Jlé Tarpeh, in addition to being our legal team’s senior paralegal, is also a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer. She shares some fitness motivation for the New Year, including a link to a video with exercises we can do anywhere, including at home or in the office!

By Jlé Tarpeh, Senior Paralegal, Lieff Cabraser

“I think I can, I think I can …” is a line from an American folktale, The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper (1930), used to teach children bravery and the value of optimism, among other things. In the story, the little blue engine accepts a seemingly impossible task of pulling a train over a steep mountain after it breaks down – when larger engines built for such work were asked and for various reasons they refused. As the little blue engine is pulling the train over the steep mountain, she repeats, “‘I-think-I-can.” As the little blue engine neared the top of the mountain, running into problems of all sorts, and now moving even more slowly, however, she still kept saying, “I—think—I—can, I—think—I—can,” — and she did.

Psychologist Albert Bandura (1986) calls this the concept of self-efficacy:  if persons believe they can perform well in changing and challenging situations – they will be more likely to view a challenging task as something to be mastered rather than to be avoided.

Self-efficacy is not a personality characteristic. An individual’s level of self-efficacy will vary depending largely on the specific situation and task which confronts them.

The Lesson: believing in yourself matters especially when confronted with unimaginable, unexpected, and unexplainable situations. 

“I think I can,” is one of the unceasing themes of my life and a theme I try to foster in people in the area of health and fitness – that they have it within themselves to do this.

Recognizing that exercising/physical activity as well as healthy eating are disciplines that are difficult to maintain on a daily basis especially with other life obligations and responsibilities. However, they are important responsibilities that as you embrace them, will help increase your productivity and overall sense of well-being. 

Benefits of Exercising/Physical Activity: Regular physical activity (engagement in any form of moderate-intensity physical activity such as walking, housework, climbing the stairs, running or biking for at least 30 minutes on any given day) carries substantial health benefits to all people and of all ages. It is said to help the body cope with stress coupled with other benefits to parts of the body – the heart, skeletal muscles, bones, blood (i.e. cholesterol levels).  Moreover, regular physical activity helps to relieve some of the discomforts and illnesses that come with aging.

Yet, physical activity is not only beneficial for physical health outcomes, but also improved mental outcomes. To approach an active and healthy lifestyle (and stay with it), you will need the right mindset. You don’t need to be an “athlete”, “good at sports”, or even devoted to working out.  Just 10 minutes of walking a few times a day will help your mood, balance, and sense of worth.

I left out what the little blue engine did when she finally reached the top of the mountain: she congratulated herself and said, “I thought I could, I thought I could” – and you can too.

Are you READY?

Watch my 2-minute exercise video.

Health, love, and peace,

Jlé