Just do something

This week, I started explaining to someone about the vision I have for Wellness Assist.  I must admit, when I said it out loud, even I was impressed!  But it is one thing to say you are going to do something and then its a whole different thing to wake up each day and take action!!

In simple terms, taking action is just about starting from where you are!  Consistent action brings results!  The motto for Wellness Assist is ‘Sustainable.  Balanced.  Achieveable.’ Does that sound like I’m suggesting you to give up EVERY kind of chocolate biscuit you enjoy?  Or commit to an exercise class EVERY night?  Or that I really believe that you can get 10 hours sleep EVERY night?  In case there is any confusion, I would not ask you to do any of those things.  I wouldn’t expect that you would consistently do any of those things because for one, they certainly aren’t sustainable, balanced or achievable in the long term.

I would, however, believe that you would be capable of getting a distant car park when you go to the shops to do some incidental exercise, or consciously examining how many teaspoons of sugar you are eating each day or even that you might dedicate five minutes to a daily deep breathing and/or meditation exercise.  Could you do those things?  You are more than capable of achieving those things and I may have bought them to the table to give you some ideas.  In light of those facts, do you think  I would be surprised if you didn’t make them into your own habits???  Do you know, I wouldn’t?!  I wouldn’t be surprised, because they are MY suggestions and not YOUR intentions that YOU are emotionally connected to. Bam!!

‘ Just do something’ will only work if you are emotionally connected to the ‘something’.  When I say emotionally connected, I’m referring to how good you would feel if you actually added those actions to your repertoire. Or if it suits you better, how you will feel, say, come the end of the year, those intentions are still that, intentions and not actions?!

Start from where you are, be consistent and take action on the things you know will get you closer to your intentions!

Have a great week!

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!

What if there was such a perfect world and you were able to be positive in every instance in your life?  Could you imagine that?  I don’t know if I could imagine that?!  Even if you wanted to be, you also know that this is practically impossibly…..

But its lots of people’s advice, isn’t it?  When someone comes out with that ill-timed ‘just look on the bright side’, its not always easy, is it?

Straight off the top of my head I can think of instances when I really and truly struggle to ‘be positive’.  For example, when my computer at work says ‘access denied’ for the fourth week running or when I take my children to the shops and they behave like they have never seen fellow humans before.  Or when I clean the house and my children successfully mess it up within minutes of my completion….you know those moments!

Interestingly enough, prior to each incident I have had hopeful thoughts of ‘this will be a success this time’ or ‘I’m strong enough to handle this today’.  And yet, every time I still react, sometimes in a way I’m not particularly proud of, after the incident.

Albert Einstein said ‘Insanity or stupidity (depending which meme you read) is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result…..  Of course,  I wouldn’t like to think I’m stupid or insane, however, it is with my strengths that I wholeheartedly expect the outcome to be different.

So even when one of my personal strengths is persistence (and I believe one day I will take my children to the shops and they will behave like respectable humans), for now, I have to look at it like it is progress and there is a lesson.  For what I have learned each time is to pick my battles wisely and I know that with each ‘battle’ I’m getting stronger!

‘Pick your battles’ – That is my standard line, mostly to myself to remind me that I get to decide the way I choose to see it.  Right there, is a Sliding Doors (the movie) moment.  I have a choice and I am entitled to choose my response to what happens in my life.  It is the only thing I have control over.

That decision is mine, and yours too, when faced with similarly aggravating situations.

There will be days when it seems the world is against you, but you can choose how you react and then you need to own these decisions.

Are you content when you look back on your decisions, or are you not, and you waste time overthinking them?

You get to choose to do something different – you might be surprised with the results!

Moving forward, I must take my own advice.  When the children mess up the house, take a breath and remind myself – make my decision and own it!

I could have written this!!

 

 

 

Be like Bill

So, after a week of deep-breathing, challenging my self-talk and being grateful, I think I’m feeling more present?! It might be mind over matter, but isn’t that what much of life is??

Even though it was my advice in the previous post, I’m not afraid to tell you that I have definitely caught myself not being very nice to myself, and certainly being ungrateful.  And I can tell you, I really did enjoy the feeling after those 2o deep breaths, it was enforced focus, which I was very thankful for, I found it soooo relaxing!

So turns out taking my advice worked for me, did it for you?  Do you think you were more present?

When we are present we can start from a clear space and truly give some time to the things that matter to us.  What is that for you?  Why do you get out of bed in the morning?  What are your strengths? What are you passionate about?

Ok, enough of the 20 questions … the answers to those questions may change a little, especially on a day off(!) but on a serious note, what drives us matters a lot!!

When I say it matters, it seriously does!  You know those people are so oblivious to their own selves, its almost humorous, I bet you wouldn’t have to think long to think of someone like this?! Don’t be that person.  Here is an example for you:

This is Bill.

Bill knows what drives him, what his ‘why’ is and the areas he needs to work on.

Bill is kind to himself and has a high level of self-awareness.

Bill is smart.

Be like Bill.

Are you?

I don’t know about you but I cannot believe that it is now February!?  One month of 2016 is done already!!  I don’t know if its that I’m getting older or that we have been busy (as everyone is) or that my children have been so anxiously anticipating school and kindy to start.  But here we are, February is here.  When I consider how fast time goes, I really am reminded how we need to be present and mindful.  I can hear some of my friends, a few in particular saying, whatever (!), or what does that even mean?  It means closing down all of the tabs in your brain and absorbing where you really are.  You won’t get this time back, that is what I do know for sure.

Will you look back and be proud of how you spent your time?  Will you have regrets?  Will you think about times you have spent with family and friends and wish you didn’t spend the whole time talking or scrolling on your phone?  I’ve seen a lot #makingmemories lately, you know the ones.  What will your memories be?  Are they about the meme you saw on your newsfeed or the sound of your friend or child’s laughter?

Here’s my quick tips, for what they are worth, about being ‘present’:

1. At least once every day, deliberately take 20 consecutive deep breaths – you know the type, in through your nose, where you feel your shoulders rise as your lungs fill with air and then out through your mouth, yes those.  Repeat more than once if you wish.
2. Consciously listen to your self-talk – that is the way you speak to yourself – listen to whether it is positive or negative, make a real attempt to speak to yourself like you would a valued friend.
3. Be grateful – Stop.  take a look around and make a note of three things you are grateful for.  Being thankful and grateful is about focusing on the positive things.  If you do this, there is no time to dwell on the other stuff, that has nothing to do with your goals, anyway!

Could you do these everyday for a week?

I’m going to try it, are you?

I look forward to hearing about all the nice things you said to yourself and noticed in this amazing life!