For today!

Everyday, in every way,
I'm getting better and better!
-Emile Coue

Do you ever have those days?  You know the ones that I’m referring to, those days where you feel overly critical of yourself?  Maybe you feel like you are just not making progress in whatever area you are trying.   Your career, physique perhaps, eating habits, family, whatever.  Then you look at where you are compared to your goal and either quit because you haven’t made progress, make excuses or one of the worst, from my point of view, get overly hard on yourself.  This is my most common.   There is a better way, progress takes time and let’s face it, we all have set backs. 

Let me start by sharing my day earlier this week.   

I’m looking in the mirror, half dressed, and I recognize that I am criticizing myself, pretty significantly I might add.  Picking apart each part of my body that I think needs work, from that little jiggle under my arms to those inner thighs that are just getting a bit too thick, then there is the overflowing muffin top that needs attention.  Shit, stop I say out loud as I catch it.   Thankfully the hubby is on thirds so he’s not going to think I am completely crazy this morning.  For those of you who have read my earlier posts you know my weight has been a lifelong struggle.  Couple that with not having a thyroid and being over forty our bodies change.  Or, at least mine certainly has.  This is the area I am most aware of and yet have to practice the most amount of “KIND” to myself, for myself. 

I’ve learned over the years that focusing too much on any given area is not healthy.  This can lead to a great amount of stress and anxiety when you have any small shift outside of what you think is acceptable.  Over the last few years I also learned the importance of living in the now, mindfulness, and practicing a day by day approach.

These three little words have significantly helped me put my progress and life’s wins in great perspective.  When you have a goal, a big something you want to accomplish focus on what you need to do day by day as opposed to the big goal.  For example, over the last couple years I found a few too many pounds from a few too many cheat meals which has led to those extra jiggles. For me, if I look at that big goal of wanting to lose 18-20 pounds it can get very daunting especially when I am not seeing the progress as fast as I want.  Here are a few simple steps to put your big goal in perspective.

First identify your “what”?

1. What is that thing you want to focus on?  For me, for example, it is losing that 18-20 pounds.
   
2. What do I need to do to get to that goal?  So, what steps will it take for you to accomplish what you are looking to accomplish?  Keep this one simple friends.   The simpler the steps you can take day by day the easier it will be to keep your commitments.  For me, for today, no refined sugar, no snacking in between meals and, except for vegetable carbs, no carbs until dinner.  That’s it, three little things. 
3. At the end of the day write, practice gratitude or somehow recognize yourself for the win for the day of accomplishing the simple commitments you were setting out to keep. Your brain and subconscious will remember the win.
4. Finally, for tomorrow, keep those simple three commitments, just for today!
   

We all create ourselves day by day, write your story well and always remember tomorrow is a new day. Stress less, appreciate you more!

Much Love,

Jen