Have you ever had an incredible friend who listened to you when you had a down day, a problem or simply needed to share something? They made you feel better, no matter what you threw at them? They seemed to say the right things at the right times, and you knew you could count on them to make you a priority, no matter what you needed help with.  It is probable that he or she isn’t a therapist or life coach by profession, but they were there for you, willing to listen and help you through whatever was on your mind.

If you are lucky, you replied a resounding YES, but for a lot of people, the answer to this question is “Uh….NO!” A lot of people don’t have anyone with whom they can talk openly with at all.

Friendships are usually a give and take in terms of compassion and empathy. It is extremely rare for anyone to have a friend who is available 100% of the time. Often our friends are busy, or sometimes you don’t want to hear what they have to say, they present their opinions as fact, or are too blunt or perhaps only offer greeting card sentiments.

Loneliness is one of the major reasons people are unhealthy.

Through years or training women, either in my own gym, parks or at gyms that I have worked, I have found a correlation between failure and success when people embark upon an exercise program. When people feel isolated or lonely, they are more inclined to quit a workout program and make poor choices with their health and diet, compared to the people who share their fitness journey ups and downs with other people.

Life is a marathon, not a mountain. Marathon runners need spectators!

My workouts are a lot like the thousands of spectators at a marathon. If you’ve ever been to a marathon, you will have noticed that spectators cheer for everyone as the runners go by, not just the person they came to support. Spectators and runners alike feel like they’re involved in something collective and very human, and it is wonderful —this is what it means to be a part of a healthy and compassionate community. Imagine trying to get through all 42 Kilometers of a Marathon in complete silence!

Life is hard enough, with all the stresses and pressures of work, family, relationships, and bills to pay! You need your workout time to help you recharge. Every single day I hear from ‘my ladies’ that community, girlfriends, working out and having fun are what makes their day. So rest assured, when you don’t feel like going to class, someone in there will lift your spirits and make you glad you came.

If you know someone who isn’t happy with their fitness, weight, body etc. be a good friend and gently encourage them to find their exercise tribe. Tell them to look for somewhere that has a solid, inclusive community so they will continue to work out and get healthy, even when they don’t feel like it. 
Do you have your tribe but still need a little more motivation to get your butt moving? Need a little more guidance on your health and happiness journey? I’m here for you, together we can work through it.

Zoe x
* Figure made up by me 🙂

Need a little more inspo when it comes to cultivating your tribe? Check out the book A Tribe Called Bliss.