Inner Strength and Building Success
What are the things you do in your everyday life that are “automatic”? Likely, everyday you brush your teeth, put the dishes in the dishwasher (in theory) and put your shoes on your feet. Mostly all automatic. However, while we do these basic things every day, why is it that it often takes so much effort to habituate our daily exercise or starting to exercise when most of us fail in the first weeks?
Let’s talk about building inner strength to stay with it
Take this winter for example; I set a new goal to go outside for at least a 20-minute walk every day, no matter the weather. I thought this would be a perfect goal for me because in the past I’ve gone into hibernation mode and have gotten really comfortable there, snuggled in my sweats and blankets waiting for the snow to melt.
I know it doesn’t seem too difficult, but when the wind chill hit -40, it took some considerable effort to get dressed properly and a load of self-talk to get my body out the door. Some days, I only made it for 10 minutes; despite not reaching my original goal, it was still worth it. Just knowing that I am prioritizing my health, even just a little bit, makes a big difference for me in the way I feel and the way I live my life.
Even now, being on the doorstep of summer, when I wake up and my first thought isn’t about the walk or the work out, it’s about whether or not I really want to get out of bed. I still have to talk myself into getting up and out the door. Once I get moving, I’m good because for me just beginning to exercise makes me feel better.
A great article to read Building Inner Strength.
I thought this article was fitting for me because putting my health at the top of the to-do list, like many other people, is something I often struggle with. Do you also struggle with prioritizing your health?
This article gets you thinking about you! Something we don’t do when we’re in automatic mode. I can tell you for sure, going outside at -40 wasn’t automatic. It was full of thought every step I took to face the weather. Getting out of the automation of life is a great first step to self-care.
If you don’t have time to read the whole article here are some of the highlights I took away from it.
Ask "Why?" Discover Your Purpose. This cultivates strength and motivation.
Prioritize Self. Make your own well-being top priority, that is NOT selfish, that gives you the greatest likelihood to live healthy longer.
Strengthen and Train Your Mind and Emotional Body, and Your Physical Body. The triad of a strong foundation for life.
Make Decisions with Confidence and Act. That is once you decide, schedule it.
Don’t Let Fear enter into Your Decision-Making. Don’t reject an opportunity because you’re afraid you can’t do it or something might go wrong.
Face Your Fears Head-On. Take that challenge to increase your self-confidence.
Clear your mind. Find a quiet place or try mediation. Turn your brain off for a little while.
Build a Positive Relationship with Yourself. Spend time alone.
Stay calm under Pressure- Negativity gets you nowhere.
For me, getting out and walking first thing in the morning was so many of these recommendations.
Remember to take time this week (day) to focus on you.
The Way Forward:
The journey to become regularly physically active, that is, starting, is dependent on several habits that must work together to get you started, not just one (e.g., putting on your shoes). They all must be there.
For example:
1. First thing is you need to organize other commitments so they will not interrupt and undermine the time you plan to start. That is, you need to organize your day to secure time to exercise.
2. Then you need to schedule the event and be detailed (The time to start. What you are doing, the location, and equipment needed, e.g., swim trunks to swim, running shoes to run, [but don’t run in swim trunks or swim in running shoes ].
3. Have a Plan B when something does intervene, and life seems to do that commonly. My plan B is immediately reschedule to a different time.