How is life today? It’s mid January. Did you have a resolution or a new goal or just commit to do something better? How is it going? Have you checked in with yourself lately or are you just surviving, existing, going through the motions hoping something will be different?
Maybe you are struggling. Life is stressful. Maybe there is grief, high demands at home or work, or there is a big decision to be made you are avoiding because you simply don’t know what to do so instead, you ignore it. Maybe you eat or drink “the thing” to get it off your mind or to help you relax or “feel better”. You know doing it isn’t good for you. You know it won’t help you reach your goals. So along with the thing, you give yourself some nice guilt along with it. That one day you made that decision turned into two days, then two weeks and then months later you are right back where you started with your health, fitness, and/or weightloss goals. Sound familiar? Been there.
So what to do? Punish yourself? Yeah, you could. Make another plan you won’t stick with? Enable yourself by telling yourself you deserve it or need it or it will be fine and tomorrow you’ll get right back on plan but you then you don’t because the desire to do so just simply….isn’t…there.
If you had a friend with this problem, what would you say to them? Enable them because “one won’t hurt” or justify it for them because it’s just a temporary situation? Of course not. You know this wouldn’t help them meet their goals! Would you criticize them? No! Guilt and shame or not useful at all.
What I am getting at is sometimes you need to talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friend, or child or partner or that person in your life that means the most to you! Be an encourager to yourself!
At the end of the day when there simply is nothing to else to say or maybe you don’t feel particularly encouraging and/or there is absolutely no motivation to do what needs to be done, it really comes down to being disciplined to just do it, even if all you can muster is the discipline to do it in that one most important moment.
I find it helpful in that moment to pause! Don’t react. Don’t “not care”. When it’s you and “the thing”, take a moment. A long moment of necessary. Go for a walk and come back. Call someone. Do whatever you need to in that pause and moment to get to the decision that is the right one for you that takes you in the direction you want!
Just like wrong decisions were made moment after moment that turned into a habit, guess what! It works the same in reverse! So choose to make that successful decision in that moment. Turn it into a successful day full of moments like that. Then turn it into 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months and before you know it, it’s 2 years and you’ve surpassed your goals! It isn’t complicated. It’s simple really. It’s just NOT easy.
Remember your why. Encourage yourself with that why. Remind yourself you are capable.
We all struggle. We all need each other! If you need help and support, reach out. But if you are alone, you find yourself unable to get to the support you need in that moment, be your own support and best friend. Encourage yourself. Talk to yourself. Walk. Read. Pray. Meditate. Punch a kickboxing bag! 😂 Do whatever makes you feel better and helps you stay disciplined to reach your goals!
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