Name: Jen Brown
Profession: Certified Master Personal Trainer / Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor
Company: Peak Health & Wellness
How long have you been helping people become better?
I have been a personal trainer for over 8 years, but my passion for helping people become better versions of themselves began long before that.
I actually worked as an engineer for years. As much as I loved designing and solving electrical & mechanical problems. I felt unfulfilled.
I had always been involved with health and fitness. As an athlete, I was always interested in the technique and process. Detail was my thing!
I eventually decided to combine my two passions, and use it to help people. I began my journey to become a personal trainer.
I specialize in corrective exercise, and focus on helping people feel better.
Why is it important for people to focus on themselves and become better?
Focusing on, and bettering oneself is the most reliable way of living a full and meaningful life for not only them, but for the people around them. Some of the reasons why is,
- Self-focus puts energy where it actually produces results.
-You can only control yourself.
- Improving oneself makes you more valuable.
– Better skills=more help to offer
– Better emotional regulation=healthier relationships
– Better health=more energy for family, community & work
- Confidence comes from competence, not validation.
- Creates inner stability,
– Self-improvement becomes an “insurance policy” against chaos.
Basically, focusing on oneself is about responsibility. It’s the difference between reacting to life, and building a life.
What do you believe are the top 3 things a person can do to be happier?
I truly feel there are 4 things that lead to a person be happier. They are:
- Health – Take care of mind & body.
- Connection – Build strong & honest relationships.
- Purpose – Do meaningful, not just pleasant work.
- Perspective – Accept that happiness isn’t constant.
What do you think are the top 3 things for a person to do to be healthier?
- Consistent, quality sleep.
- Eat simple foods, consistently.
- Move your body.
How have you found your core values and stay true to them?
I use the, “Good, Better, Best” philosophy.
In my life, there are a few things that hold the most value to me, including religious beliefs, family and health. Regardless of whether it is my reaction to something or a choice, I focus on what would be the good option, what would be the better option, and what would be the best option, in regards to my values.
From your perspective, how can someone start making little steps to be better?
- START – Start with baby steps. For example, when trying to build a habit of drinking the recommended amount of water, start with just drinking 1-2 glasses a day. As that becomes doable, add an additional glass, and so on.
Every change needs to begin somewhere, and starting small helps the person feel successful.
- Focus on one area at a time. – Once again, rather than trying to tackle multiple challenges, start with 1. The sense of overcoming a single challenge will create a sense of accomplishment & success.
- Focus on consistency, not intensity. – Make sure it is something that can be accomplished, even on a “bad” day.
- Be gracious with yourself. – Lower the bar on a bad day, and acknowledge any positive changes.
- Replace, don’t remove. – Rather than just removing bad habits, replace them with better habits.
What advice do you have that they struggle to make time for themselves?
- Figure out what “time to yourself” actually looks like.
- View time to yourself as a responsibility, not as a luxury. Don’t try earning the time. It’s a necessity, not a prize.
- Use the time between important tasks to incorporate self care. For example, before getting out of the car, while running errands, take a few deep breaths.
- Accept your station in life. Be willing to aim for maintenance, not growth.
- Set boundaries. – It’s alright to say no!
What are some of the things you do for yourself to be better?
Through consistency, patience and persistence, I have set healthy boundaries. These boundaries allow me to focus on areas of my life that need improvement.
At first it was a challenge to tell people no, or choose to workout instead of completing certain tasks. With consistency, people knew my boundaries, and no longer asked for things during that time.
One of the most important things to me is serving people. Having the physical strength, and mental ability is crucial to being able to serve.
By prioritizing time to workout, eat, sleep and continue my education, I am allowing myself the ability to serve others.
Any other tips or advice for our readers about how to work on being holistically a better person?
Being a better person isn’t about perfection. It’s about aligning how you live, how you treat others, and how you treat yourself.
Life isn’t black and white, and everyone will struggle at times, bettering oneself is about being aware, and choosing to continue to grow,
