Affirmations

 

Do you have any affirmations?   Positive content is one thing, affirmations are different.  When I was in therapy my therapist said that I am statements don't always work because underneath you don't believe yourself still.  I can definitely see that being the case.  Even with affirmations I can see that being the case.   What do you think?  Have they worked for you?

In the book "The Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod, he talks about saying an affirmation every morning.  I actually printed out one based on his writing and started saying it while in the shower.   First time I said it outloud...my kids wondered who I was talking to in there.  :)  I took it to the Tony Robbins level saying it with conviction and feeling.   He says that if you don't say it with a lot of Umph that you won't believe yourself.  Maybe that's the difference between the belief and disbelief of a statement.  The passion in the words.  So if you have the book The Miracle Morning"  Read the part about the affirmations and pull out that section.  Or possibly adapt your own and say it with substance while in the shower or just as you are climbing out of bed in the morning.   How does it feel?  Do you believe it?

If you don't want to make your own check out a youtube video and play it for motivation instead.  These two are recommended by Jonathan Roche of Energyup.co   He says to listen to them daily.  

Unbroken - Motivational Video - YouTube

Dream - Motivational Video - YouTube

So no matter how you get your affirmations...remember, just like in the movie "The Help"  You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important.  

Taking Action

Ever have one of those epiphany moments where you wonder why you hadn't thought of that before? I had one of those this weekend. It was a huge lightbulb/duh moment. One that is almost pathetic that I hadn't put it together before now.

Discipline

Discipline,  what is it?   We hear this word thrown about all the time.  If only I were more disciplined, I could do...   fill in the blank.  We could do anything right?   Discipline is the ability to do what needs to be done, even when we don't feel like it.  (thank you Brian Tracy!)  I was listening to a book on Cd by Brian tracy the other day and he read that definition of discipline.  I had to rewind and listen to it again.   Doing something even though you don't want to.   Does that mean that there are people out there that don't want to exercise, but do it anyway?   Does that mean that some people don't want to load the dishwasher, or empty it, but do it anyway?   Mind literally blown.   The difference between who I am now, and who I want to become is a choice.   Whether I do what needs to be done, or give in to my negative voice.   This choice, this discipline.  It's all up to me.   Just like courage is feeling the fear and doing something anyway.  Being disciplined is feeling the pull to not do something, but doing it anyway.   This is possible.   It is not an enigma.  In fact you can make the choice right now.   Stand up, and do that one thing that you have been procrastinating.   Go on,   you can do it.  Load the dishwasher, do 10 pushups.   Just do it.  Once you do you will feel so much better and have that much more motivation to do the next item on your procrastination list.   Discipline, it isn't hard, it isn't impossible.  It is just action, even when you don't want to move.

Just move.

Procrastination...Busted!

I've decided that one of my biggest steps in the wrong direction is procrastination.   It isn't always purposeful, but it is there.   Distraction must be a precursor to it as well.   I'm sitting here still in my exercise clothes at 1:15 in the afternoon.   No exercise yet.   I did get some cleaning done this morning, started out on the right foot but then I slowly began to slow down.   I have things to do.  Now to do them!

So how can I get out of the distraction/procrastination mode?

Healthy Journey Day 247

Found this quote on Facebook yesterday...boy I need to remember this!

So the time has come to Change things up, again.   What I am doing isn't working, so it is time to make it work!   Today's bootcamphub.com video was about getting angry about what you have not accomplished.   I am definitely angry (see yesterday's post!)    It is time to quit thinking about the past, quit thinking about the future, and think about right now.   If my right now is in a good spot...healthy.  Then my future will be too.  String a lot of right nows together and you get a day, a week and then years until you get a lifetime.  Right now is fleeting.  Right now passes, Right now is all you have!  I can only impact right now.  I can only make a difference Right NOW.  My time is RIGHT NOW! 

NoSpendtober Day 9

Today is cleaning day.   I psyched myself up all day yesterday saying today I would get up and clean.   Guess what,  I did!   I feel so accomplished!   I guess good things happen when you decide to do it!

The suggestion on the Living well spending less blog is to spend an hour each morning cleaning.   I actually really like this idea.  I have been trying forever to clean in 15 minute blocks but recently after watching a video on productivity by Brendon Bruchard started trying 50 minute blocks.   Having an hour first thing in the morning to run through the house and clean sounds like just what I need.   You could say that it is eating the frog for me.   I am most productive first thing in the morning so why not take advantage of it!

Healthy Journey Day 272

Today I have been putting a lot of thought into Grit and Determination.  Yesterday I was so frustrated with myself.   The fact that I have been posting for 272 days now and it seems that I am in exactly the same place as I was.   Ok I have made some great strides and progress...but it just wasn't evident to me at the moment.   So I decided that it is time for me to pick something and do it no matter what!!   It is the difference between interest and commitment.   I am going to commit...now! 

Healthy Journey Day 269--Grit!

It has been a sugary day.   Possibly to be expected as I was rather short on sleep last night.   I spent the day entering a bunch of receipts for the business and eating whatever was closest.   I found I wasn't really concentrating on anything and the time I was allowing for each project was getting longer and longer.   I could have finished much faster if I chose to.   So I am not logging my food...but my wins are that I tried some hummus at costco I really liked and so I bought it.   I also bought some green juice because I knew I needed some greens.  :)

I have been thinking a bit lately about grit and determination.  Grit is defined as courage and resolve; strength of character.  I have felt a lack of grit.   I think that is what comes in to play when I am tired or sitting and just don't want to...that decision point.  To have grit is when I get up and do it anyway.   That extra bit of resolve to move and complete the thing I am thinking I should do.   When everything in my body is telling me I don't want to care, I don't feel like it.  I can just do it tomorrow.  Grit will kick in and help me to do it anyway.    "I will feel the fear and do it anyway".  

Determination is defined as firmness of purpose; resoluteness.  Unflinching.  

Change Your Attitude

I had a huge realization this morning.  It is time for me to change my attitude!    It all stems from my seven year old starting school.   He has been given a lot of homework.  Every night he has to read for 15 mins, complete a reading fluency sheet, spelling words, a math page and computer math to do.   It seems like a lot to me.   I have been voicing my dismay at how much homework he has had to do.   Last night I could see it rubbing off.   He was complaining and saying why do I have all this homework?   He would probably have just done it if I hadn't said anything.  I really realized that my attitude was affecting his.

Healthy Journey Day 215

Sunday morning.  I took a leisurely time getting up and ready.   I did actually weigh myself this morning too.

Weight:  198

Blood Sugar 107

I was feeling good...Extra sleep sure helps.   I made gandolfo sandwiches for breakfast.  It's nice to have pre-cooked bacon in the fridge.  We didn't eat until 11...very late morning!

I walked home from church today.  IT was soooo hot, but it felt good!  Only 42000 steps for the whole day...but I didn't feel like I sat around doing nothing.

Dinner was ravioli and garlic rolls.  The ravioli was a new kind.  Bacon Carbonara.  So not good.  I'm throwing the rest out.   I snacked on skittles, and chocolate after...it was a letdown!

I youtubed ideas for using a planner yesterday and found some good ones.  Including using stickers and washi tape to make it your own.   I will show you what I have done.  I am using post it notes and stamps and stickers to increase my enjoyment. :)   I was going to purchase a bunch of stickers on Etsy but then realized I had these avery return address labels. So I made my own.  I already feel so much more motivated with this than I have in a long time so we will see how it works!

I also watched a Brendon Burchard video recently about 5x50.  Basically 5 things you can do to improve your productivity.  I am excited by it.   Getting more sleep was at the top of the list, then avoiding your email for the first 50 minutes of the day (stretch and plan instead).  I feel really motivated and excited right now! 

Healthy Journey Day 198

I don't know what is going on in my brain, but I'm having a hard time this week.  I've been eating out of convenience not hunger or what I want.   I am doing just the minimum amount of work I need too.  I'm finding myself sitting quite frequently.   Getting irritated a lot.  It is time to change my mindset.  The Darren Daily today said to do 5 positive things.   5 Acts of positivity.   I didn't do it.  I will tomorrow.  It was things like being friendly, smile, enjoy the unexpected, be happy for someone else's success, Pay a compliment to someone.  Vocalize the beauty around me. 

I barely tracked what I ate:  We made sausage and pancakes for breakfast.  I had a couple.   The Trainer came shortly after and I burned 700 calories we did some step aerobics and lunges, shoulders and back.  12 lb weights all the way!   I took my measurements.  Was a little depressed with that.   I am 5 inches up, again.   I may be eating more, but I feel like I am getting stronger.  My blood sugars are up yet my weight is pretty stable.  I'm just frustrated!  I know it is always darkest before the dawn, but I didn't think it was also the most frustrating!  I know that everything I do makes a difference.   On Facebook yesterday there was a picture of a gal doing yoga.  

You can find the original here.  All credit goes to the folks on this facebook page.  
I found this to be a great reminder, that great things take time.  Rarely do you see a timeline on progress like this.   So even though my progress feels stagnated.  The weights I am lifting and the exercise I am doing is changing my body.   I have not changed on the outside yet, but I am changing on the inside.   I am now lifting 12 lb weights...I started with 8s.   I am running an 11-12 minute mile.  I shaved a whole minute off my ladder time.   I am getting faster and stronger.  The sleeker will come! 

After exercise I had a protein shake with spinach, some more pancakes with apricot syrup (YUM!) and snacked the rest of the afternoon.  We didn't even have a real dinner.  No one was hungry after all our snacking!

So remember, Progress takes time!!  I am making progress...I just can't see it yet!   I will see it, yes I will!!

Good Bye Coach Erik

Coach Erik.   It was his last day in boot camp today.   His workout was amazing!   Epic doesn't even begin to describe it.  His on going theme is that we are "enough but unfinished". Today he shared thoughts like: "Shame,guilt, judgment that is the road to nowhere."   "This is about losing the fear and leaning into fulfillment."  "lean into fear, it's scary, I'm telling you.  I know you can do it!  You already are doing it!"  "If something doesn't light you up, find something else.   Let it go and find your flow"  "Meet yourself where you are" "The end of fear is where we begin." (a quote from the song Let Love in)  "Everything we want in life is on the other side of fear.  New evidence through actions, inspired action in the present moment.  Breaking through the limiting beliefs and fears that hold our Joy hostage."  "we've got to take action to meet ourselves where we are and not be enslaved, not let our joy be enslaved by our old story or obstacles in our lives." 

Thinking about this and contrasting from my thoughts this morning I realize that being inadequate is my old story.   It is something that belongs in my past.   I am not inadequate.  I am enough just as I am right now.   Because I have things to work on, things I need to improve in my life, does not diminish who I am.   I am enough.   I have fear.   I have a lot of fear.  Some of which I do not fully understand or am able put into words.  I deserve to lose this fear.  I deserve to feel fulfilled.  I deserve to come out of that safety net of my old habits.   Step into the roles that I have before me, waiting for me to take action on them.   I deserve to be whatever I want to be.   I deserve to over come this fear.  Let go of this negative bully that tells me I am inadequate and not enough.   Losing weight has nothing with figuring out who I am on the inside.  Nothing will change on the inside if I change my outside.  The opposite is true as well.  

Here is more of what he shared:  "Courage to do things a different way"  "Find your power"   "Light the fire in your heart"  "Enact self love through your actions" "Nothing is good or bad, it is an act of self love or feeding something else" "there is no perfection" 

How can I show myself love?   By doing what I say I am going to do?   Completing my routines so that I avoid giving my negative voice ammunition. Remembering that every action I take is a way of showing myself  and others love, or not.   Changing the dynamic of my thoughts!  This seemed very significant to me today.

These are only a few segments of what he shared.  I don't have time to transcribe the whole workout right now.  I just felt like I got so much out of what he said today I wanted to share parts of it!

Thank you Erik for giving us so much of your passion, love and support!   You will be missed from the Boot Camp team.  I wish the greatest success to you as you continue your journey of JOY!

Day 99 of 100--Dancing to the music.

Here my 100 day challenge is almost over,   I had expected to be in a different place now than I am.   Of course I have had challenges, but the question is whether those ended up being glorified excuses.   "I'm sick, so I will bag what I have been working on."  

The power of consistency (Day 90 something, I won't be counting dates much longer!)

I was listening to the Best Life Ever CD today and Darren Hardy started talking about the power of consistency.   How creating habits and completing them bring success.   This thought has been on my mind a bit because I have been contemplating my success over the first 3 months of this year.   Mind you I have had better days.  The sickness got to me.   The question I had posed to myself this weekend was whether in order to be successful, one needed to complete the habits that they decided upon even when sick or having a bad day.

Day 62 of 100--success is hard!

See the ants?  Such a good example!

Today has been a difficult day.   I have allowed my negative voice get the best of me and my performance has suffered.  I was on a big high yesterday, today is quite the opposite.  Then this shows up on my facebook feed: 95% of what it takes to succeed sucks!   and I totally agree.