Where The Mind Goes, The Body Follows (Why You Keep Quitting)
You can have the greatest gym routine known to man downloaded on your phone. You can have the healthiest meal plan taped to your fridge. You can have a kitchen full of fresh veggies and color-coded containers stacked neatly on the counter.
But if your mind says, "I don’t feel like eating chicken and broccoli again," or "It’s too cold to go to the gym," guess what happens?
Your body listens. You hit the drive-thru. You stay on the couch.
I’ll be real with you—I’ve struggled with this. I use the 1st Phorm app for my workouts because I need structure. I need to be told exactly what to do. But for years, I would start an 8-week program, kill it for a week, get thrown off by travel or a bad day, and then spiral. I’d miss three weeks and have to start all over at Day 1.
I thought I had a discipline problem. But I didn't. I had a Software problem.
In Episode 19 of the Dee Hankins Show, we broke down the connection between Mental Resilience and Physical Resilience. Here is why your physical struggles are actually mental ones—and how to fix them.
Hardware vs. Software
Think of your body like a computer.
Physical Resilience (sleep, diet, movement) is the Hardware.
Mental Resilience is the Software.
You can buy a brand-new, top-of-the-line computer, but if the software is full of viruses, that expensive machine is useless. If you can’t stick to a workout, it’s not because your legs don't work (the hardware). It's because the command coming from headquarters (the software) is weak.
The CEO and The "Lazy" Employee
Here is the analogy I want you to carry with you: Your Mind is the CEO. Your Body is the Employee.
It is important to understand that your body is not "bad"—it is just biologically programmed to be a "lazy employee." Its job is to keep you safe, warm, and full of energy. It loves the couch.
If the CEO (your mind) is absent or weak, the Employee (your body) is going to take a nap in the breakroom. Every single time.
Physical Resilience only happens when the CEO steps in and gives a clear order. The CEO doesn't ask the employee if they "feel" like working; the CEO gives a command, and the body must respond with "Yes, sir."
Stop Staring at the Wall (Target Fixation)
In racing, drivers are taught a concept called Target Fixation. If a driver spins out and starts sliding toward the wall, they are taught never to look at the wall. Why? Because where the mind goes, the body follows. If you stare at the wall, your hands will steer you right into it.
We do this with our health all the time. We stare at the "tired." We stare at the "pain." And so we crash.
My best friend sends me videos of a bodybuilder named Fletcher who yells, "You don't eat this for taste! You eat it to grow!" He’s hilarious, but he’s right. You have to look at the result, not the discomfort. When the mind locks in on the result, the body figures out a way to get you there.
The CEO Habit Shift (Summary)
If you want to stop starting over every Monday, here is the cheat sheet:
Recognize the Biology: Your body wants comfort; your mind must provide the mission.
Fix Your Gaze: Stop looking at the "wall" (the pain/tiredness) and start looking at the "gap" (the energy/strength you want).
The "Override" Technique: When your body makes an excuse, literally say "Override" out loud. Stop negotiating with the employee.
Protect the Streak: If life throws a curveball and you miss a day, don't spiral. Reassert your CEO authority and get back on track immediately. Never miss two days in a row.
Remember: Life throws curveballs, but even curveballs can be hit for home runs.
Catch the full breakdown in Episode 19 of The Dee Hankins Show!