In the morning, in that pleasant state, halfway between sleep and wake, I program my thoughts for the day. This will be a breakthrough, victorious day for me regarding my fitness plans.

What will I say to myself in the situations the day will bring? What will I re-enforce? What habits do I wish to correct or install? What and how will I eat? How will I stand, walk, sit at my desk?

How and when, how long, and with what focus, will I exercise? What will I say to myself while exercising or looking in the mirror? So many questions. Yet I have found this morning routine to be the easiest way for me to win without struggle.

The dictionary calls this time between wake and sleep, hypnogogia or hypnopompia. It is definitely a benign state and one seriously suited for self hypnosis. Those who use it, know it as a gateway to personal power. When my active, alert, focussed mind is less focussed on the outer world. I can give myself good advice, and listen. I like to remind myself of characteristics I have that I can use to help me win at my fitness game.

I have achievements I am proud of in the realm of fitness. I have skills and habits that work for me. I want to remember I am able to perform at a high level.

For example, I have good posture. I've practiced martial arts, and martial arts teaches posture. Bad posture in martial arts put you at risk. You cannot move quickly or strike with great force when you have poor balance.

Sometimes I get lazy, but when I remember to bring awareness to my posture, my body and mind appreciate it. It helps be fit and enjoy the activities that keep me fit.This is one example that works for me.

I strongly suspect that if you are a senior, you have numerous abilities. By the time you become a senior, you have gained wisdom and skills. Think about it. Don't be unnecessarily modest. When you recognize and are proud of those abilities, you use them to strengthen yourself.

It is easier to practice something new when I can transfer already developed personal resources. If you look, you will find those abilities that work for you.

We would not have survived to be a senior, had we not developed useful skills. Your ability may be to stay focussed, or to create successful strategies, or to get people to like you, or to follow instructions. You know your strengths.

In a time when age is less appreciated, don't join those that think age has taught you little about life. Your experience is valuable, as are your skills.

When complimented, as I have been, for my posture, I appreciate that acknowledgment. It encourages me to train well. When choosing a coach or trainer, you would choose someone that likes your style and knows how to use your strengths to have you win.

I suggest you do this for yourself in the morning or at night. You could have a similar conversation with a trained professional. They can put you into a trance (if you trust them) and guide you around your memories and body and the interface between the outer world and the inner world. They can help you access what you know, what you have learnt.

This can energize you through many hours, even days. It works better than food and has no calories. Olympic and professional athletes use trance states to help them win. You should also.I do for myself for myself in many areas, but for now I focusing on fitness.

It actually takes longer to write about this than to do it. Learning that I could, and that I wanted to, and creating the habit took longer, and, I have many people to thank for teaching me.