Ease

Definition
Pronunciation: \ˈēz
1 : the state of being comfortable: as a : freedom from pain or discomfort b : freedom from care c : freedom from labor or difficulty d : freedom from embarrassment or constraint

Application
There is an interesting (and unexpected) success when we stop putting pressure on ourselves to perform perfectly. Recently I attended my favorite get-away class. The whole 90 minutes reinforced an approach to difficult situations. An approach I most often never take because my DNA is tightly wound.

The class was playful and fun because there was an energy of no pressure and "who could care less" weaved throughout the format. It was a completely different experience than I was used to. Typically the class isn't this laid-back, sometimes it's serious and most always it's just downright difficult (the reason I attend). This time it was light, fun and very curious. I enjoyed it so much...which makes the get-away class perfect for leaving reality a bit.

I hit many more postures than ever before. There were even some foreign poses and previously when the instructor has done this (normally her body is in a pretzel-like formation) I react with a defeated approach secretly knowing I won't get it. After all it looks way too hard and I don't have enough flexibility or strength so sometimes I just half try the poses (knowing I won't stand a chance at even coming close to success). Well I didn't have that internal dialogue with myself this time, nor did I pressure myself into doing it. With much curiosity I just went for it. 100% went for it and guess what? I kinda, sorta succeeded. It left me feeling empowered.

So now I just need to care a little bit less and maybe, just maybe, stop putting so many expectations on myself. Allow effort to happen laced with ease.

Bye-Bye 2009, Hello 2010!

As I reflect on 2009 and my sweet-a-week goal I can't help but give myself a grade for the year. I feel it's the easiest way to illustrate just how I've done.

B-

The reason I'd give myself a B- is because I tried...most weeks I really tried. Other weeks I failed. There were weeks I would go without sweets and not even want them. Then there were weeks when my goal of one would go out the window. And with two weeks left, I'm still working towards my goal. I didn't give up when (sometimes) I wanted to. It was a goal, a goal that I partially met and now that 2009 is almost over I've been catching myself brainstorm ideas for 2010.

It would be neat to tie in some sort of "10 goal" for 2010. I know I'd like to focus on reading more books, staying on course with exercise and eating less things that aren't good for my body. I want to keep those things at the forefront of the goals. So with that in mind, do you have any ideas for 2010 that would fit into the "10 goal?" I'd love suggestions to chew on for a couple of weeks before it becomes official.

Not a Victim Anymore

“Far too many people have no idea of what they can do because all they have been told is what they can’t do. They don’t know what they want because they don’t know what’s available for them.” ~Zig Ziglar

I like that quote for many reasons. Somewhere at some point someone puts into our mind that we cannot do something. Most days I feel like there's way more negative people in the world than positive; which makes me sad. Why do we have to look at the glass half empty? Why can't we work really hard for something and accomplish it because that's just what it takes to make the world go round? Is it because it's easier to take the victim mindset? Where we focus on all the things that get in our way that we have no control over so we decide to obsess about the obstacles versus strategic planning to work around them.

Comfort. Comfort is something that society thinks we should always have. Everything should always be perfect?

Convenience. Hello! This one's pretty easy, convenience is everywhere and it seems to be a must in order to get through a day. Getting to an exercise class must be convenient, it must fit perfectly into our schedules and work out just right; otherwise we just decide to take the sedentary road?

Now that 2009 is coming to a close I beg of you to evaluate your mindset. Evaluate your close circle. What's your inner dialogue look like? What kind of people are your inner circle? Cling to positive thinking and forgo the victim mentality. Never let anyone tell you you can't do something. You can always prove them wrong!

Reason for the Season

I need your help!

It's getting cold outside and so I though maybe you wanted an extra reason to get out and walk or run some miles. :-)

Debbie, who is a wonderful woman I've been training up until the past month has been in the hospital with her husband for the past couple of weeks watching him battle H1N1. The H1N1 has turned into double pnemonia which has led to blood clots in his lungs. With all the medical bills they'll be facing along with the two of them being out of work for quite some time now and the holidays approaching I can't stop thinking about how to help. Here's what I came up with:

Next Saturday, December 12th at 8am at the Liberty Community Center we'll be walking 3 miles (or whatever you can do) for Debbie. I'd like to get a group picture of everyone who shows up to walk (even if you don't know her) and send it to her to let her know we're all thinking of her. I'd also like to collect any donation you'd be willing to give and put it together as a little way of helping out....anything from $5-$20 or more...whatever you can.

So what I need from you is help to spread the word. Bring a friend and yourself next Saturday.

Thank you so much.

Now go hug someone you love!

Gratitude

It's so easy to spend many minutes of many days thinking about what I want more of, what I'm not happy about in my life and how I'm going to change.

Enter gratitude journal. It's a book of all the things that are going right and all the little things that need to be given thanks. It's all the people that are wonderful in my life and the roof over my head that I never want to have taken for granted. So each week I try to take time most days to reflect on these things. It's definitely changed my spirit...God truly blesses.

“Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.”-Denis Waitley