How to Exercise... And Like It (Part III)

One of my favorite teachers in high school used to say “If you run with wolves, you will learn to howl.”

Many of us have heard some version of this saying. However, it usually has a somewhat negative connotation about it. Typically, it is a warning to be careful about who you spend time with because those closest to you tend to have the most influence on you. Although we can certainly adopt unwanted behaviors from those around us, the inverse is also true. We can also change our behaviors and ideas by intentionally surrounding ourselves with people that exhibit the behaviors and ideas that we want to emulate. 

This idea is based on Albert Bandura's “Social learning theory.” Bandura posited that one of the primary ways we learn is through observation of others. We not only learn through our own experiences and behaviors, but through our perception of others experiences. Bandura's theory is still well regarded today and is supported by empirical evidence.

So what does this mean for us and how can we use this idea to help us exercise more or change other behaviors in our lives? The first implication may seem obvious. The more time you spend with people who exercise regularly, the more likely you are to exercise. It's that simple. Perhaps this means going to an exercise class or talking more regularly with your kettle bell swinging co-worker. Perhaps it means that instead of rolling your eyes and changing the subject when your friend goes on about their marathon training plan, you ask more questions and try to learn about why they enjoy it so much. 

Here is another application point for you: Change your content algorithms. We consume a lot of media these days. Way too much media, in fact (probably another blog post). What if instead of listening to another political podcast, you listened to an episode of Huberman Lab or another podcast that is centered around health and wellness? What if instead of scrolling your typical social media feed, you started following more people that you know will have a positive influence on you? 

The simple point is this: If you want to howl, surround yourself with wolves