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doubt creeping in,
Doubt creeping in, don’t feel confident about what I’m doing. Is it time to readjust. Recalibrate or stay the course? A fineline to balance, rely on the things that have got me here, trust my instincts but also be sensitive to adjustment and calibrations. Be open. Be engaged. Be present. Fine tune, listen to the doubt but don’t let it become fear.
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As if we’re already a finished product
We judge ourselves as if we’re supposed to be the finished product. As if out of the womb, we’re supposed to already be the “perfected”, ideal, fully-develop version of ourselves.
We would never judge a child for not being able to write to the level of a college student or professional writer. But somehow when we become an adult it’s open season on how critical we can be about ourselves. Everything is a work in progress.
Isn’t that a fixed-mindset versus a growth-mindset. If we’re done developing, growing, improving than I suppose we can simply judge ourselves based on where we’re at, as in “I guess that’s all there is” “this is as good as it’s gonna get”. But a growth-mindset leaves room for more… and this moment that we’re in is simply a part of the whole. We can’t accurately judge ourselves based on where we’re at, because it only paints such a small part of the picture.
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Write.Everyday
Write everyday. Everyday write.
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Passion fuel the grind
The grind is not enough. Between people, if all things are equal, the work, effort, time, ability, skill and talent are all the same? Who will have the edge? It’s the one that loves what they’re doing. The love that translates into passion, translates to conviction, translates to faith.
And sometimes passion is what gives someone with lesser abilities the edge and even advantage.
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Minimum Required Output
Sometimes it’s okay to just have a “Minimum Required Output”. The most difficult thing usually isn’t the actual task itself. Most of the time, the most difficult thing to accomplish is the actual decision to do it. So just make that the goal, the objective to make the decision with a “Minimum Required Output.”
I might have wanted to go to the field to go workout but I’m feeling so beat, deflated, low-energy… I’ll tell myself “ok, just drive to the field, I don’t need to workout just go to the field and I can drive back home.” By the time I drive out to the field, my mind has changed, I feel more energized and I want to workout.
Sometimes it’s that mental block of wanting to say “no” and judging ourselves for that is the actual thing draining us, not necessarily dreading the actual activity.
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Give to give.
Giving more than you receive.
Is it sustainable?Giving to others.
Giving to family.
Giving to friends.
How much?Giving without expectations.
Giving without limits.
Giving unconditionally.
Is it wise?Giving time.
Giving energy.
Giving money.
Giving attention.
Giving wisdom.
Giving encouragement.
Giving support.Give what is natural.
Give what is comfortable.
Give what is possible.
Give what you think is appropriate.Don’t give under stress.
Don’t give under pressure.
Don’t give reluctantly.
Don’t give expectantly.Give to give.
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Priority 1: Health
If there was just one takeaway from last year. If there was just one thing we could do to help us before we get sick. It’s prioritizing our health as a crucial part of a strong immune system and an integral defense against illness.
I’m not talking about looking good, fitness or losing weight. What I mean is a healthy, mindful lifestyle. With good health being the goal, not necessarily losing weight but which could eventually be a byproduct.
What do health goals look like?
- Better overall movement
- Decrease stiffness after sitting or waking up
- Eliminate inflammation and bloating
- More stable and sustained energy throughout the day
- Less stress, anxiety and worry
- Decreasing and eliminating food cravings
- Better focus, clarity, creativity and intellectual power
- Increased strength, endurance, mobility and flexibility
- Better respiratory, circulatory, immune system response and functionality.
Our body is always talking to us, in an effort for us to respond. Part of the break in communication is if we are already suffering from constant inflammation, our mind and body start to normalize that state, where now we don’t realize we have inflammation. Another way we do this to ourselves, is if we’re always stressed out from work, in order to get through the day, we normalize the stress and just consider it normalcy, and tell ourselves “that’s just the way it is”.
The problem is we’ve shut off the response, we’ve silenced the signals our body is giving us for us to act and react to the stress or inflammation. If we feel the onset of a flu or cold, we need to slow down, rest and respond in a way that will help our bodies overcome the illness. I’ll even go for a quick and light, outdoor workout, which seems to bang out any oncoming symptoms.
Sometimes even just sensing or realizing the beginning of a cold or sickness will help hasten the duration or make it milder. Because your body will do the rest. It’s when we have that constant inflammation our body that disables the communication for our body to create an immune response.
But overall, better circulatory, respiratory, nervous and lymphatic systems are all part of a stronger more efficient immune system.