fear, do the uncomfortable work, and come out the other side—stronger, more vibrant, more present than they ever imagined possible.

That’s the power of moving from a fear state to a growth state. Your journey side the studio and beyond won’t always be easy or clean. But it’s real, and it’s YOURS.

Call to Action

If any part of this story feels familiar, you are not alone. Perfectionism and fear may be rooted deep, but they’re patterns not destiny.

It’s awareness that gives you freedom. The next step—trying, failing, learning, and growing is how you become not just your “best self,” but your most authentic self.

Want structure and support while you move toward this state? The [HOLISTIC EXERCISE AND FITNESS PROGRAM] is built for this kind of honest, sustainable change focused on progress, not perfection. Let’s break the pattern, together.

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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Identify Your Mistakes to Stay on Track

A great philosopher once wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” That insight matters as much on the gym floor as it does in life.

If you keep getting off track with your health and fitness goals, it’s almost never because of a random disaster. Far more often, it’s because you haven’t brought full awareness to the patterns or beliefs that trip you up again and again.

What Really Throws You Off?

Sometimes it’s a self-limiting belief: “I always give up when it gets tough.”
Other times, it’s letting external negativity in: listening to a colleague scoff about the pointlessness of ‘trying.’
Or maybe, you’ve started to believe the pain, stiffness, or weakness in your own body is “just the way it is.”

Sure, sometimes lightning does strike—illness, an emergency, an unprecedented disruption. But repeatedly losing ground after a setback points not to life’s circumstances, but to old beliefs, emotional patterns, or unexamined habits that haven’t yet been rewritten.

Step One: Spot Your Role in the Pattern

You are not helpless. You are always, in part, a co-author in your story. The key to growth is to look back and honestly name the obstacles—and your role in creating or sustaining them. Avoid defensiveness. Approach it with curiosity and self-compassion, not blame.

Ask Yourself:

  • What situations or moods always precede a slip?
  • Do I repeat certain justifications (“I’ve had a hard day, I deserve this,” or “It’s just genetic, I can’t do anything”)?
  • What people, environments, or thought patterns send me down the old path?

Common Mistakes & Limiting Beliefs

  • “I’m just too busy to exercise” (Is that truly the case, or is it a belief you haven’t tested?)
  • “I have bad genetics, so it won’t make a difference.”
  • “Change is too hard for someone like me.”
  • “Pain and stiffness are just part of aging.”

These beliefs are powerful, but almost always less true than we’ve told ourselves.

How to Break the Cycle: A Practical Guide

  1. Recognize and Name the Mistake or Belief
    Be honest, not self-punishing. Write it down: “I believe that ,” or “I always get thrown off by.”
  2. Challenge the Story
    Ask: Is this really true, or just a habit of thought? What evidence might suggest it can change? What have others proven, or what have I overcome in the past?
  3. Rewrite With Compassion and Truth
    Limiting belief: “I always fail when I try to work out after work.”
    Reframe: “I’m still learning what scheduling works for me. Maybe I can try morning movement, or shift my workout to lunchtime.”
    Keep it concrete, real, and optimistic.
  4. Replace With Action
    New positive self-talk or specific adjustments work best. Instead of, “I’ll never stick with it,” try, “I’ve had setbacks, but every attempt teaches me what to tweak. My job is to stay curious and keep adjusting.”
  5. Repeat the Process
    This isn’t a one-and-done event! Mistakes change shape. Continue journaling, reflecting, and updating your self-understanding regularly.

How This Changes Things in Real Life

A SolCore client, Adam, used to blame being “too busy” for falling off his program. Through honest journaling, he realized he was sabotaged by the belief that self-care was selfish, so he overfilled his time with commitments. The moment he owned that belief, he began to schedule himself on equal footing with his other obligations. His success rate skyrocketed—not because life became easier, but because his story changed.

The Big Takeaway

You will repeat what you do not recognize, but with awareness comes freedom. Mistakes and setbacks are not the enemy. Complacency and unchallenged beliefs are. Look back with honesty, own your patterns, and step forward more equipped than ever.

So, what old story or limiting belief will you rewrite this week? Hit reply and share your breakthrough I’d love to celebrate it with you.

Call to Action

Ready to break out of the cycle and make lasting change? The [HOLISTIC EXERCISE AND FITNESS PROGRAM] is designed to help you recognize patterns, rewire beliefs, and build a foundation for real success physically and mentally.

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

Find out more @

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