by Lucy | Sep 24, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
Updated: Monday, April 2, 2018
The temptation to quit will be greatest just before I am about to succeed. -Chinese proverb
I am reading a very short book called, The Dip by Seth Godin. This is “A little book that teaches you when to quit (and when to stick).” At the beginning of the year, many of us felt called to make new habits and become healthier. Perhaps that included a gym membership, buying a few self-improvement books, or starting a clean eating plan.
Inevitably, real life keeps happening. No matter how good our intentions there is always a dip – where the fun fades and the journey feels HARD. The book is a reminder to pause and discern if it is the inevitable dip or a dead-end that is ultimately keeping you from succeeding.
In case you’re feeling like some of your new healthy habits are not working here are 3 steps to take to move through the dip.
- When those negative thoughts start to invade your brain say to yourself “cancel, cancel, cancel!“
As the meditation and hypnosis expert Chel Hamilton reminds us, use your inside voice – inside your head that is – or else people might start to look at you funny. The benefit of “cancel, cancel, cancel” is you stop negative thinking in its tracks instead of following those thoughts down the dark hole of despair.
- Focus on the positive – Clearly, being healthy is important to you.
Take a moment to pat yourself on the back for at least 3 to 5 healthy choices you made in the past week. This action step will redirect your negative thinking, allowing you to reinforce the positive truths and behaviors.
- Identify the trigger – What was the situation that caused your mind to spin into doubt or frustration mode? For me, it tends to be that I am overtired, too self-absorbed or caught in the comparison trap.
By identifying and recognizing your triggers, you empower yourself to redirect and overcome negative thinking.
Food for thought:
Remember, the darkest hour comes just before dawn, but that morning light is coming.
When your journey doesn’t seem to be taking you where you want to go, be gentle with yourself. These things take time and consistency.
by Lucy | Sep 22, 2016 | Well Balanced Wisdom
Have you ever felt STUCK? You know, those times when you can’t catch a break, bad things are happening left and right, and it feels like you are just being sucked into quicksand. Maybe it feels like you are surrounded by muck, grime, goo, creepy bugs, hissing snakes, and every other kind of terrible thing. Sometimes life feels like you are stuck in a swamp.
I call it the Shrek syndrome.
You can’t even see what’s a few feet in front of you because your vision is so blurred from the negativity gnats flying around your head. I’ve been there before and I know it’s really easy to stay in that place… stuck and sinking further. I also know that it is possible to dredge your way out. How? Here is what worked for me…
We can’t ignore the stress in our lives but we can change the way we think about it.
When the Shrek syndrome comes on, approach the unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. It’s not easy but the more you can turn your outlook around the faster you can get out of that nasty swamp.
I was able to stop being an Ogre when I started shining light on the things that hadn’t gone wrong… right down to the air that was filling my lungs. I know it may sound cheesy but it’s a PROVEN STRATGEY. Positive thinking has been linked to an increased life span, lower rates of depression, lower levels of distress and even greater resistance to the common cold.
Your homework: Choose at least one to try this week.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO SHINE LIGHT ON THE GOOD AND GET OUT OF THE SWAMP
Gratitude journal – daily, weekly or whatever – simply jot down the things for which you are thankful. Think… what if you woke up today with only the things you expressed gratitude for yesterday?
Positive Self Talk – We often say things about ourselves that we would never say to others. STOP DOING THAT! Place a positive affirmation somewhere that prompts you to read it out loud every day. My favorite? You are enough. And at the end of the day: You did enough. You deserve rest.
Keep a monthly log of accomplishments and hard efforts. Try a new vegetable? Jot it down! Meditate in a difficult situation. It goes in the log too! If you tried hard at something, regardless of whether you fully succeeded or not, that’s important. Both successes and efforts get credit here.
Change your perspective: Instead of saying, I’ve never done this before,” say “It’s an opportunity to learn something new.” Instead of saying, “It’s too complicated,” say “I’ll try from a different angle.”
What do you do to shake the Shrek syndrome??
by Lucy | Sep 17, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
Monday, September 19, 2016
Last week while hanging out with some of my most favorite high school pals, I had the opportunity to spend time with my very good friend, Erik… he’s come a long way from our high school graduation and I am so proud of the man he’s become. From sneaking out and “borrowing” the car in the middle of the night as an unruly teen to now being part of an international Rugby team, we can all learn about the effects of peer pressure from Erik’s story.
As I am reminded by Jim Rohn, we are a product of our surroundings. Jim suggests you are a sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Take some time this week to reflect on your peer-choices and decide if those folks are lifting you up to your higher potential.
Erik grew up in a different kind of household than most of us at our private Catholic school. He did not have a college savings fund and decided to join the Marines after graduation. Needless to say, being in the war had a profound and long-lasting effect on Erik’s mental health. I’m proud of him for overcoming the PTSD that he suffered and for becoming a successful and caring boss, managing a local warehouse in Ohio.
Erik, like many of us, has been on a journey to find himself in this world. He is fun-loving and social – always making time to hang out with friends and play sports such as baseball and rugby.
It’s been neat to see how positive peer pressure has worked in his life… Erik continues to hang out with friends from our high school days who are also young professionals, many of whom are now married and starting their own families. After the first 6 months working in his big boy manager job, Erik found himself with a surplus of cash on hand. His first thought was to use that money and buy a Harley Davidson motorcycle, but after thinking about it, he decided to invest his money in mutual funds to save for more financial freedom in the future.
This is a big deal! Just 2-3 years ago this would not have been the same outcome. Between growing up, turning 30, and choosing to surround himself with positive peer pressure, Erik has shown tremendous growth and maturity.
This is a great example of how the relationships and people in our life can impact our choices. That is why I encourage you to reflect on your relationships and decide how they are affecting your day-to-day choices such as what you’re eating and drinking. Or maybe bigger life choices, such as financial investments or what career path to follow.
Food for thought:
Who are you hanging out with? Do you support the lifestyle of your closest friends and acquaintances?
Are they eating well-balanced or usually going out for energy-dense/nutrient-poor fast food? Do your friends or peers exercise or engage in regular physical activity?
by Lucy | Sep 14, 2016 | Well Balanced Wisdom
Back in July, I challenged my friend Ireatha Warren to complete a whole30 challenge with me. It is not an easy challenge so naturally, it took her some time to warm up to the idea. At first, she questioned her ability to do it. Then, she realized that it was a matter of mindset. “I stopped doubting myself and just started saying I can do this.”
Once she made her mind up, she was all in. For 30 days Ireatha made significant changes to what she ate and drank and she found it to be a powerful experience. She switched out her normal breakfast (oatmeal, cereal or a ham and egg biscuit) with 2 boiled eggs and 2 pieces of bacon. She swapped out starchy snacks like popcorn and granola bars for things like nuts and fruit. One of the hardest parts for Ireatha? She said it was giving up the fried chicken but she enjoyed baked chicken as long as it was seasoned well.
I am so proud of my friend for completing the challenge with me. She lost weight, has more energy, and receives a ton of compliments now. She is another great example that believing in ourselves can play a major role in our success.
Keeping a positive mindset and getting started is one thing. Making a smooth transition and navigating back to more liberal ways can be a whole different struggle. 
Once the challenge is over you don’t want to just fall back into all your old ways, yet you desire a little more freedom after being so strict. How do you do it? I loved Ireatha’s thoughts: “I asked myself what are three things that I can take away from this experience and apply to my life after the challenge.” She went on to explain which changes seemed to make the biggest impact and therefore made the most sense to keep doing.
- Breakfast: She realized how important eating a good breakfast was for her. She feels her best when she eats protein-rich foods in the morning like eggs and chicken. She found that it decreased her need to snack in the afternoon and that she was able to eat a smaller dinner.
- Reading labels: She learned to pay attention to ALL parts of the food label and not just how many grams of sugar a food contains.
- Fruits and vegetables: “When you eat enough fruits and vegetables you really do feel better, and you don’t need extra snacks.” she said.
I think we can also learn from her insight on how to proceed after you finish a challenge: stick with 3 things that made a big impact.
Food For Thought and a little homework:
The whole30 challenge is eye opening, but you don’t always need to go to such extremes to learn things about yourself or improve your eating habits. 
What areas in your life would benefit from a positive mindset?
List three things that you’ve learned about your body and the nutrition it needs through previous experiences. Perhaps you can start by completing this sentence. I feel my best when…
by Lucy | Sep 11, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
Let me tell you about my friend Adam… He’s a really nice guy who works for a local nonprofit, enjoys outdoor adventures and exercise. Adam makes his friends and family a priority – such as taking a Saturday afternoon to help a friend unpack the umpteen boxes for her kitchen and alphabetizes her spice collection upon request.
One Summer afternoon, while talking to Adam about body image issues he told me about his annual 5k run at a nudist colony. Once I pick my jaw off the floor, I was able to listen to his wisdom. In the interview, you’ll find his inspiring words on running and the annual nude run on the beach.
Q: What do you love about running?
A: I’ve been a runner since I was 14 years old. Running long distance feels natural to me and is great exercise, but I love it most because it clears my mind. Moving through the natural world is what human beings are built to do. Running transports me physically and mentally.
Q: What’s different about doing a 5K in the nude?
A: It’s all of the above and then some. It’s exhilarating. Despite what you’d think, there isn’t any discomfort (I do wear shoes). Being nude gives you that much more feedback about your movements, unencumbered as you are by clothes. And, there’s nothing like the feel of the sun and the breeze as you run.
Q: What’s the greatest life lesson you have learned from your annual nudist running experience?
A: People assume that being naked with a group of people is awkward. This particular race is held on a nudist resort, so it’s a safe environment. Within five minutes of being there, you forget that you’re not wearing any clothes. Nude quickly becomes the new normal. It’s only awkward for those one or two who choose to wear clothes.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how conditioned we are by our clothes and our fear of judgment.
When everyone is nude, the judgment subsides, we see each other for who we are, and we’re able to connect honestly with people. It’s almost like clothes sometimes prevent us from that level of connection.
Q: What keeps bringing you back to run nude every year?
A: Once you’ve done it once, you want to keep doing it. Everyone I’ve met at these races has been fascinating and friendly. I look forward to it all year long.
Q: How can this help someone that might have body image issues?
A: Being nude in these settings is not about seeing or being seen. Staring and gawking are completely inappropriate in a nudist resort. But, it’s human nature to notice other people. And…
What you notice is that everyone is both flawed and beautiful. When everyone is nude, we’re all equally vulnerable. We all have our insecurities, but when we let go of having to hide behind clothes, it’s freeing.
And the tendency to judge based on appearance goes out the window. I think if you have body image issues, being nude in a safe, non-sexual environment with normal-bodied humans could be immensely liberating.
